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John Hall · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:51 pm Post subject: Teaching Privately in Canada?

Has anyone tried teaching students privately in a major Canadian city? If so, how did it go? Is it sustainable? Are there too many places that offer free ESL instruction? Is it all just teaching kids, or is it possible to get adult students as well?

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

I've done it but just for pocket money. I didn't have any time finding students, but I did have a LOT of resistance to my $20/hour minimum price. There are a lot of people with BAs in English willing to tutor for $10/hour... it drives prices down far enough to make it not worth your while.

canadashirleyblue · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 162

I am in Toronto right now. I am living in the Bloor Dundas area. There are signs all over the place advertising free ESL lessons. I don't know why anyone (especially a poor immigrant) would pay $10 a hour.

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

I used to live in Vancouver and my sole source of income was teaching ESL. Very hard to do, couldn't make a living at it long term. I charged $25/hr and this was 8 years ago. Hard to beat free, but if they want an effective teacher, you can sell yourself and get $25. The problem is that you can't fill a schedule with that.

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

canadashirleyblue · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 162

I was just out getting my groceries from Loblaws and I read one of the many advertisements for free ESL lessons.

Apparently they are from 9:00 till 2:30. They have "computer assisted labs", "free childminding" and "help with travel" as well.

I would be interested to hear from anyone who taught hourly (for any rate at all!) who your students were and why they chose you over the freebies.
CSB

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Last summer I taught a middle-school student whose mom felt he needed more instruction to catch up to grade level, as he had recently arrived from Korea. I also taught a visiting university professor who was doing research in my city. Those were my twice-a-weeks (making a grand total of four hours). I also proofread papers for foreign students studying at the university here- I'd get a paper or two each week as well.

I definitely had the opportunity to take on more students, but at the same time I was offered a full-time job at a community college that was just for the summer term. That worked perfectly for me because I was going back to school, so I kept the professor on my schedule but passed the kid on to one of my friends. The kid's mom phoned me a few times begging me to take him back... I had to laugh... she would cancel on me with no notice but I gave them TWO WEEKS notice AND found him a new, qualified tutor, but that wasn't enough!

GambateBingBangBOOM · Joined: 04 Nov 2003 Posts: 2021 Location: Japan

canadashirleyblue · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 162

Yes, it was LINC. I have seen lots more since I have been looking!

The market for private tuition would seem to be mainly students and businessmen? And I assume their English would already be adequate for them to function in jobs, schools etc.?

John Hall · Posted: Sat Jun 23, 2007 2:43 pm Post subject:

So far, no positive stories... No one has been able to be successful teaching privately in Canada?

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

What's your definition of 'success?' Enough money from privates to support yourself/pay rent/eat food? Unfortunately, not likely.

Privates in general don't (or can't) pay much per hour, are unreliable, and it takes time/contacts to round up enough of them to be worthwhile, if you're considering this as your primary source of income.

Possibly, depending on your quals, you might be able to 'sell' yourself to a corporation or two as an in-house teacher. I think the market's pretty limited for this, because you need corporations with enough non-native speakers to give you enough work to get by, and in a country where English is an official/native language that could be difficult.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I haven't taught in Canada but I can relate the experience of two other teachers who have: a couple of my co-workers have taught ESL in the Vancouver area.

Both agreed that it was relatively easy to get piece-meal with private ESL schools, but not full-time work; schools do not want to pay full-timer benefits. In both cases, these folks had temporary contracts to teach 10 hours here, 15 hours there, etc. They then supplemented those school hours with private 1-on-1 tutoring. Typically the hourly wage was about $20; when you factored in travel time, planning, prep, it was difficult to get more than about 25 hours per week. If you do the math, that's about $2000 per month.

Rents are expensive in the Vancouver area, so a small apartment plus utilities would take about half that money. These two both said that one could make a modest living but have little extra to put into savings or 'luxuries' such as a car, house, etc.

VanKen · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 139 Location: Calgary, AB Canada

Gordon · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 5309 Location: Japan

VanKen · Joined: 29 Oct 2003 Posts: 139 Location: Calgary, AB Canada