Job Discussion Forums

JAppleby · Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 32

I just started teaching English here in Heredia, and I already had one student ask me if I was going to do private lessons, because he'd be interested. I don't know if I will or not, but I was wondering, how much do I charge for a private lesson? Has anyone else in CR given them and could give me a ballpark figure? Thanks!

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

Can I pay you with cooking and great jokes?

JAppleby · Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 32

For English lessons or Spanish lessons? Laughing

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

Spanish.

Wait, was that a trick question?

JAppleby · Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 32

No, no trick. I just wanted to make sure you weren't asking me to give you English lessons, since technically you've had more TEFL training than I have. Shoot me an e-mail about it if you want.

John Hall · Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2007 9:58 pm Post subject:

I charge 6300 colons per hour for my one private class. I can get away with that because I have over ten years of experience teaching. Also, I do these privates on top of my full-time and part-time jobs, so I am only motivated to do them if I am going to be paid well!

snorklequeen · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:52 am Post subject: Private classes

John, what do you suggest someone with less experience who really wants the extra work could charge? for example: 1 year experience, 2 years, 5 years. thanks, Queenie

John Hall · Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject:

There are a lot of factors to take into consideration: What can your students afford? Do you have to travel far to get to the class? Do you or your students have to buy materials for the class?

I wouldn't recommend anybody teach classes for less than what you are paid at your institute or school. After all, this is your free time. Also, higher prices require a more serious commitment on the part of your students. You may still get students dropping out for various reasons, even with the higher prices though.

You should also give serious thought to a cancellation policy that won't leave you high and dry if the students don't show up. I require students to pay two or four weeks in advance, with no refunds offered, unless I am the one who has to cancel. That way, I am guaranteed a steady income for as long as the student(s) continue with me.

snorklequeen · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 12:32 am Post subject: Private classes

thanks, John! very helpful. Q

John Hall · Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2007 5:21 pm Post subject:

A couple of experienced teachers that I talked to recently told me that they teach at companies privately, and that they charge in the range of 10,000 to 13,000 colons per hour. The 6300 colons per hour that I charge a company enables me to work a lot more hours for that company than these other teachers work at their companies. Still, I am beginning to think that I am undercharging my client.

There is potential, I think, for serious experienced teachers to make salaries better than what most teachers make in Costa Rica. However, this would require the serious teacher to get in contact with (and network with) HR people at call center companies in Costa Rica. This is a booming business right now in this country, with Hewlett-Packard, Sykes, IBM, Fujitsu, and a whole slew of other companies either establishing or expanding call centers here. Business English, telephone English, and accent reduction training are all in demand. Three companies have recently contacted me about teaching them, but I had to turn them all down because their offices/facilities were too far away from where I live.

By the way, when I refer to call centers, for me that does not include sportsbooks. Some of those may hire English teachers from time to time as well. Some also may be decent places to work. But a significant number of them are run by people who change their names from one week to the next.