Job Discussion Forums

[CECTPA]

How do other people handle this situation?

I'm out walking around, minding my own business, and I start talking to some Turkish guy who doesn't speak any English. He asks me what I do, and I tell him I teach English.

"I need English!" he says right away. "Give me your phone number." I have a policy of not giving out my number to anyone male until I've known him for awhile, so I take his number. Sometimes he doesn't look too happy about this but that's his problem.

"So where are the lessons?" No way we're having them in my house. Nor are we having them in his house. Last time I suggested a public space (quiet area in a nearby mall) and my "prospective student" looked at me like I was crazy.

It would be nice to have the extra money, but if that poor girl in Japan ended up dead going to some guy's house for a private lesson, I don't even want to know what might happen here.

What are your observations? I know I'm not being overly cautious.

[justme]

You're definitely not being over-cautious. I would never even give lessons to one of these guys. In fact, they probably don't really even want lessons-- they just want to waste your time or try to get you alone to chat you up or whatever. Often telling them an exhorbitant hourly cost drives them off. Otherwise I'd just walk away without talking to him, or if it's someone you otherwise need to talk to like your neighborhood butcher or something, just tell them you don't take private students.

Sometimes they're scumbags, and sometimes they really do want lessons, but the ones who do want lessons often think you'll be happy to do it for free because you're their 'friend...'

[TeachEnglish]

Better safe than sorry.. be careful when dealing with this situation. I don't think women can trust strangers like this today. You don't want him to have your number or know where you live.