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yamahuh
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 1033
Location: Karaoke Hell
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 Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 11:17 pm Post subject: Private Classes; best way to start? |
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Sorry, but the search function just doesn't work for me and I've got a couple of basic questions regarding finding private students and acceptable fees.
If you've been sponsored for an ARC by a legit employer then I'm assuming that there's nothing to stop you from teaching privately a few hours per week to subsidise your earnings.
I know you're not 'supposed' to but a conversation in English with a couple of Taiwanese nationals over coffee isn't illegal is it?
Anyway, if the employer has no problem with the sideline then it would appear to be an attractive alternative to being a clown for Kindy classes 
So here are my questions:
What's the best way to source prospective students and how much is a reasonable fee to charge per student per hour? |
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MomCat
Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 297
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| Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:33 am Post subject: |
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Hi yamahuh,
It's illegal. But it's overlooked.
If you're teaching privates outside your contract hours then there's no reason to tell your employer. The less they know about your life outside of work, the less they will be able to try to control.
Private clients found me, not the other way around. I don't especially like privates because of the unreliability factor, so I can't offer any great ways to find them. But I can say that if you go where your potential clients might be and are friendly and approachable people will ask you about lessons.
I'm going to suggest 1000NT +/- per hour because that's what we can get here in Hsinchu. I suspect it varies in other cities.
Good luck,
Cat |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 1:51 am Post subject: Re: Private Classes; best way to start? |
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| yamahuh wrote: |
| if the employer has no problem with the sideline then it would appear to be an attractive alternative to being a clown for Kindy classes |
Most employers will not want you to take on private classes outside of the work that they offer for a few reasons:
1. it is illegal;
2. it may interfere with the work that they want you to do (they don't want the hassles of you turning down extra classes because you are busy elsewhere or because you can earn more money teaching somewhere else;
3. they may be concerned that you will use their materials or steal their students
Therefore most people who do teach privates do it on the sly.
| yamahuh wrote: |
| What's the best way to source prospective students and how much is a reasonable fee to charge per student per hour? |
I guess that it depends upon how much you are worth as far as how much you charge. My guess is that most foreigners teaching privates charge NTD600-800, but some charge more. If you are good at what you do and the students feel that they are learning then they will have no problem paying, but if you are charging quite high and getting no results then your students will probably soon drop off.
Word of mouth is of course the best way to get students, but there are a couple of websites that you could find useful www.forumosa.com and www.myu.com.tw You may find that you get more 'language exchange' types there than real students however. |
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yamahuh
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 1033
Location: Karaoke Hell
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| Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:22 am Post subject: |
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Our employer has told us directly that they don't mind if we take private students so long as we don't poach from their clients (obvious enough) or use their materials which, quite frankly are sh ite!!
The main reason I'm asking about 'private' classes is that I don't feel our school is going to be able to meet their commitment as far as promised hours per week. If that's the case then I'm going to need to supplement my hours. In turn if that means I have to turn down the occasional class that is offered to 'help out' my employer because of a scheduling conflict then so be it.
Thanks for the info folks. |
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TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
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| Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 9:58 am Post subject: |
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I've said it before and I'll say it again, privates are only discussed as technically illegal because, basically, you are not entitled to work anywhere but at the company registered on your ARC card. The practice of teaching privates is usually referred to as illegal only by logical extension by those foreigners concerned about legality. I'm pretty sure the Taiwanese aren't viewing private students as work in the formal sense. I've even had functionaries at the ARC issuing authority ask me to tutor them. At any rate, don't worry about it at all.
How to source? Just be here teaching and someone will ask you sooner or later. If you wish, there are sites on which you can post your availability if you are anxious to get started right away. Rate? Typically, your hourly rate at work is a good guide. |
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yamahuh
Joined: 23 Apr 2004
Posts: 1033
Location: Karaoke Hell
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| Posted: Wed Mar 21, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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Where are you located Taoyuan Steve?
Anywhere near the armpit of the county Pingjhen (forgive my spelling)? |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 6:04 am Post subject: |
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| TaoyuanSteve wrote: |
| I've said it before and I'll say it again, privates are only discussed as technically illegal because, basically, you are not entitled to work anywhere but at the company registered on your ARC card. The practice of teaching privates is usually referred to as illegal only by logical extension by those foreigners concerned about legality. I'm pretty sure the Taiwanese aren't viewing private students as work in the formal sense. I've even had functionaries at the ARC issuing authority ask me to tutor them. At any rate, don't worry about it at all. |
I will certainly agree that it is unlikely that you would get into trouble for teaching privates as quite honestly you would have to be pretty unlucky to get caught - a disgruntled student or perhaps a sting operation. Both rather unlikely.
However, it is illegal, and that is not just a perception of some foreigners. Even volunteer work outside of the work that you do for your employer is illegal and there are cases on record where foreigners were deported for doing unpaid work outside of their employer.
I have never heard of anyone getting deported for teaching privates, and as I mention above it is unlikely that anyone would ever know, however it is illegal for those who have ARC's through employers and therefore due dilligence should be exercised by those who do teach privately. |
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TaoyuanSteve
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 1028
Location: Taoyuan
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 7:19 am Post subject: |
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| clark.w.griswald wrote: |
| TaoyuanSteve wrote: |
| I've said it before and I'll say it again, privates are only discussed as technically illegal because, basically, you are not entitled to work anywhere but at the company registered on your ARC card. The practice of teaching privates is usually referred to as illegal only by logical extension by those foreigners concerned about legality. I'm pretty sure the Taiwanese aren't viewing private students as work in the formal sense. I've even had functionaries at the ARC issuing authority ask me to tutor them. At any rate, don't worry about it at all. |
I will certainly agree that it is unlikely that you would get into trouble for teaching privates as quite honestly you would have to be pretty unlucky to get caught - a disgruntled student or perhaps a sting operation. Both rather unlikely.
However, it is illegal, and that is not just a perception of some foreigners. Even volunteer work outside of the work that you do for your employer is illegal and there are cases on record where foreigners were deported for doing unpaid work outside of their employer.
I have never heard of anyone getting deported for teaching privates, and as I mention above it is unlikely that anyone would ever know, however it is illegal for those who have ARC's through employers and therefore due dilligence should be exercised by those who do teach privately. |
I think, when I've been approached for private lessons repeatedly by those responsible for issuing ARCs and enforcing regulations, it's fair to say tutoring is not something for which one needs to exercise "due dilligence". Never heard of anyone ever having trouble doing privates, nor has anyone I've ever talked to about it. It's a non-issue. I think the only time you'd have an issue is if you had a powerful enemy who wanted you kicked out, in which case they're just as likely to find another offence (especially in Taiwan's deliberately murky regulatory environment) to get you expelled. |
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clark.w.griswald
Joined: 06 Dec 2004
Posts: 2056
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| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:31 am Post subje | |
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