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livinginkorea · #1 (**permalink**) Jul 9th, 2006, 07:49 pm

Hi all,

I am wondering what is everybody's take on teaching private classes? Where you are do you get asked my many students? Do you turn them down because it's illegal (or not, depends where you are) or do you teach them? How much do you charge?

-livinginkorea

fishead soup · #2 (**permalink**) Jul 9th, 2006, 09:25 pm

Quote:

Quote livinginkorea

Hi all,

I am wondering what is everybody's take on teaching private classes? Where you are do you get asked my many students? Do you turn them down because it's illegal (or not, depends where you are) or do you teach them? How much do you charge?

-livinginkorea

The botton line is its illegal. Many people talk about it like its no big deal when in reality your visa will be canceled you can be imprisoned or fined or all three. In reality an illegal work bust almost 100% of time results in being deported and fired.

There are tons of horror stories out there of people whose families have been separated because one member was working illegally. Your embassy won't come to your aid too.

I've been appraoched numerous times by people wanting me to teach their children privately. Since I don't accept these jobs I find these people to be a source of annoyance since many of them constanty badger you even after you said no. Many of them claim to know some high up officials that can help you get out of trouble. I take this with a grain of sand and politley decline the offer.

Eric · #3 (**permalink**) Jul 9th, 2006, 10:00 pm

i don't do them either, but not because it's illegal as getting caught doesn't seem too likely, at least not in daejeon. (i'm just too lazy and enjoy making websites over making money.) additionally, the teacher is not the only one that receives a fine, which i heard was about $5,000. The family that hired you will also get an equivalent fine. i'm not sure if you would face deportation...

going rate in daejeon is around 35,000-40,000, depending on the number of students in a class. if you are teaching professionals you'll usually get paid more.

livinginkorea · #4 (**permalink**) Jul 9th, 2006, 10:18 pm

Teaching in an elementary school, I get offered private classes quite a lot but I always refuse them. It's not because I'm lazy (like Eric

), it's just the likelyhood if I was to get caught. I didn't want to be deported and leave my girlfriend and life behind. Now that girl is my wife so things are more stable in regards to me staying here.

I did privates a long time ago when I came to Korea first but soon gave them up when I realised how dangerous they were. Having said that I know some people who teach a lot of privates and they admit that they have to be very careful.

I know that it's very easy for people to take these private classes. Parents these days are crazy about wanting their children to learn English so naturally that makes some people very very rich in the private department.

I heard that if you get caught that the parents get fined too. That's reasonable enough especially when they are so pushy for the class in the first place!

ruth1966 · #5 (**permalink**) Jul 11th, 2006, 08:53 am

Whenever I was asked to teach privates I would always say " sorry very busy" but if they persisted I'd have them contact my director and ask for "permission". The reason being that he'd let us use a classroom in the academy (if we wanted to) for that.I never took him up on his offer as I don't like doing privates, but my co workers worked out a deal with him. Quite an exceptional circumstance though I think.
Disclaimer : Don't all go running and asking your director for use of his classroom to teach privates in...

Eric · #6 (**permalink**) Jul 11th, 2006, 01:25 pm

that sounds like an interesting way to do it. my director at my current school occassionally asks me if i want a private that he knows about. i always feel bad turning him down as he is my director.

HarryPalmer · #7 (**permalink**) Jul 11th, 2006, 11:14 pm

Teaching privates in Thailand is quite normal, yet probably illegal. It's a way to supplement the relatively poor pay that you earn at a school.

livinginkorea · #8 (**permalink**) Jul 11th, 2006, 11:22 pm

Quote:

Quote HarryPalmer

Teaching privates in Thailand is quite normal, yet probably illegal. It's a way to supplement the relatively poor pay that you earn at a school.

As a matter of interest, how much is the pay?

#9 (**permalink**) Jul 12th, 2006, 12:13 am

I wouldn't do it for less than 500 baht an hour. Japanese students are willing to pay up to 750 an hour.

If you can get two or three students then of course you can lower the cost individually but charge more as a group.