Job Discussion Forums

[Kootvela]

[ecocks]

so what goes in one market doesn't necessarily follow in others. Whatever works. Depends a lot on your student population and their goals.

[SF21]

ok so I picked up two private students this week, and one wants me to tutor her for 90 minutes x 2 days a week... all to take place at her office (an hour commute on public transit!). that seems like a long lesson time for a private. i'd rather do 45 minutes x 2.

does anyone here give 90-minute privates?

[spiral78]

90 minutes is quite do-able - I suggest taking along a newspaper or newsmagazine or two to use as talking points (these are useful regardless of student level) and maybe some task-type materials. These can range from restaurant menus to flight bookings to hotel/resort descriptions.

Ask your student what he/she would like to concentrate on. If it's general conversation, make a list of useful/relevant/interesting talking points together.

Then, you can plan a bit in advance in terms of explicit grammar practice that may be useful, such as comparatives and superlatives if you're going to talk about (compare) holidays, food, weather etc., assuming that your student's interested in some level of explicit grammar review.

Another very useful resource is www.executiveplanet.com. It features comparisons of business cultures in great detail, from a range of countries. Whether you (and your student) agree with every point is irrelevant- it's a useful basis for conversation relevant to business.

[ecocks]

at the cost factors. Doing 2 X 45's requires you to spend the travel time twice for half the money.

Now, IF they are coming to your location, that is different. I had this and it was great! No travel, use your own toilet, eat in your own kitchen, all materials handy, almost a NO LOSE situation. Only problem was the wife got a little irritated when students would be in the apartment at midnight. So, I went back to limited traveling around.

My standard lesson is 90 minutes with a short stretch break of less than 5 along the way. Shorter, especially 45 minutes would feel like you just started and then its over. This way you maximize your lesson versus travel time. Occasionally a student wants ONLY an hour due to their schedule, but I still charge them the same as a 90 - no one who has gotten to the point of asking for the rate has refused. Then again, maybe my 90 minute rate is too low....

[Kootvela]

[Shonai Ben]

90 minutes is not that unusual......I do a couple a week.Anything longer than that is too long for me though.

[SueH]

I do hour and a quarter slots at home. Prep time is not much greater than an hour and it fits into peoples' schedules well, and appears better value to the student. For the younger kids it gives me leeway for chatting in L1 or games, so that coming to class (after school) doesn't appear like a nose-to-the-grindstone session.

[SF21]