Job Discussion Forums

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

I haven't got any...

Shocked

PT

Boy Wonder · Joined: 29 Mar 2004 Posts: 453 Location: Clacton on sea

Have mine!!

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

I'm not sure that they'd suit me...

PT

merlin · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 12:34 pm Post subject:

Gregor · Joined: 06 Jan 2005 Posts: 842 Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

In Indonesia, they're illegal and common supplementary income. Likewise China. VERY easy to find. Former students, or people you meet when you're out and about...(this should answer the question of how to find them if they're illegal).
I know one guy (not ME!!! I would NEVER do or have done this!!!) who opened small classes in his home. Put up a whiteboard in the living room, invest in some cheap desk-chairs (HOW cheap? How would I know?? I've never done this! But in Shenyang, I'M TOLD you can buy one for about 20 RMB), a cheap cassette player, and charge an affordable amount PER STUDENT, but a HUGE amount as an hourly wage for the teacher.
I know one guy who had two classes, twice a week, of eight kids each. He taught out of New Interchange (easily available in China), and had the students pay in advance. I don't remember the details (and why would I? It WASN'T ME), but that guy made almost TWICE with those two classes what he did in his full-time salary. He was able to pay off almost half his mortgage that way, in about a year and a half.
In addition to THAT, he had one little kid come over and he just sort of babysat her for an hour and a half, in English, and made 300 RMB per session (once a week, and that's about 200 RMB per hour, which is respectable).
He didn't have tons of free time, but he made TONS of money.

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 5:54 pm Post subject:

Don't you wish you had THAT GUY's privates, Gregor?

Here in Ecuador, privates are a pain. I've known some teachers who try to make it work, but: They cancel without telling you, sometimes they don't pay, they NEVER pay for cancellations (even if you arrive before they cancel) and nine times out of ten, they don't learn anything, but have really unreasonable expectations. Life is too short.

I have had friends who have been stiffed after a month's classes. (Dumb to let it ride that far, I know, but still wrong to stiff them.) I have know people who have been sexually harrassed. I have known people who have had long term, positive relationships with ongoing private students that paid on time. I have no idea how that happened, but it isn't common.

One reason, I think, that privates don't work too well here is that even in institutes, it's largely a teacher's market. In good schools, a teacher is typically paid anywhere from 50% to 80% of what the school charges the client. So it's hard for the teacher to give the private student a price break...

When I was in Spain, where teachers typically got anywhere from 10% to 40% of the school's take on an hour, or Italy (even less) privates were more common, and more lucrative.

I'm curious here. How widespread is the practice of "pirating" students from your academy? I've been in places where this happened a lot...

Justin

MELEE · Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2006 10:51 pm Post subject:

gaijinalways · Joined: 29 Nov 2005 Posts: 2279

When teaching privates, what do you focus on, and what materials do you use? What are your students expectations? Generally, how long do you keep clients- i.e., how long do you work with an individual?

I focus on a combination of what is good for the clients and what their goals are. Depending on where you teach the students, the computer can be a great tool (Iloved teaching in our office at home) as well as numerous resources and your imagination. A pre planned course for long term students is better.

As to length, I had some Hong Kong students for close to three years!

Sweetsee · Joined: 11 Jun 2004 Posts: 2302 Location: ) is everything

Used to have privates, got burnt out on it. Something to be said for folks dropping buy the house to chat and leaving money on the table, though. Guess I don't want the money anymore.

Ben Round de Bloc · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1946

Describing privates, huh? Okay, Guy, just for you . . .

~ Size really does matter. Depending on experience, some can handle up to 8 or 9 or even more without a problem, but I've heard that 6 is about average.

~ It's sometimes difficult to get them to come when they're supposed to.

~ If they're good, you can take them out and show them off to others as a way of getting more business.

~ Older ones may not always be as quick as younger ones, but they're usually easier to control.

~ Be gentle with them. Sometimes you have to coax them along and give them positive strokes. If they feel threatened or intimidated, they won't perform well.

~ If they're illegal where you live, don't expose them to the authorities. It's better to handle them on the sly in those situations.

~ The best time of day for them can vary. It's a matter of personal perference. Some do better early in the morning, others in the afternoon/evening, and yet others at night. However, there are some that are ready at any time of the day or night.

~ Sometimes they require lots of time and energy. If you feel that you have more than you can handle on your own, don't be afraid to ask for a helping hand.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Thanks Ben

biffinbridge · Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 701 Location: Frank's Wild Years

Hi damo...still with us?I'm in poland doing a runner (again).

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

where are you doing a runner to this time? Just remember to make sure you bring your privates with you.

Perpetual Traveller · Joined: 29 Aug 2005 Posts: 651 Location: In the Kak, Japan

Brilliant Tim, that was laugh-out-loud funny. Makes me wish I had some of my own to play with... I'm just not sure that I'm ready, maybe I can take on board one of your ideas and help someone else to handle theirs...

PT