Thread: Private lessons... what's a fair price?

Hi all,

I've avoided it for a couple of years (well, I've avoided charging, at least) but I'm currently getting enough requests for private lessons that I think I will start doing some. However, before I throw myself to the wolves, what's a good price for an hour's lesson? I asked a friend who says he does it for 300. I searched on TD and found someone (Klongmaster, I think) who charged 1000. And I think buad hai was doing it for 3 cans of beer Singha.

I have no problem charging on a sliding scale. Some of the people that want lessons are my co-workers and I know they don't make a lot of cash so I would definitely cut them a break. I also don't want to overcharge people or rip them off.

I have two concerns about privates... one is that I'll burn myself out teaching outside of my regular job and thus hurt my performance where it really counts. Two, I know the chances are slim that I'll run into trouble with the Department of Labor, but... I'm currently in Phuket, by the way, and I haven't been here long enough to feel out the market. I imagine that it would be pricier here than my old stomping grounds but nowhere near as expensive as Bangkok.



What say you??

Between 300-500 baht per hour for one on one

Make sure it is one on one before you agree anything

I hate doing private lessons, my Co-workers get free English lessons in return for my free Thai lessons. I never give Private lessons to the kids in my school.

he few times i have been persauded to teach kids from other schools, I have charged 2000 Baht for a 2 hour sesion and demanded free transport.

Most private jobs are thinly disguised attempts to get me to do coursework for IB or IGCSE

Normal privates are 500 baht and up. For anything special ask more. However much they are, they are normally not worth the hassle

500 one student

5 or more students 150 each

10 students 100 each

Originally Posted by killerbees

'm currently in Phuket, by the way, and I haven't been here long enough to feel out the market.

you havent been there long enough, but

Originally Posted by killerbees

I've avoided it for a couple of years (well, I've avoided charging, at least) but I'm currently getting enough requests for private lessons that I think I will start doing some.

and yes the below is a good chance of happening...

Originally Posted by killerbees

one is that I'll burn myself out teaching outside of my regular job and thus hurt my performance where it really counts. T

I think Quirrel is on the money.

I would say no dudes at any price and only puss that wanted to trade, hell with cash unless they wanted to pay some to boot if it was bum pussy or flat BJ refusal.

its up to you

I charge 300 to teach after school (using the school resources like A/C, xerox, etc).

At home, I charge pretty much the same as Squirrel as I can't teach groups at school.

But, rather than worry about the department of labor, you should worry first and foremost about the Thai teachers at your school, if thats where the students are coming from.

Many Thai teachers make most of their wages by tutoring. Yes, thats right, MOST of their wages via tutoring. If they sense you're moving in on their money, it could get ugly around the school yard.

I still stand by my original comment although now I wouldn't do it under 1500 per hour...

parents perceive your worth by what you charge, so by all means go in cheap and demean yourself in front of them...

greatest concern though is the burn out factor and you're already aware of that...

privates are fraught with problems...no shows...late cancellations...no homework just to name a few...

whatever price you set make sure you get the money in advance...charge them in 10 hour blocks paid up front...

have a cancellation policy in place and stick to it...don't listen to their sob stories...

Personally, I now turn down all offers for private work but have done it in the past by dint of financial needs...

pity you're in Phuket as I'm looking for teachers to work with me on corporate contracts which I cannot do myself...paying 900 baht per hour...

Thanks for the replies, everybody. It's truly appreciated. As a sign of things to come, I'm sure, the potential student who was interested in privates has yet to get back in touch with me. I can only imagine she's now decided to take up interpretive dance or spend her time napping. More power to her.

I think I'll go with 500 baht minimum. If that puts people off, so be it. I like the numbers Mr. Squirrel put out there. They seem realistic. Getting paid in advance is also something that I heard elsewhere. Definitely seems like a good idea.

For some background: I'm not working at a school so I don't have to worry about upsetting other English teachers (though thanks for the heads-up on that anywhow, CSSFan). I'm teaching English in-house to a large company. Some of the employees want extra English lessons. In addition, I have some contacts at some of the local universities and thought about trying to get something steady out of that. I'm not worried about demeaning myself in front of parents so much because I'd really prefer not to teach kids. I taught kids for 2-3 years and I'm kinda over the whole thing. I don't want students whose parents are forcing them to study. Call me crazy, but someone who's paying their own pocket money in advance is probably more apt to show up and get their money's worth. Maybe? I hope? And klongmaster, it is indeed a pity. Where are you, by the way? BKK?

Holy shit! Did I just hear on the Beeb that Thaksin got 3 years in jail? Sorry if that's wrong but I've got the TV in the background.

Thanks again!

So sorry, it was the missus that got done for three years.

Originally Posted by klongmaster

whatever price you set make sure you get the money in advance...charge them in 10 hour blocks paid up front...

Originally Posted by klongmaster

have a cancellation policy in place and stick to it...don't listen to their sob stories...

Again, spot on advice from Granddad.

Originally Posted by killerbees

I think I'll go with 500 baht minimum.

Of course it's up to you but you did post the question here so I will respond to this by saying YOU'RE MAD...nothing personal...but have you done the figures?

You have an hour each way for the class and hopefully you've got a two-hour minimum class time in place...that means you're out for four hours divided by 1000 baht is 250 baht per hour...USD7.81...GBP3.85...

time to get a grip young man...you are demeaning yourself in front of your colleagues...if your 'large company' where you're doing your corporate stuff has an expat manager, he's taking home 12000 baht a day - every day of the month - he's just laughing at you on your 500 baht an hour nonsense...

Corporates pay me 1200 baht per hour in 40 hour blocks - payable in full at the end of the month in which the course starts...this way you have the money in the bank before you've taught most of the class...contracting direct reduces the need to teach privates...

Oh and yes I'm in Bangkok...you really need to be here to make decent money if your teaching in the corporate world...

Originally Posted by klongmaster

You have an hour each way for the class and hopefully you've got a two-hour minimum class time in place

500 baht would be for a class at home. I wouldn't do the travel thing.

Originally Posted by NickA

500 baht would be for a class at home. I wouldn't do the travel thing.

Yes, agreed. Definitely. I'm thinking of doing the classes in my home. And again, these aren't hi-so powerbrokers I'm dealing with here, they're regular people to whom 500 baht is quite a bit of money (and that's a good many people in this fair country).

For a little more background, I'm one of the only foreigners employed by my company. My manager's a Thai, as is everyone else in my department, and I make a good bit more money than he does. It's probably not as much money as Klongmaster, but I'm content. The company where I work desires a general level of English proficiency among their staff. If the staff want to study English, I am there to facilitate that.

Again, thanks for the replies.

Originally Posted by killerbees

The company where I work desires a general level of English proficiency among their staff. If the staff want to study English, I am there to facilitate that.

SO it sounds to me then that you shouldnt be charging extra to do what is essentially your job....?

Depends on the speciality you are teaching
For instance English for Lawyers or Medics for a group of 4 you could charge 1.5k per hour

A sukhumvit school charges..or did last year...a fee for a set number of hours which then worked out at around 250b per hour.


Oops, sorry that was for thai, guess you will be teaching english....a guy I met some time ago was charging 500 per hour and another was 700.

I started teaching privately on the side and now it has become my sole source of work.

I charge 700 per 50-minute period, but the rate is the same whether it's a 1-on-1 or a class of 6, they are only paying for my time, so my hourly rate never changes. Charge more if you go to their place for your transport.

Make sure you have a good, solid cancellation policy, this is the biggest problem for freelancers. You should not allow people to cancel on the same day you teach (unless they are sick, and even then, they could be lying about that). Cancellations are the hardest part.

Mind you, I now live just outside Bangkok, where there are no other English teachers so ECC are my only competition and I also teach online, so there is plenty of work to be had.

You can make a living out of it if you apply yourself. Why make other people rich, especially those idiots running the Thai Culture course that all these naive teachers think they have to take.

Originally Posted by puppy

I
I charge 700 per 50-minute period..... so my hourly rate never changes.
.

Where did you go to school that your hour is different to everyone elses ??

So what do you do in the final 10 minutes ....go to the toilet ?

Originally Posted by killerbees

Definitely. I'm thinking of doing the classes in my home.

Thanks for the info regarding your situation...just a thought about teaching at home which is a thing I never do...

what is you home? A house, condo, apartment?.. My personal feeling - and remember (before Marmers gets here to remind you) that I'm your grandfather and have somewhat old-fashioned ideas on some of these thing - that students should never see your bedroom...therefore if you have a bedsit it's an inappropriate place to teach them. Obviously your marital status comes into this as well. If you're single, don't take students to your home because your neighbours will gossip as will your colleagues...

you seem to have thought all these things through sensibly which is why I'm taking the time to answer in-depth...good luck in all this...being 'content' is the key to longevity here in Thailand...

Originally Posted by kingwilly

Originally Posted by killerbees

The company where I work desires a general level of English proficiency among their staff. If the staff want to study English, I am there to facilitate that.

SO it sounds to me then that you shouldnt be charging extra to do what is essentially your job....?

Haha, yes. Okay, without getting into all the particulars of where I'm working and what I'm doing, there's a lot of extra work that I do, things that don't really fall under the aegis of English Instructor but have more to do with editing/advising/marketing/... I'm more than happy to help out with that kind of thing. I also am available for special classes during working hours. All people need to do is schedule them. I'm a salaried employee so these classes do not effect my pay. They do, however, make me look like a nice guy. In addition, my actual teaching load is so light that it's not really a bother and the extra classes are few and far between.

What I meant was private lessons outside of my normal working hours/conditions. I've got a pretty good idea of prices now, so thanks for your replies.

Klongmaster,

Thanks. I agree with you about teaching at home. I wouldn't be considering it if I didn't have a place with a good set-up. I have thought things through but who's to say how much that amounts to? I'm sure there will be some hitches along the way (if I ever get underway) but I'm just trying to minimize those before I start.

Cheers.