Job Discussion Forums

vern0rs · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 12

How difficult is it for someone to conduct private tutoring on the side to further supplement their income in the Middle East. I know in other world locales this is easy to do. How easy is this to do in the Middle East?

johnslat · Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 11:41 pm Post subject:

Dear vern0rs,

I think you're going to need to narrow your focus a bit - lots of different countries and probably different answers.

One general rule is that when you're under contract, you're usually prohibited by that contract from doing any other work.
Another general rule is that no one pays much, if any, attention to that prohibition - but if you do private lessons in violation of your contract, keep quiet about it.
Another general rule is set a fair price (and I used to let that pretty much depend on the student's situation - I taught a couple of princes/high military officers there and charged about 300 SR an hour, but not ALL Saudis are rich. My normal rate was about 150 SR to 180 SR an hour)
AND collect the money UP FRONT. Some Saudis don't mind not showing up
(and that's another thing, where you HAVE the lessons, and that'll depend on your situation, but if you have to take a taxi to and from, that should be added on to the hourly fee), and make sure they know that if they miss a lesson without letting you know, hey, they get charged for it.

Hope this helps a little.

Regards,
John

P.S. In Saudi - and likely most other places - it'll depend on your contacts. You'll have to establish a "presence" there, get to know some people, get yourself known. Word-of-mouth is the best way to get students although you can also post notices in the big supermarkets there.

vern0rs · Joined: 27 May 2010 Posts: 12

Thanks John for that information that helps alot Razz

Sadebugo · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 524

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I think that the clause in the contract is really more about keeping us from tutoring our own students. This is something that is very common in public schools in places like Egypt... where the teachers cover almost nothing in their class time... and in order to pass the government exams and progress to the next year, they have to pay their teacher to actually teach them the material in private lessons. (also a reflection of the breathtakingly low salaries they pay their teachers)

VS

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Varies within countries as well as from one to another. In Jeddah there is lots of work for the moonlighter. In Khobar/Dammam it is pretty hard to find. Dunno about Riyadh. Don't want to know either !

bedwiya · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 66 Location: Kuwait

Lots of work in Kuwait tutoring on the side. I have some Korean students, and have tutored many Korean families here for 8+ years; many for 2-3 years. They are great students, pay on time and seldom ever cancel. Tutoring locals on the other hand can be a whole 'nother headache. Each time I agreed to try tutoring locals again I got burned. Notorious for not showing up, not paying on time, not respecting the appointment time. Getting students through word-of-mouth is usually the best way to guarantee success.