Job Discussion Forums

cari83 · Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Posts: 13

I'm aware that in some countries, such as Korea, teaching private lessons on the side is completely illegal and will land you in a lot of trouble. I would never consider doing that. But I am curious about which countries allow this, or do not punish you for it? I've heard that in Japan ESL teachers "own their own visa" or something like that, and are allowed to teach private lessons. I assume this means they can also tutor ESL online.

Does anyone know in which countries ESL teachers can give private lessons, in person and online, outside of their regular work?

Sashadroogie · Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 6:28 am Post subject:

Russia. The terms 'legal' or 'illegal' are quite slippery here. Many grey areas. In all seriousness, nobody seems to earn money fully within the law. And the law, such as it is, seems to be ever changing. I had a private student once who was on the staff assisting a member of the Duma, and even they were working for 'black' money, i.e. under the table. Teachers who are employed by large chain schools do not have all their earnings declared either.

Are private lessons fully legal or not? I do not know, is the short answer. But nobody seems to know, including my legal students and those involved with the taxman. In any case, schools do not seem too concerned, and neither do the authorities.

rtm · Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 1003 Location: US

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

In China you can work exclusively as a private tutor on an F (business) visa, or work on the side private tutoring while employed elsewhere on a Z (work) visa. Both are illegal, but both are commonly done and largely there are no problems. Moonlighting Z visa holders are in fact EXTREMELY common. I am one of the few who work exclusively private tutoring on an F. Note that new visa regulations came into effect yesterday (1 July 2013), and how these regulations will affect things is uncertain at the moment. My own guess is that they will have little effect, though M visas (of course they have to confuse things by using a new letter for business visas and using F for something else [a particular sort of Z visa]) might get more expensive and of shorter duration.

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

cari83 · Joined: 22 Sep 2011 Posts: 13

Thank you guys for this info!

That's interesting about Russia. I'm not sure I'd want to get in trouble while in Russia. Smile

But I had a Russian friend tell me that I could probably do private tutoring there and he said I wouldn't get in trouble for it.

I didn't know that about Japan, that most contracts say you can't do the tutoring. That sort of takes away the "extra" income incentive.

I guess China wouldn't be that difficult to do private tutoring if all you have to do is ask your boss.

sarah28f · Joined: 26 Jun 2013 Posts: 6 Location: Hong Kong

I am working for a learning center in Hong Kong and the contract says I cannot work anywhere else. I do private tutoring on the side in spite of it.

Nobody seems to care about the letter of the law. If you blatantly disregard the law you will be in trouble, but there is no mechanism in place for the job to find out you are working elsewhere. They cannot stop you from private tutoring unless they find you.

I could be fired, yes. I also wouldn't care since there is no shortage of work here.

I got offered three jobs and even showed up for my first day of wrok at one place without a single employer asking me to verify that I had a dependant visa or a degree.