Job Discussion Forums

[Hod]

One or two teachers I know do the maths as follows:

January earnings: 4000 Bong (made up currency, as far as I know)
February earnings: 4003 Bong
March earnings: 3997 Bong

Annual earnings: easy, 48000 Bong

But with language-learning adults in Europe, for example, getting 30 days holiday (and loads of sick pay), what really happens is:

June earnings: 1000 Bong
July earnings: 500 Bong
August earnings: 107 Bong

This isn�t the Poland section, but that country is the perfect example for some Bong.

I know a teacher there, in Warsaw, and visit loads. This time of year, he hangs out with all his teacher mates. Come the summer, though, where have they all gone? Gone to UK summer schools every one. The schools in Warsaw are all shut.

That shouldn�t affect the freelancer, right?

There�s a reason why these Poland schools close, and I�d hazard a guess it�s not financially viable to open in summer.

I�m not doubting PierogiMonster�s 33 hours average, but that�s quite a workload. Cancellations, holidays and sickies will take chunks out of that 33. I�d be curious to know how many more hours he must do to balance things and maintain the 33-hour average.

[Hod]

[smithrn1983]

[PierogiMonster]

Yup, that's about it: organisation, careful planning and minimal travelling: get them to come to you. That''s why I rent a flat in the centre. It's a little more expensive but it sure does help bringing in the privates.

Actually, if all my students came every week it'd be something like 37 or 38 contact hours, spread over six days. Basically, I overbook, knowing that I'll never have a full week. If I do and it presents a problem, I can always cancel a session or two, if required.

[jonniboy]

33 hours is doable.

Last year I did 35-40 hour weeks every week November through March except holiday weeks. Record was 44.75 hours. 6.75 hours on the Saturday and 1 hour on the Sunday. The weather's crap then so I figured I might as well save up some cash and take it easy in Summer and that's exactly what I did.

It's dropped off this year down to 30 but that's still enough to save a bit.

[PC Parrot]

Having been holidaying in Europe (the only way I can be there until I've saved enough to be able to afford to work there) I missed this gem of a post:

[BenE]

I'm pretty sure I got paid a similar amount working as a campsite helper for 3 hrs a day cleaning some tents and getting drunk back in 2004.

No quals required except some 'enthusiasm'

[Prof.Gringo]

[artemisia]

Prof Gringo:

[Justin Trullinger]

[artemisia]

Good stuff Justin! Even better � I see you already have your kitty wired for sound.

I�m now leaning more towards an anthem type song with some rousing refrains. I think this would be just the thing. As well as belting it out on my way to work each day, I could even � should a particularly unusual burst of enthusiasm come over me � share the unimaginable joy of it with my students!

I�m working on it.

[the_otter]

If you're talking about TEFL anthems, then Days of Forty-Nine has clear rip-off potential.

Chorus: In the days run dry, in the days gone by,
How often I repine
For the days gone by when we drank Europe dry
In the days of eighty-nine.

There was Disco Jay in St Tropez
He was always getting high
And every time that he shroomed out
He forgot he couldn't fly.
One day he climbed the old church tower
Shrieked 'There is no supine!'
Dropped like a stone and then lay prone
In the days of eighty-nine.

[artemisia]

Hmm, definitely got potential. A Lament then, with an accompanying suitably dour and earnest expression. I guess a TEFL: The Musical! extravaganza is out.