Job Discussion Forums

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

Can anyone recommend a book/website (either TESL-specific or business) regarding the business side of private tutoring?

For example, if I want to reach my target clientele with flyers, what is the best way to design one? Should my sign be bilingual? How do I go about the practicalities of payment?

I'm a fish out of water here.

EFLeducator

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

santi is in Montreal....

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

Thanks! Yes, I am in Montr�al.

Sorry, I should clarify - here in Montr�al, the Office qu�b�coise de la langue fran�aise requires all signs to be in French - so I am wondering if I should post a bilingual sign (English writing must be smaller!) or maybe just a few head words in English (ie. ENGLISH TUTOR) and then the rest in French.

EFLeducator · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:25 pm Post subject:

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

Thanks amigo! And I appreciate your PM, I didn't think about self-published material so I'm going to give that a browse.

I'm just looking for some basic part-time on the side to help supplement my stay at home mom ($0) income Wink

EFLeducator · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:33 pm Post subject:

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

Funny enough, I searched for "tutoring" on Lulu.com and have come up with multiple swinging tutor books Laughing

And I don't mean the kiddie playground!

EFLeducator · Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2012 6:48 pm Post subject:

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

Private teaching in Canada may share a lot of factors with anywhere else.

Make a business plan. It should include your policy on absenteeism or tardy students. Once ok? 24-hr notice needed to cancel in order to not forfeit the fee?

It should also include paYment plan. One month up front? Or later? Or each lesson? Did you factor in any travel expenses? Coffee? Textbooks?

Will you interview prospective clients for free or a fee? How long an interview compared to a whole lesson?

Will you offer a sliding scale of fees as the class gets bigger? Will clients split the transportation cost for you (so they pay less if everyone shows up)? Will students be responsible for finding their own replacements if they drop?

DrGrafenberg · Joined: 12 Feb 2012 Posts: 28

Maybe you're asking the wrong people, as everybody made the terrible financial decision of becoming EFL teachers in the first place.

If I was doing a teacher the favour of being one of his part time (pocket money) students I'd want to know what they can do for me. Not being confronted with lots of rules about not being late and having fines to pay etc.. just how do you enforce that anyway?

I'd ask the teacher what experience they've got, have they got any references; and agree to pay a corresponding amount.

Word of mouth will get round if you're good, then you can put your fees up and not worry about advertising.

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1475 Location: KSA

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

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all comments, even those that contradict the others Laughing

Fortunately, I do not have a lot of competition here - I am not in Montreal itself but a 99% francophone suburb with a decent-sized French college and French school district, all with mandatory ESL classes.

I have decent qualifications (BA focus on TESL), TESL certificate from reputable university out west, experience with both kids and university students. I'm just more weary of the business side of things, such as payments, dealing with late/absent students, advertising, etc.

EFLeducator · Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 4:10 pm Post subject:

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

FYI,
For a time it was not pocket money for me. It was half of my income, and it may be similar for others.

BTW, you may find those policies at many schools, too.