Job Discussion Forums

[Evanzinho]

I am currently teaching English in Seoul, South Korea. I work for a big company teaching in their one to one program, which is essentially like a private lesson with one student. I have learned what my students pay the company to take classes with me and doing the math I figure I am getting paid only around 35% of what my students are actually paying per 50 minute class. In addition there are all kinds of ridiculous rules that go with teaching for a big corporation, must wear a tie and slacks everyday (even Saturday!) no decorations in your classroom, monthly evaluations, office meetings, etc.

So, I am wondering, where is the best place in the world to teach independently? Take in consideration, pay, demand for English instruction, liberal visa regulations (since I would not be working for a school, I would have to work on a tourist/visitors visa). I would prefer Latin America or Asia, but I guess anywhere in the world would be ok.

So, what are some countries that would be good for this kind of idea?

[Glenski]

[Mike_2007]

Plus to get the good, regular, high-rate work you need to at least set yourself up as a freelancer so you can work to contract and issue invoices. Then, of course, there will be tax liabilities meaning from the 100% which the student pays you'll probably only end up with about 60%. Knock off material and travel expenses and calculate time spent planning, doing evaluations, searching for clients, meeting potential clients, admin, filing taxes and whatever else into account and you can see that your 35% is that terrible! The advantage of this is, however, that you would be legal (assuming you meet the country's criteria for setting up as a freelancer).

If you go down the cash-in-hand route you'll probably find you end up teaching lots of awkward hours in less central locations and that the students will have a tendency to cancel at the last minute without paying, to be away on business, to be sick, to be on holiday and to move lesson time quite a lot. Again, when you take all this into account you'll only be getting about 6-70% of your theoretical maximum income.

In both cases you would probably have to start off charging a lot less than a school or well-known company would charge in order to build up your client base. If you're sick of working for someone else though, it is ultimately satisfying, but a lot more effort for a less stable income.

[jgmodlin]

As is usually the case, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Why not move to a country like Japan where you can teach private lessons legally? If you combine private lessons with an anchor teaching job that provides stability, you should be able to enjoy the benefits of both while limiting the corresponding downsides.
I did this for a number of years in Japan and managed to bank a good sum of money. I did have to wear a tie and sit through meetings on occasion with my regular work, but appreciated the constant cash flow that those jobs provided. Evenings and Saturdays I was able to relax a bit and have private students come by my place where I would serve them a cup of tea while in my slippers and jeans followed by a well planned English lesson. This balance served me well and allowed me to keep my sanity and make money.

[Glenski]

[naturegirl321]

I'm the opposite of you. I've been teaching privates and living on that income for nearly 2 years. It's hard. It is. I run all over the city, spending 3 to 4 hours on the bus. Classes get cancelled, sure you get paid, sometimes for cancelled classes, but you can't get your wasted time back.

People can drop you at any moment, there's no pension, health insurance of paid vacations. Not to mention no housing, flights, or visas.

I'm calling it quits in Jan and goign back to Asia.

As for the suit and tie, Can't say I have to do that But I do wear skirts, nice slacks and blouses to my business English classes. After all, if you look professional, you �ll get treated like a professional..

Jeans are the norm for my kids since we read and play games on the floor for half the hour.

[anyway]

I would say Brazil although I'm sure some frustrated freelancers there would disagree. There seems to be no shortage of students in the right places. The going rate seems reasonable considering the lower cost of living there. Plus, even if you have a 'real' job there, you're technically still illegal, right? I would imagine there were at least a few freelancers leading the celebration after Brazil won the bid for the Olympics...