Job Discussion Forums

[strawberryspread]

I have recently arrived in Krakow and due to my timing, most schools are fully staffed as the school semester has already begun. So taking this into consideration, I have decided to teach privately until the new semester begins. Unfortunately i am not aware of what a native speaker should charge here. If at all possible, i would be most gracious if someone could please advise me of what the going rate per hour is for the following lessons:

1. A private one on one lesson where the student is taught at my home.
2. A corporate client who is recieving a one on one business lesson at their place of work.
3. A corporate client (group) who are recieving a busininess lesson at their place of work.

Once again i would be grateful for any advice.
Sincerely
Robert Smith

[Tumteetum]

Cant speak for Krakow but in Wroclaw I charge 50 - 60 an hour for privates at my home. Other teachers charge more I think. I dont do privtaes in students' homes due to the cancellation/bugger you factor - at my home when I'm going to be in anyway so if they dont come I carry on playing my PS2.

For 2 and 3; if the company is paying for these lessons, you will have to be able to invoice which means setting up your own company. If you can get such work cash in hand you could charge anything from 80 to 180 zl. I do teach in-house through schools here and the amount the school charges varies a lot and doesnt seem to correlate too much with number of students in the class. Depends on your negotioating skills.

Anyway thats just my tuppence worth and from my experience.

Internationals night and Im on Dave's - thats Polish flu for you.

What what. Splendid.

[afowles]

For one-on-one's I charged 60 per hour. Less if it was a college student because I felt bad for them.

For a couple, I charged 90 per hour. I tried to work it so the more students came, the less they each paid and the more money I got. It worked out well.

This was in Poznan.

[newnnadventuress]

I charged 60zl for an hour, 1zl a minute. If people want only 45 mins be ruthless about keeping an eye on the clock. Your time is your money.

I found teaching private students can be very rewarding.

All the best.

[the new guy]

just remember that ppl will be bailing out on lessons all the time. as has beeen my experience.

and they will want to get u for as cheap as possible. I was offered 11,50zl/45 minute hour with 3 lessons for a total of 2.25 hours x3 a week for 9hrs a week. since it is the summer... i might have to take it. 2.25 hours a day x3/week can keep me in food easily...

[redsoxfan]

You're working for 11.50/hr?

I don't know what to say.

[the new guy]

i guess u failed to read the "i was offered" part.

plus the woman is pretty hot

[Jetset]

^^^^^ Its all about the hot students! I got a couple girlfriends through "english lessons"

Now strawberryspread, you have to realize that Krakow is Saturated with otherwsie unemployable brits offering their English teachun' skillz! If you want to compete you will have to lower your price.

I blanketted the city with ads for English conversations at 45 zloty an hour and I got a only a few responses - albeit repeat customers.

Undercut the others, and "gorilla market" and you may earn enough to buy a couple Warka strong and a plate of bigos... but I doubt if you can support yourself off privates unless you are *really* well connected!

[JPM]

'Not sure about the undercutting.

Students know if the teacher's any good. You get what you pay for. Whilst a good teacher may choose to undercut the rest (thereby selling him/herself short), in my experience, it's not necessary: do a good job and they'll keep coming back to you. Hence less need to advertise.

I charge between 50 and 60, in Krakow.

J.

[Jetset]

Oh I agree its not good to sell yourself short, but I think the content of the ad can sell your individual skills / qualifications / and experience.

But in a saturate market, its simple supply and demand at work. If there are 10 ESL ads up on a bulletin board and they are all asking 50 zloty an hour, and if you can undercut the competition by 10-15 zl an hour - people will come to you.

Undercutting is a good technique at least initially when you enter a market. Once you have more clients then you can start raising your prices... once you have the reputation and customer base to validate more $$

[redsoxfan]

[TwinCentre]

AN ALTERNATIVE CONCEPT GOING ON IN WARSAW - "OVER-CUTTING"
___________________________________________________________

I know of at least two people in Warsaw who are onto a little truth.

They charge ridiculous prices for privates, on the premise that a small minority of Warsaw folk interpret very high price as meaning very high service. And it seems to work.

The idea of charging 180 zt an hour might sound silly, but if you sell your credentials as being exceptional, and thus fitting the price, there are SOME people (not many) who will pay that. Most people will slam the phone down, but both teachers have a handfull paying that price for great lessons. Meaning less work for more money etc.

Part of the concept of marketing the tiny minority who will pay so much more, I am told, is to actually turn some students down, thus furthering the perception that "this really is a premium service"!!!!!

I am sure this could only happen in Warsaw!!! It is something to do with a lack of a middle class or something....anyone an economist or psycologist for that matter????

I am not condoning this directly, and I do not do it myself, but just bringing this strange reverse psycology to light.

[Cognition]

[ktodba]

For many people price = quality, if I remember the economics term correctly it's Veblen goods but don't quote me on that. Try teaching a sample lesson to the 'client' and leaving it up to them to pay you what they think it is worth. If you like the price teach them again, if not then politely decline future opportunities. Don't forget that they will talk to their friends so don't burn any bridges.

Your time is worth what someone will pay for it. Not what you think it is worth. Make the market work for you.

[Harry from NWE]