Job Discussion Forums

[ChrisRose]

Having just finished two teaching contracts for local colleges representing overseas universities, all I can say is �No more paperwork please!�

I am actually thinking of taking a year out and just privately tutoring again.

This may seem like a huge step downwards professionally, but the idea of not having to mark 30 to 44 exam papers and all the endless reports whilst I swan off to the gym seems like a nice idea.

Has anyone else taken a similar step down by choice?

Chris

[foster]

I went the other way, from shit tutoring and conversation schools to proper teaching.

In HK, can you make enough $$$$ with private tutoring to live?

[ChrisRose]

Well all the paperwork was killing me.

Iwas a former NET and loved it. Job stability!

But for the last 3 years I was workign on contracts, which means stave or feast.


I will try it for a year and get back to you lol.

[foster]

I am a current NET and wouldn't give up the stability.I dont do well not knowing where my next pay check is coming from. Also, the cashola with NET is good (as you know) so I feel that I am finally making a dent in the future savings bank. I have spent the last 8 years of my illustrious career living paycheck to paycheck and now, I dont worry as much.

I wish you all the luck in the world being a private guy. I have recently received some emails from people about privates. My roomie passed on them and they have been filled, so if you want, I can send them on to you should I hear of any more.

[ChrisRose]

Thanks for the goodwill.

I haven't been able to get back as a fulltime NET for the last two years. Instead I became an assisant lecturer, and the number of hours and contracts increased.

The problem was contract based.

Like an idiot I rejected a fulltiem position with one of the institutions, somethign I regret to this day, but the position meant startign again from a much lower pay scale.

But from time to time, I have seen posings in other forums from people tutoring whom were making a higher monthley income, albeit without the security and paid holidays.

Well I say give a monthly update if anyone is interested.

From experience many years ago, I would say that 25% of projected monthly income is lost due to students missing lessons form, holidays, exams, etc.

So I am setting myself a target of 30 contact hours of tutoring, but remember I won't have to attend staff meetigns, or mark exam and tst papers for classes of 34 to 44 students.

Chris

[foster]

Just curious, but why did you leave the NET scheme? I'm in my first year and am wondering what the odds are of them re-newing me are in 2005. I like where I am for the most part and I am tougher than the average bear, so I can handle the shit they dish out.

[ChrisRose]

Long story.

But personal relationship with a superior went foul.

I thought it would be easy to find better conditions. I was wrong lol.

[Marcoregano]

In a recent article in the SCMP (Education Post), about EFL in HK, a private teacher claimed she was making about 15K (HK dollars) a month teaching just 3 afternoons a week, and she had only done the CELTA a year previous (before which she had been in a different line of work entirely). While this might be true, I think you'd be lucky to find such high paying private clients.

[ChrisRose]

Actually, I have had two postions which were similar.

Both were around $15K + for 3 afternoons.
One was salaried, the other wasn't.


Did you want to make any kind of point?

[foster]

I read about a guy who was tutoring English and Math and was pulling in 80K+ a month (hk$). Can't imagine what kind of hours he was putting in but if privates were that profitable, why am I on the NET scheme? My guess, because I don't have the ambition to hunt down students. hard enough to hunt them down at school to hand in work.

[Marcoregano]

A point? Yes, I thought it was obvious - I think it's hard to make a decent living out of private tutoring in HK, unless you've got some pretty tasty clients.

[Marcoregano]

By the way, if any of you guys can put me in touch with adult clients willing to pay around 500HK per hour and upwards, I'd be pleased to meet them. I have time on my hands right now....hence my first return to this forum since last July!

[ChrisRose]

IC
I appologise.

I had just woken up and got tee'd off with an e-mail when I drew that reply.

Point well taken.

The real problem is in the stability of income.

[once again]

The three afternoons for 15,000 is ok. If you work 4 hours from 1-5 and get 300 per hour that is 1,200 a day. Per week is 3,600 which per month is 14,400. The only problem these days seems to be finding someone who will offer that many consecutive hours on a regular basis. I seem to be running all over HK at the moment as nobody has offered me consecutive hours at those rates. I may just be unlucky on this at the moment though.

[Marcoregano]

I agree. I would happily take 3 or 4 consecutive hours at 300 an hour, but if it's only 1 hour I would quible at less than 500. With all the travel and grief involved, less than that it wouldn't be worth it. I'd like to build up a client base of high-rollers. Anyone got any ideas as to how to track them down? I joined the FCC a couple of years ago partly in the hope of getting some high-paying English students, but haven't found any there yet! Truth be told, however, I spend most of my time there at the bar, not seeking out potential clients. Ah well....