Job Discussion Forums

Mtnkiwi · Joined: 27 Mar 2004 Posts: 67 Location: Osaka

I've just moved into a new neighbourhood with my wife. We are renting my brother-in-law's house, the family has been in the area for a while.

Lots of nice neighbours, quite a few kids. Yesterday one of the neighbours told us that her daughter wanted to learn English (1st year JHS), "but you look busy at the moment..." Anyway, I was feeling a little sick but my wife and I ended up talking to her daughter for a while, she showed us her English text for the year etc. No problem but....

...the thing is: is it fair for neighbour's to ask for favours like this? Once in a while is no problem, but I don't want to become a free teacher for the neighbourhood kids. I am trying to get private students at the moment, would it have been rude for me to have mentioned this at the time? I am very worried about upsetting any of the neighbours, it is a small street and we are going to be here for some years. How to be firm about not giving free lessons (this is my profession) without being offensive?

Discount on private lessons for neighbours?

dou?

bearcat · Joined: 08 May 2004 Posts: 367

Depends on your own feelings but I've gotten hit up by people in the neighborhood or wife's coworkers, etc. What if things dont work out? Could cause a raucus in the neighborhood etc.

One guy I know started up a private or two from his neighborhood and it ended up turning into a small decent ft income.

Another guy I know took on a student or two then got stuck with more and was working everyday of the week and holidays and was miserable(since neighbors would switch times all the time etc etc).... course some might blame that on his time and scheduling skills.... problems was he was too afraid to cause problems in the neighborhood by saying no. (Since not only he but his wife's parents lived in the same neighborhood.)

On a similar vein I know a girl who taught at a kindergarten and when the kids found out she lived close... well, she never had an sliver of privacy or freetime thereafter and it was one of the main reasons she quit.

So taking it on is up to you... if you are mr rogers neighborhood type of guy and love to socialize all the time with the folks around you then make a buck with it. If you're the opposite then avoid it like the plague.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

Free English lessons is no small favour. Tell them it is your job, why you are in Japan and your rate is _______ yen/hr. Suggest to your neighbour that he could get a group together of his daughter's friends and it would be cheaper for them. Be firm. The same thing happened to me 2 months ago and I just moved to this area 6 months ago. I teach them for 5,000 yen/hour (class of 2). They thought it was fair and so did I. What you charge is up to you.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I agree with Gordon. Be a professional and show it, or potential students will walk all over you. Showing that this is a JOB not a handout is not being offensive.

Vince · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 559 Location: U.S.

I'm with Gordon and Glenski. When tax time comes, will the neighborhood accountant come calling to see if you need help filing? Assuming it's a job for you and not a religious mission, my advice is to be firm from the beginning.

joncharles · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 132 Location: Beijing

It happens all over. My dad lives next to a retired math teacher. Quite often over the past 30 years neighbors have asked him during neighborhood functions to help their kids with math during his off time. I guess it is human nature to think that maybe if the person likes you, you might get freebie or a good deal on lessons.