Job Discussion Forums

[creztor]

"Fair" here is obviously going to vary greatly depending on who you are and what you believe you can offer your privates. However, I am looking to see what people think an average ballpark figure is? I know you can check online and see what all the tutor websites are offering, but the truth is that there is a ceiling that the market is willing to pay before 99% of people just can't afford your classes regardless of how experienced you may be. Mr Black from the USA with his PhD might be charging 1,000 an hour but that doesn't mean he is getting it or may only have two or three hours a week at that rate. Where you live will also greatly affect the price you can charge. I've noticed a huge difference in what people in Kaohsiung can afford to pay compared to what those in Taipei are willing to pay. What I am seeing is that most people are wanting to pay 500 - 700 an hour for a private class, with more and more pushing towards the 500 mark the further south of Taipei. I've had several students who also suggested that if I was charging 500 an hour I'd be able to get many more students. What I do find a little insulting is that they expect to pay bottom dollar but want a foreign teacher who can communicate with in Chinese (maybe not teach the class in Chinese but be able to contact and arrange class times and handle everything else outside of class all in Chinese). If their English is not good enough to communicate with and instead prefer to use Chinese, then it seems to me that they should seek out a local teacher who may be more willing to accept the lower pay. I don't like ripping people off but I also do not want to sell myself too cheap. I've always been of the opinion that an hourly rate of 600 is fair, because that is what jobs in general offer and also you need to remember travel time and factor in students canceling classes at the last minute (if you've ever handled privates you will know how troublesome they can sometimes be). This can put yourself in a hard spot when you know that the economy isn't so crash hot and that if you don't take the student someone else will. I am fully aware of providing value and how to make sure that students can see the worth of your classes, but there is sometimes a big difference between what the market is willing to accept and what you believe is right, regardless as to how your promote yourself or what you offer. Thoughts?

[Rooster_2006]

I calculate my rate on a per-student basis.

Difficult tutoring situations (unmotivated kids, long distances) cost more.

I have one private student who is 47, motivated, and only a ten-minute walk away from my school. He already speaks intermediate English. We meet right after my regular classes are finished. I cut him a great rate -- 450 NTD. The work is so easy, it doesn't feel like work at all.

On the other hand, if someone were to ask me to go all the way across town and chase an eight-year-old around the room for three hours, I'd probably want 1,000 NTD per hour or more. I honestly don't want that student, and the only way the mom can make it worthwhile to me is to pay me 1K an hour. Otherwise, forget it.

I agree that the "going rate" for tutoring is utterly ridiculous. Nobody is willing to pay 1K an hour. I like to refer to it as the "going away rate" -- it'll make your potential customers go away.

Tutoring is risky and unreliable. Don't undersell yourself. I only cut that one student a deal of 450 an hour because he's reliable, motivated, and a ten-minute walk from my school.

[forest1979]

It is extremely difficult even with a PhD to score NT$1,000 per hour for private classes for a single student. But getting good money can be done. I knew one uni Prof who used to get NT$2,000 per hour as she used to teach a group of 8 and charge them NT$250 each per hour, based on a two hour class.

The real issue with private classes to a large degree is money but time. Rarely does charging NT$500 for instance mean that! Add in travel times and it realistically is nearer to 350 per hour or less.

As a starting ground work around NT$600 per hour. A good selling point is to say you will create your own materials for the student(s) to use. That will help swing things in your favor.

[markcmc]

I'm not sure what fair means really. But it would be difficult to charge more than local language schools charge, unless you really have a good reputation. That means it would be difficult for most teachers to charge more than 700-800NT per hour.

[JZer]

[Rooster_2006]

[NEP]

Fair?

I've been here 5 years. I've worked 1on1 private classes for NT600 to 1200/hour.

At this point, it doesn't seem FAIR that I would work a private for less--or approaching downwardly--the wage at my buxiban! Like, I make 700/hr with a 14-kid class...would it be fair that I give my undivided attention to ONE person for that low?

Bottom line: I aim high, can negotiate down; but be SURE to show your willingness to negotiate SOON, if the client is bucking.

If rates get too FAIR, foreigners may soon have little reason to be here!

[zipper]

Today, while eating ji twei fan in a park, a young bitchy looking mother and her misbehaving five year old son stared at me for about a half hour. This activity slightly irritated me. After a while the mother asked me if I were a teacher, and I said "Yup" Then she asked me if I could tutor her son, and at that point I could sense that she was a thrifty kind of person, and so I said "I am sorry, but I don't have any time. Have a nice day." Then I stood up, threw my box of leftover rice into the metal can and walked away. That said, I don't do privates, because they are an unreliable source of income. But if I were to actually consider one being mindful of all the planning, then I would probably ask for 700 NT; since that is what I am getting right now for teaching adults. If they don't want to cough up the dough, then I don't have the time.

[KaiFeng]

I seldom did privates (defined as teaching engagements where the company was not paying for it) unless:

1. The person had strong motivation, which I came to associate with business professionals working for foreign companies. For whatever reason they were the most reliable.

2. There were two or three studying in a group; their kinship kept them coming to class when they otherwise may not have.

3. I could use teaching slots for privates which seldom appealed to companies, like two to four in the afternoon. Sometimes I worked with them on early Saturday afternoons. It was not rock solid reliable, but it was better than not making any money at all during those times.

During the later stage of my consulting time in Taiwan I charged NT$1200 to NT$1500 for these.

But, tbh, I filled my schedule with company gigs whenever possible. That way I could include the time in my time sheet even if they were late or had not shown up. "Tutoring" was just to fill otherwise unleveraged time. I avoided students, academics, etc.

[creztor]

Some interesting replies. For some reason it appears that "fair" has been read as "cheap", this is not what I intended it to be read as. However, there is a huge difference between charging 1000NT+ for a small group/corporate class than actually charging one person that much. Thanks for all the replies. Food for thought is good.

[beenthere96-2005]

I "liked to get" NT600 or 700 but during the time I was there, I got NT450 once or twice and as much as NT1200 for a corporate class.

[123Loto]

I haven't done privates for several years but when I did the minimum I'd charge was $1000NTD per hour - but the jobs I ended up accepting were for $1500 and hour.

I don't know if that's much help in today's economic climate but I would make the point if you ask for less you'll get paid less. If you ask for more you'll get more.

Of course, I had a steady job and didn't require the income... so that took the pressure off - and quite a few people couldn't afford my rates.

My rates were always:

1 on 1 = $1000/hour
2 on 1 = $1500/hour ($750 each/hour)
3 on 1 = $1800/hour ($600 each/hour)
4 on 1 = $2000/hour ($500 each/hour)
+$200/hour for each student added from there on...

I had several years teaching experience and a good reputation in the community. I prepared a lot for these classes to make sure the students got their money's worth.

[KaiFeng]

The key answer is:

1. Charge what the market will bear.

2. In viewing a potential client, look for long-term viability and reliability. Avoid teaching friends; after all, business is business.

3. Company-paid privates are preferable, because companies are more amenable to paying for late/no-shows.

4. Bear in mind, the more urgent the need, the more the willingness to pay. This includes stuff like job interviews, going abroad, TOEFL pre, etc. After all, in the short term + one day, they'll stop studying with you.

Personally, due to reason #2 I always avoided privates, much preferring company classes. When I did take them (privates), it was around $1500 an hour. But I seldom took them on, and when I did, I considered the money to be pocket money for books, not mortgage money.

Hope that helps; good luck and let us know how it works out.

[zipper]

I am very pessimistic about teaching English in Asia; particularly to older folks. I live in ChangHua County, and I just feel that people in this area are very apathetic or just not interested in learning English. I teach a couple of classes for Wells, and the way they have it set up is that students pay a lump sum and come in whenever they feel like it; and it seems that most are lackadaisical; the young females seem interested in studying with young foreign males than they are with older married ones like myself. Kids are kids, but they are not as curious or interested in studying with foreigners as they were 15 years ago. In a way, I feel shame or am very embarrassed to admit that I teach English for a living when any Taiwanese ask me about what I do, because I know that is the answer they expect to hear. Perhaps my aversion to teaching English stems, in part, from my experience in S. Korea. It was a kill joy. So, I am trying to find a way to make a living doing something else that will give me a sense of dignity again. I guess that this post is a rant.

[KaiFeng]

Zipper, don't tell folks you're an English teacher. Do what I did and tell them you're a language consultant or trainer, and get business cards made that say this. Worked for me really well!