Job Discussion Forums

[Ramblin' Man]

Hey all,

I have been lived and worked in a few cities in China before. I'm out of the country at the moment, but thinking of returning soon.

I've got some funds tucked away so I'm not looking to teach full time right now, I'd just like to teach part time.

What interest me the most is meeting students or parents directly and making a direct deal with them, this means I meet them they say they want me to teach them or their child and I say sure, then we discuss times, location, money and subject/materials and books used. No agency or company acting as a middle man, just me and my client making a deal directly.

This of course means meeting them is a bit more difficult. I know in China it can be possible to meet people just walking around on the street, or being out and about. It can take a bit of time, but it will probably happen eventually. What I want to figure out is what I can do to speed the process up.

How many of you have been approached on the street or in a bookstore or at your school or wherever and given a serious job offer by somebody who was actually interested learning from you and paying you for your services?

Where do you think would be a good place for me to kind of hang out, or walk around near or in to increase the chances of getting offers, I mean type of location, like bookstores, a favorite lunch time eating place for students of a nearby university, near a university campus, etc. etc. ?

What city would be best for this? Am I likely to find success in any medium size city or larger, or should I aim for either Beijing or Shanghai, or would a smaller (medium size city,) actually be a better bet?

Just in case I may come off as one, I'll say up front that I am not some backpacking in and out type of teacher who is just looking to pad their travels with some quick cash, and is the type to give FT's in China a bad name.

As I mentioned I have some cash set aside and I do want to take my teaching seriously, I just don't feel the need for a heavy load.

Any ideas, advice, info anybody can give me will be helpful I'm sure

Regards

Ramblin' Man

[Seuss930]

What will you do for a VISA?

I have made a lot of money by private lessons.
I get (at least) 3 calls a month still but I don't have the time.
The following is JUST MY EXPERIENCE

This has worked for me
*go to a university, talk to students, and state your intentions clearly - find out whose parent is a teacher at a primary/middle school
or just go to a primary/middle school and say you are looking for part time work or looking to open a private class or two - get names and numbers
*find out if that parent knows any other teachers/persons with children of the same age looking for private lessons
THIS IS EASIER THAN IT SOUNDS - make take a couple of days

OR - Go into a school - make sure to wait until kids are outside - get directed to an English teacher (hope she speaks English) and tell her what you are doing. Leave a name and number (maybe even a flyer)

TIPS:
*offer to use a book the Chinese trust (Cambridge, New Concept, etc)
*small classes (NEVER DO PRIVATE ONE ON ONE LESSONS - you are cheating yourself out of money)

I won't open a private class unless I can get 5 students. 10 at most.
Only for the fact that it makes games and activities and such easier for me.
1-on-1 = 100 - 200RMB / hr (depending on what city, of course)
Class of 5 40RMB/hr X 5 = 200RMB / X10 - 400RMB(or a little less to make it more attractive) (or a little more )

I set up classes to make 300-400RMB/hr with a full class of 10
If I only have 5 students, then all I make is half.

I actually agreed to work at the middle school 1 day/4 hours a week and then pulled my students from there.

I teach 3 private classes of kindergarten students on Saturdays
8am-12:00 MAX - 8 students (because they are younger)
4 hours a week / 16 hours a month and this brings me about 4000 RMB a month
and this is AFTER I pay the kindergarten a % to use their classroom and after I pay my Chinese teaching assistant
so the money is there
But you have to give good, quality classes. It's about making money but it's not about scamming for the money.

[Molson]

Interesting discussion.

I charge 200-300 an hour for 1 on 1. I don't like small groups. I have enough small groups at my regular job!

I agree though that it can get to be where you just don't have time to do all the ones that are offered to you. I am stretched as it is.

[Ramblin' Man]

[Renegade_o_Funk]

...

[Seuss930]

You couldn't get 200-300 an hour in this city.
Average 1 0n 1 here is 100 to 150 tops

Also, when I speak of small groups, I'm talking about children 7-12.
All adults I have tutored were 1 on 1 but for me, the games and activities for children run so much smoother with a few more
(also, for me, makes the time go by faster)
If you get that 13 year old boy who hates talking and has no energy (which is why he's doing poorly in English and which is why he is taking 1 on 1) it can be a painful hour or 2

also, whether you prefer groups or 1 on 1, its about the money and you can always make more with small groups if you know what you are doing

i work at my job because i love my job
i do private classes because i love not being broke

[Mister Al]

I see the OP is avoiding the visa question.

[theincredibleegg]

I think starting your own classes is easier than people think.
I was even stopped by a random parent on the street not so long ago, asking if i wanted to give classes to her kids.

Unfortunately, I have enough work as it is and i have certain degree of loyalty to my employer. But still, if you're here on an F- or L-visa, you can make shitloads of money.

The problem is that it's illegal and you have to watch out a bit.

[Ramblin' Man]

[JZer]

[JZer]

[Ramblin' Man]

[Seuss930]

Well, this is what I did. I went to a kindergarten and agreed to teach there 1 1/2 hours a week (125/hr - quite normal here) after a month, I approached the kindergarten and asked if its possible to open a class for students going to this kindergarten and I'd give them a %. They agreed and I was off. The kindergarten has around 500 students so I could (theoretically) open as many classes as I want but my hours now are enough for me.
Small classes and a little expensive have seemed to work out well.

as for VISA, I have a job at a uni which gives me my visa. And, although some employers don't agree to outside hours (very few don't agree - dont take students from your classes - don't flaunt it - and keep it very very professional) my boss often tries to set up classes (friends of hers often request a foreign teacher and they know she has access to some)

And when I say very few don't agree, I mean it. You just have to approach them the right way, don't just go up and say "hey, can I get another job" that way usually doesn't work.

i wouldnt try to set up here without a visa. it'd make me too nervous.

[JZer]

Seuss930, interesting.

I might try it some day. Do you think that one can get a higher rate if they are a trained teacher back home?

[xiaolongbaolaoxi]

Yes, a credential can get a higher rate, but then you can get yourself into another profile problem... "There's this great professionally trained teacher that my kid goes to..." You'll get word of mouth publicity that can also go to the wrong ears. But back to rate... my experience has been that parents are very price-sensitive... they will be willing to pay more for a good learning experience for their child once they realize their kid likes what is going on, but you have to get the lesson/curriculum/relationship started first.

You may want to cultivate lowkey connections before arriving in whatever city you choose... maybe you have a friend in city A that can quietly find students for you if you arrive in 30 days, get you book B (I personally don't like the curricula suggested but another poster's idea to use a familiar/established book in China will ease customers' minds), and help make arrangements for class to begin on day C.

Just some thoughts (D)

XLB