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Private Lessons

 
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72308



Joined: 01 Sep 2010
Posts: 38
Location: Tokyo, Japan

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 7:46 am    Post subject: Private Lessons Reply with quote

Hey, so I can see that working for schools is pretty dire in London, so I was wondering how you guys do on the private lesson front? I studied French and Japanese whilst I was last living in London (about 3 years ago) and my teachers managed to do well just teaching privates. Is that not the case for English teachers?

Thanks for your replies.
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esl_prof



Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt

PostPosted: Fri Mar 20, 2015 1:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The ratio of teachers to prospective students is probably significantly lower for qualified French and Japanese teachers than qualified English teachers, thus more jobs. Is there, by chance, an online service in the UK like Wyzant.com that matches tutors with students? Like any freelancing gig, it will likely take months, even years, to build up enough clientele to make a full-time salary that way.
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scot47



Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343

PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 7:15 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It would be very difficult to support yourself by doing private lessons in English.
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spiral78



Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash

PostPosted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 8:25 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Quote:
Hey, so I can see that working for schools is pretty dire in London, so I was wondering how you guys do on the private lesson front? I studied French and Japanese whilst I was last living in London (about 3 years ago) and my teachers managed to do well just teaching privates. Is that not the case for English teachers?

Thanks for your replies.


As a native speaker of English in London, you've got rather a lot of competition, which the French and Japanese teachers probably didn't Laughing
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72308



Joined: 01 Sep 2010
Posts: 38
Location: Tokyo, Japan

PostPosted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 6:29 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Pretty much what I thought - I was just being hopeful. Thanks for your replies, guys.
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Dedicated



Joined: 18 May 2007
Posts: 972
Location: UK

PostPosted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 8:27 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

72308,

If you are based centrally in London, there is a huge demand for English from amongst university students. If you can offer IELTS preparation, IELTS examining, GMAT or anything connected with EAP, such as editing/proofreading of dissertations, you can definitely build up a pool of customers.

If you place advertisements around the universities that would be a start. Once you get a few customers, then word of mouth gains plenty more. The minimum rate seems to be about 25 GB pounds per hour. I have several university teacher friends who supplement their incomes substantially from private lessons, but not sure whether you could survive only on private lessons. That would take time and energy to build up your reputation.
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esl_prof



Joined: 30 Nov 2013
Posts: 2006
Location: peyi kote solèy frèt

PostPosted: Sun Mar 22, 2015 4:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Excellent advice, Dedicated!

If a full-time job for the OP is not forthcoming (a very likely possibility), it might be best to combine freelancing with a some part-time teaching at a university or language school.

You might consider this approach to freelancing being discussed on another thread:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=110232&highlight=
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LH123



Joined: 13 Jun 2010
Posts: 61

PostPosted: Tue Mar 24, 2015 9:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is a market for English-language tutoring in London (see http://www.thetutorpages.com/) - the trick is to find a niche, and establish oneself there. A friend of mine started off as a tutor in the UK, and ended up running his own (successful) tutoring agency. Some possible avenues might be...

- National Curriculum Keystages English language and/or literacy for immigrant children
- IELTS preparation classes
- Professional/business English

Just being a simple 'General English Tutor' isn't going to cut it, the money is in specialisation.

(IMHO...)
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Gamajorba



Joined: 03 May 2015
Posts: 357

PostPosted: Tue May 05, 2015 6:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Honestly, I found private teaching in the UK totally unreliable. Students would very often flake out or not be able to pay up enough, plus when you are in a country which speaks the language you are learning, most don't really need lessons anyway!

But there are exceptions of course...
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Dedicated



Joined: 18 May 2007
Posts: 972
Location: UK

PostPosted: Wed May 06, 2015 7:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Gamajorba wrote
Quote:
when you are in a country which speaks the language you are learning, most don't really need lessons anyway


I beg to differ. This may apply a little to general English, but there is no way a student can 'pick up' EAP, GMAT or even IELTS skills from the surroundings. They need to be taught.

That's why for private lessons you really need to find a niche, where students have a specific goal to aim towards, and your lessons will be invaluable.
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Gamajorba



Joined: 03 May 2015
Posts: 357

PostPosted: Fri May 08, 2015 9:07 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dedicated wrote:
Gamajorba wrote
Quote:
when you are in a country which speaks the language you are learning, most don't really need lessons anyway


I beg to differ. This may apply a little to general English, but there is no way a student can 'pick up' EAP, GMAT or even IELTS skills from the surroundings. They need to be taught.

That's why for private lessons you really need to find a niche, where students have a specific goal to aim towards, and your lessons will be invaluable.


That's why I said there are exceptions. I did privately teach TOEFL/IELTS ocassionally, but even getting private students for more niche things like that I found very difficult to come by. :/ maybe it's just me...lol
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