Job Discussion Forums

Grrrmachine · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 265 Location: Warsaw, Poland

One of my students offered me a curious job this week; something like an ESL babysit. Take her 12 year old son out for a four-hour session (doing god knows what) once a month, making sure he constantly speaks English.

Im curious as to how to charge for this. It's rather hypothetical because I don't like working with kids anyway, but how much would you guys charge for this?

Mike_2003 · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Posts: 344 Location: Bucharest, Romania

Why not charge the same as you normally would for a four-hour private lesson, not forgetting to clarify from the beginning that any costs incurred during this outing will be covered by the client?

joshsweigart · Joined: 27 Feb 2005 Posts: 66

Meeting once a month is rather pointless (as far as language learning goes) even if he or she has other classes. Whatever "native speaker" language he may pick up in the sessions will be lost well before you'd meet again. Why not tell the lady this and do it once a week or twice a week and, like the other guy said, just charge whatever you charge for a normal private or more. In my experience dealing with little kids is really difficult--they are hard to keep engaged. If you do, remember to keep it moving quickly and use lots of colors.

Grrrmachine · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 265 Location: Warsaw, Poland

Josh; TWELVE years old, not six! I'm aware that a four-hour lump isn't as value-for-money as 4x60 classes; Im just wondering about the money side of things. I'd feel a bit guilty charging her 240zl plus costs just for taking her son to the cinema

joshsweigart · Joined: 27 Feb 2005 Posts: 66

That's why IF you want to do it, I'd suggest 4*60 unless she just wants a babysitter once a month. One big block will do nothing except fatten your wallet a bit (not that that's bad for you). Even for some 12 year olds you have to really keep it moving.

If you want to do it once a month and take him or her to the movies, o.k. I'd say, ummm... 100 zl. It's what you might make for four hours at a Callan school (just a guess).

Tumteetum · Joined: 04 Feb 2005 Posts: 144

Definitely charge the same as you charge for privates. And Im sure she wouldn't want you dumping him in front of a movie - you'll probably have to actually talk to the little git. You'll earn your money.

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

A wonderful opportunity to upgrade your Polish vocab /readng skills once a month in the art gallery/museum of your choice and get paid for it.
Is he a footie/sports fan? take him to a game

Does he drink?

Prospectave · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

I would charge nothing. You obviously don't need the money. I'd devise something simple and uncompromising to your not liking/not wanting/not caring much for teaching kids.
Here you are. You can entertain the kid for 50 minutes, twice a month. Get in the mall, walk around talking to him/her, teach new words as you walk the shops and point at the objects. Score some points with the mom/student so the voice gets around that you are versatile, all-around, cool teacher. You might even get to like it and discover that it's not that tedious as long as you keep it interesting in a novel kinda way. Otherwise you would have to come up with some serious classroom alchemy to get these wards amusingly learning and most of the time they aren't learning at all. It's their mother who wants them to learn. And if the kid didn't like your teaching method or approach, and told somebody else about it, his/her mother would get a different opinion of you. Start charging when you get more kids (or a group), meaning your method works effectively, or when you get to teach their parents. The bottom line is that you want to make (more) money teaching the parents, don't you? Or, continue to teach in good terms that particular parent for that matter?

joshsweigart · Joined: 27 Feb 2005 Posts: 66

Always charge for a lesson unless it is for a very close friend. Not doing this would only prove that you aren't very professional and that your time isn't very important.

Prospectave · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 6

Grrrmachine · Joined: 27 Jul 2005 Posts: 265 Location: Warsaw, Poland

Prospectave - Im perfectly savvy with kids; I've been teaching them on and off for seven years now. What's more, I haven't accepted the job. And this idea of "not charging if you don't enjoy it" defies all logic. The more you like doing something, the lower the wage you'll accept. That's why people do hobbies for free and Arabian bodyguards get $10k a month...

This aside, I do appreciate your post; it's a nice set of tips for newer teachers or people new to a city that don't have that circle of contacts and clients built up yet. And yes, it's the mother who wants the son to learn; he's in a school now and is bored "because he is far more intelligent than the rest of the group" blah blah. Were I to take the job, I wouldnt charge her the full 240 because it's a nice chunk of work, which means a reduction in travelling times for me.

In the end, trying to find a four-hour block mid-week just isn't going to happen, and when the mother said "but there's Saturdays..." the look I shot her said more than words alone could.

Of course, if anyone is in Warsaw and LIKES the sound of keeping a 12-year old occupied once a month, speak up now.