Job Discussion Forums

[ESL.Professor.Roger]

I was just cold called by a gentleman in Qatar via Skype (no idea how he got my id) who asked if I would be interested in helping him work on his English one on one via the web. I have been for the past several months volunteering with an adult literacy program here, so the actual tutoring I am comfortable with, tho this would be my first time not F2F.

He said he wanted to work on vocab and pronunciation (though based on our first call, unless he is looking to dump the accent altogether I think his pronunciation is fine). Ditto reading and writing, based on the SMS exchange that preceded the call.

So I'm figuring something along the lines of "Here's this BBC article, read it for next time and be prepared to discuss" and then we do that and I have him read me another, along with regular testing so I can point to progress for him.

The guy is apparently a Benz sakesman there, for what it is worth, so I figure start with a car theme then branch into tech as a whole and see where that takes us.

I am almost completely unfamiliar with the culture there, other than an impression of a fairly hardline brand of Islam. Which sect would be safest that I assume for him (isn't it impolite to ask?) and are there topics I should just steer clear of other than the obvious politics and religion?

And finally, what is the going rate for one-on-one tutoring? I'm gearing up for a move to China for a one year contract with options which would put me +4 hours from him but I'm a night owl anyway. Right now he is +8 from me, which works well schedule wise -- and anything I get from him before mid-August is that much less I have to dip into savings for to finance the China trip.

[veiledsentiments]

I would be very very wary of this one. Why would he need to cold call someone through Skype when Qatar has dozens and dozens of English teachers? Didn't you ask him how he got your name and ID?

How will he pay you? Paypal? Make sure that you are paid with every lesson... don't run up a tab...

Haven't a clue what you would charge, but if he is Qatari, he is likely Sunni and Wahhabi... just as the Saudis are. It is not a rude question to ask him about it.

VS

[johnslat]

Dear veiledsentiments,

I'd make one change: "Make sure that you are paid before every lesson."

I have some Skype students in Slovenia. My rate's 30 euros an hour.

Regards,
John