Job Discussion Forums

[danpatmac]

Hi there,

I do not think this topic has been covered before - I did a search and could find nothing. Everyone's advice is greatly appreciated.

I have just arrived in Colombia and am planning of settling down and teaching English in a private language institution. I have a BA and the CELTA, but my only teaching experiece is doing private classes in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I worked there for 6 months teaching students which I found on Craigslist or by advertising my services on posters. I have heard that language institutes (understandably) frown on teachers doing private classes because it competes with their business.

My question is this: bearing in mind that I have no other teaching experience, should I mention these private classes on my CV / in an interview, or would this just make my potential employer suspicious that I might try and steal their students for private classes outside of the institution (which, by the way, I have no plans of doing). i.e. What is better, rousing this suspicion or having NO teaching experience whatsoever on your CV?

Once again, any input is greatly appreciated....

Dan

[naturegirl321]

Mention them, but do you have references? If not, they might not believe you. I don't think they'd think you'd steal students if you told them how you got them. My schools never had problems with me teaching privates, as long as they weren't students at the school.

[Justin Trullinger]

Private lessons don't count for much in your favor, but are better than nothing.

Most centers I've worked in frown on STEALING students, not specifically on teaching private students. If you weren't working in an institute at the time, it's hardly piracy.

If you do steal students from your employer, they tend to get medieval on your behind if they can. Pretty justifiably, I think. But teaching private students, on your own, isn't anything to hide.


Best,
Justin