Job Discussion Forums

[robinnn]

As some of you may have read from my previous topics. I am planning to do some private english teaching in Japan. I've been on senseisagasu.com and have been looking at the profiles of teachers already over there. As I am woefully inexperienced and totally unqualified, I was wondering how to compete with TEFL holders with eikaiwa experience who only charge 2000yen per private lesson in central Tokyo. Is that a high rate or about average?
How much should I charge without such experience and training? Do students care about these things that much, or is it down to the availability or location of the teacher? I was thinking about charging 1500yen per private lesson, and 1000yen each for a group of 3.
silly or sensible?

by the way, if it helps, I speak conversational Japanese and have a bachelor degree. (but only companies care about degrees right?)

[Glenski]

robinn,
This should be posted in the Japan forum, but here goes.

2000 yen/hour per student is low. Some people DO charge this, but they don't know what they are doing, IMO. You will find that most people probably charge 3000-5000 yen/hour. Of course, that is for a 1-student class, and if you have more than that, you could also consider charging a reduced rate as the class gets bigger. In such a situation, I would NEVER go less than 1500 per student per hour, and even that is pretty low.

How do you compete? Well, you COULD lower fees to this pitiful level. You could also just get experience. Once you can prove to others that you are a good teacher, ask students to spread your name around. It works quite well in some cases.

SOME students care about their teachers having degrees. Depends on what you are teaching them -- conversation or business English or scientific English, etc.