Job Discussion Forums

santi84 · Joined: 14 Mar 2008 Posts: 1317 Location: under da sea

Please help a new teacher!

My students are all adults with young children or teenagers in the Canadian school system. They often ask me questions such as my personal phone number and if I can tutor them (or their children) in private lessons. I do not want to teach private lessons at the moment. What approach do you use for these questions? I should say that I recently came into ESL from the criminal justice field and my previous ways of dealing with these kinds of questions from "clients" is pretty harsh and aggressive, so I am at a bit of a loss!

Any tips would be wonderful. Thanks!

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

Smile a lot. Force yourself.

Just keep repeating, "I'm sorry, but I just don't have the time."

Pretty much any other excuse will not fly with the persistent.

johnslat · Posted: Wed Feb 25, 2009 10:03 pm Post subject:

Dear santi84,

Glenski gave some good advice. But you might also want to check with your colleagues (if you have any) to see if anyone would be interested in tutoring.

Regards,
John

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Say, It would be very difficult.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

I say I don't have the time, and then ask them to give me their phone number on a paper so that I can put it up in the teacher's area for my colleagues. Usually they don't want to do that, and the case is closed.

jillford64 · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 397 Location: Sin City

In Mexico, I always said that my work visa and the school wouldn't allow it. They probably inwardly rolled their eyes since rules are mostly just guidelines in Mexico, but they never pleaded or asked twice.

SueH · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Posts: 1022 Location: Northern Italy

You could also say that teacher ethics don't allow you tutor anybody who is already being taught by you in an official capacity.

Chancellor

Justin Trullinger · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:21 pm Post subject:

I do, on occasionally, give my personal (cell) phone number to students.

But I DON'T teach privately, and won't be starting.

Most schools will have a policy about this, and students have to respect it.

Teachers who freelance with students at the schools where they work are on thin ice in a lot of ways.

Best,
Justin

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

I teach in the public school system in Canada too. Our school board has a policy that teachers are not allowed to tutor students of the school in exchange for money, goods or services. Just out of the goodness of their heart (in other words, at lunch and after school, on school property). As well, my school has a policy that teachers cannot recommend students seek tutoring, and if parents ask we can't recommend a tutor or tell parents where to look for one. I personally had a tutor in Grade 12 math so it's frustrating that I can't recommend the same services. I usually look the students or their parents straight in the eye and say in a really robotic voice, "It is school and board policy that I cannot tutor you, recommend you get a tutor or tell you where to look for a tutor. Whether or not you use the services of a tutor is a family decision which I cannot be involved in." Then I wink at them. Then we all start laughing and the conversation naturally moves to the next topic. It works very well for me!

johnnyappleseed · Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 12:14 pm Post subject:

I just tell them the truth: I am very busy and I have signed an exclusive contract with my employers. Albeit one that is unenforceable in this country.