Job Discussion Forums

dawnbuckley · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 68

Hi, Im going to Nagoya in Feb and the salary is 250000 which seems to be fairly normal for a newcomer. The thing is, I have a great big loan to pay off in Ireland aswell, so I need to save. I was wondering about private lessons: Are they in demand over there? Any tips on how to get them, or is it pretty much word of mouth?
Would be very grateful for any advice.
Thanks,

Dawn

Khyron · Joined: 10 Mar 2006 Posts: 291 Location: Tokyo Metro City

If you're really worried about paying off student loans, then don't come to Japan. Go to South Korea. You'll do a lot better financially.

Go to Korea if you want to save money, go to Japan if you want to live in a 'cool' country and wonder where all your money goes.

dawnbuckley · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 68

Hey, thanks for your reply. Good advice, but I've already done that! I saved a good bit in Korea easily but then came back, did an MA in England in something pointless, and spent it all! Hence the debt again.
I really don't want to go back to Korea, and know that you can't save anything as much in Japan, but would like to try!
Where are you now? Japan?

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

Once you get yourself set up you can get private students fairly easily. Findateacher and senseibank are free (for you) services that put students in contact with you. Details on what you charge and where to conduct the classes is entirely up to you so it's pointless me talking about it in general terms.

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

Also, I found that just hanging out in places where you'll meet Japanese people virtually guarantees that you'll get offers for private lessons. It may take a couple of months to get to know people well, but if your experience is anything like mine, before too long you'll be turning people away.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

If I may offer a few words of advice about private lessons.

Have a plan. See what people in your area are charging for lessons. Country costs are usually lower than city costs. Realize that OL's will probably have less money to spend than salarimen. Just because both wear suits doesn't mean they make the same salaries. Whatever you charge, please don't undercut the market. Customers are customers, and they realize the value of the lesson and yen. They will just try to get the cheapest rate possible.

Figure out how you are going to charge -- by the lesson vs. by the month, and whether to get the money in advance (recommended). Will individual lessons be any different per person than group lessons, or will you use a sliding scale?

Figure out what you are going to do when students are absent. Will you shrug and take the advanced pay, or give them a break even though you showed up for the lesson? Will it be different for groups vs. individuals?

Determine travel costs and charge for them.

Where will you do lessons? Your home? Clean it, of course. Somewhere else? Be careful about noise, smoke, and interruptions. Also be careful if your employer says you can't give private lessons, because he may spy on you.

Figure out if you will give any free demo lessons, or if you combine them with an interview.

Will you accept friends that are different levels? (I wouldn't.)

How large a group will you take on? How will you add to it? That is, will you let them choose people everyone knows, or will you do the choosing based on everyone's level?

Got any textbooks in mind? Will you ask students to do homework? Some want reading comprehension practice, so it will save time if they do that at home.

If you choose to advertise with the online services, update your listing so your name doesn't fall to the bottom of the list.

Lastly, private lessons are very fickle here. Don't be surprised to hear at the end of a lesson (and usually the end of a month's period) that your student is finished. No notice.

AndyH · Joined: 30 Sep 2004 Posts: 417

^ Excellent advice, Glenski.

To echo what Glenski wrote, an issue that is sensitive is the fact that many, if not most, employers will frown on their teachers giving private lessons, and if they catch you in the act, it may not be worth it.

I taught privates 3x per week when I lived in Hokkaido, because my regular salary was low, and felt justified in doing it because my employer paid me less than what she had promised, and in violation of my contract. Eventually, the employer caught wind of what I was doing, but didn't dare confront me over it, because she had more to fear from me making an issue with my pay than she did with the privates.