Job Discussion Forums

charmed · Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Posts: 104 Location: china

Hello

Some chinese friends i made want me to teach their kids on my free time. There are no concrete agreements yet but i have three concerns:

1. Should I inform my boss about my having some tutoring accounts of my own? My contract is silent about this, tho. I need some insight for those who do this and have informed / have not informed their bosses.

2. How would you properly discuss tutoring rates with friends? How much is enough per session? I am in a midsized city with a midsized economy up north China.

Inputs please!!!

oiboy · Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Posts: 142 Location: Middle China

Guest · Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2004 3:11 am Post subject:

I personally would not tell the School. I made that mistake in November last year - I wanted to give FREE lessons to the local Primary School where some of my children go and the Principal here said NO.

Even though there is nothing in my contract either, I fully believe that all Chinese Schools think that they own you exclusively and do not like you teaching elsewhere.

If it is not interfering with your duties to the school, I do not see a problem with it as it is in your own free time.

Sorry, I have no idea of what you should charge.

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

And again, don't tell the boss what he doesn't need to know. Your time is your own, etc. Of course you must take care to manage your time effectively, but you already know that. My employer has developed the habit of changing my hours at the last minute in an attempt to prevent me from working for others. That doesn't stop me, but it does slow me down.

I usually charge 100 rmb, that's the going rate in Dalian.

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Your boss may not agree to your part-time engagement, and in fact, from a legal point of view this is not allowed. But it is widely done.

Don't afford your "friends" a special treatment - they are using you precisely because you are a "foreign" friend of theirs. Friendship has a price - charge them what you feel is right. RMB 100 is minimum these days; in southern provinces, you could ask for almost double!
Make suween them and you don';t have to pass through your employer's office!

randyj · Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 2:41 am Post subject:

As a general rule, I consider it more effective to act first, then apologize later, if necessary. Asking permission involves someone making a decision. I love the Chinese people, but their culture does not currently accommodate rapid decision-making.

Magoo · Joined: 31 Oct 2003 Posts: 651 Location: Wuhan, China

And do it in their homes, NEVER in yours. Your Chinese neighbours could quite possibly blab. Go for it, but don't fall for the old "But we have so little money" gambit when discussing greenbacks. Smile and insist.

ChinaLady · Posted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 5:42 am Post subject: tell the boss? ha, ha, ha

only if you plan on giving a "cut" of the fees to the boss.
all the Chinese teachers at my school have "extra" jobs - they call them consulting plans. see, you are a consultant - not a teacher.
and stay with the money you ask for - I like the small envelope after each lesson, transportation is nice, and a meal is a bonus.
first - visit the kid/adult home. that will tell you a bit about what to charge.
second - do not have the kid/adult come to your place.
third - have transportation arranged in advance. (if they have a car - a ride to and from your place is a nice bonus.)
fourth - learn to say NO and mean it. (my 40 minute lesson turned into 2 hours with the ride and the meal. nice but a continual 2 hours of English corner was a little toooo much.)
smile - this is China.

charmed · Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Posts: 104 Location: china

one thing common in what u all said is not to tell the boss. well, u r the voices of experience and i would certainly keep ur inputs in mind. chinalady's sharing is quite insightful and the others are factual.

tnx everyone... keep those advices coming.