Job Discussion Forums

Erutpar · Joined: 16 Apr 2012 Posts: 24

Is it possible to obtain a Z visa at a school that offers one on one English training? I've found several tutor positions in Beijing, but none that willing to offer a visa.
I'd prefer teaching one-on-one/small groups.

Lobster · Posted: Thu Jun 14, 2012 4:25 am Post subject:

I believe Wall St. has lots of 1-1 and salon classes (6). Whether you could avoid larger classes; I don't know. Personally I dislike 1-1, but 6 is a nice size.

RED

Erutpar · Joined: 16 Apr 2012 Posts: 24

Thanks,
I'm certain Beijing is riddles with training/tutoring centers like these, only, I'm having trouble searching for them.

teachingld2004 · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 389

I would assume that schools that teach adults have one on one teaching.

Have you done one on one before? It is not easy. (I think at least) You are on display" at all times. You usually (maybe) do most of the talking, or you have to drag conversation out of someone. The student has no one to talk to except you.

Why do you want one on one teaching? Those usually are my most difficult classes.

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

I private tutor exclusively one-to-one; it's the best, and you don't have to drag conversation out of the students.

teachingld2004 · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 389

Mr English,
How do you do it? Currently I am teaching one on one, and it is the harderst thing. My students are beginners, and pp% of the time I have to drag conversation out of them. They have no one else to talk to, and they will stare and give one word answers (problem is mostly I teach only beginners and they only want conversation. They will do no hoe work, and want instant success)
I am teaching for many years, and one on one is the hardest.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

I love 'hoe work'.

fat_chris · Joined: 10 Sep 2003 Posts: 3198 Location: Beijing

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Yep.
Hoe or plow - I'll do either. Very Happy

teachingld2004 · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 389

OK OK, no "hoe" work. I have a very bad key board, and I will check my typing.
And for the record, I just finished a one on one class, and it makes me nuts.
By the way, I am "teaching" one on one via SKYPE. It would not be bad if I did not have raw beginners, but I do.
When I was in Korea I had one on one classes, and mostly they were awful. The good classes were with students whose conversation levels were better.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

I think for very able students one-on-one is good.
But for beginners, they really need to be out of the 'firing line' and just watching other class members for a portion of the class time.

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

teachingld2004 - I teach intermediate to advanced students. At the moment I am about 50/50 adults aged 25 or so and up and children aged 10-13. I don't teach children younger than 10. The adults mostly want conversation classes. I use material from the internet, NYTimes articles and such, or from their work as a conversation starter, go from there � no problem getting people to talk. For the kids I always have a textbook and some sort of storybook to read aloud from, but I always try to spend at least 30 minutes out of a 2-hour class just talking. Depends on the kid, some can talk for that long easily, others can't. One thing to give kids something to talk about is to give them a homework assignment that involves reporting in writing on a subject, say their favorite animal, get them to use a site like wikipedia (where they can read both the Chinese and English, but they need to report in English), and then you can talk about it after they write. Homework � some people do more, some less, some close to zero. I am upfront with people about getting results at the very start. I recommend 4 hours a week with me and at least that much on their own if they want rapid progress. Most people only sign up for one 2-hour class per week, and I then tell them minimum 3 hours on their own to make reasonable progress. The people who are serious general follow the suggestion, but a fair number of students disappear soon, I think often because they realize it is more work than they are willing or able to commit to.

The Edge · Joined: 04 Sep 2010 Posts: 455 Location: China

Miles Smiles · Joined: 07 Jun 2010 Posts: 1294 Location: Heebee Jeebee

One-on-one is tedious, demanding, and it requires too much alternate work if Plan A doesn't work or if the student is advanced and burns through what you prepare for the lesson.

teachingld2004 · Joined: 17 Feb 2012 Posts: 389

Mr. English,
You gave a very good post, thanks

I got rid of some students, and now I have 6 left. 2 are very good and the other 4 are OK. They still will not do any reading on their own. One of them is such a pleasure I give her extra time because I feel I am talking to a friend. I only have each student for four hours a month, 1/2 hour twice a week

This is fine enough for me becuase they are in Korea, and I am in the USA. I am starting in a University in Chna Septeber 1, and this is just a bit of extra money.

One on one can be good or bad, and it is good for you that you have no raw beginners I have done them (in Korea) and found out that 2 at a time is way better then one at a time.

If some one is just starting teachng, I never would advise them to do one on one. It takes a special kind of teacher to do that. And it does take a person who likes to teach, not some one who just wants a pay check.