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Original poster

To think this is a bit cheeky?

64 replies

Myboilerisbroken456 · 31/01/2025 20:13

I do private tutoring and charge £20 an hour. I'm a qualified teacher and have about 12 years of experience.
I've recently got a new pupil, her and her family speak English as an additional language, and her Mum asked me if I would offer conversation classes for herself and what the rate would be.

I said it would be £20 and she said that's far too expensive, can you do it for £10? £10 is below minimum wage!
I understand she thinks it's just conversation classes, but it still involves some prep.
What rate do you think I should charge?

OP posts:
MegTheForgetfulCat · 01/02/2025 10:19

She is being cheeky requesting £10! Even if she thinks it involves less direct teaching, it's ultimately still time that you could otherwise have spent earning £20 from another pupil. The going rate for your time is therefore £20!

MasterBeth · 01/02/2025 10:14

I think you should rethink your approach and attitude to the value of your time.

You are an education professional charging £20 for private tuition. An earlier poster suggested this meant you were earning £38k pa, which might be true if you were able to work all through the day, all through the year, but of course it doesn't work like that.

That £20 an hour covers your prep, but also values your experience and understanding of how to relate to pupils, child psychology, learning styles etc. Charging £10 an hour would both devalue this professional knowledge and prevent you from selling that hour of your time at your higher rate.

You are selling your time and knowledge. Value it.

BrightonFrock · 01/02/2025 09:45

WhenTheyComeForYou · 31/01/2025 20:28

£38k for talking to someone in your mother tongue?!

£20 is fine, if people are willing to pay for it (not me) but it’s hardly cheap by anyone’s standards (except yours surely).

Show quote history

It’s more than just having a bit of a chat! On that basis you could slip a fiver to the woman who runs the launderette and tell her to talk while you wait for the end of the spin cycle, or tell some old man in the pub that there’s a pint in it for him.

This woman has approached OP specifically - and it doesn’t take a great leap to assume that it’s because she’s a tutor. If you want skill, you pay for it.

healthybychristmas · 01/02/2025 00:09

£20 an hour is far too low. She is really really cheeky expecting you to do it for £10.

DuncanMcleod · 31/01/2025 23:20

If she already speaks some English why not suggest she joins a club? Our walking group (which is very social) had a Turkish member for a few months who wanted to improve their English.

Littlefish · 31/01/2025 23:01

@Choccyscofffy It’s conversation and English GCSE preparation. The student speaks English as an additional language.

Choccyscofffy · 31/01/2025 22:59

Littlefish · 31/01/2025 22:57

A friend pays £40 per hour for English conversation lessons for her son. That's absolutely standard round here (Midlands). £20 is very, very cheap. £10 is ridiculous!

Oh wow. Is that just conversation or elocution / pronunciation too?

Littlefish · 31/01/2025 22:57

A friend pays £40 per hour for English conversation lessons for her son. That's absolutely standard round here (Midlands). £20 is very, very cheap. £10 is ridiculous!

RichardOsmansfondueset · 31/01/2025 22:41

I wouldn't drop your price, very cheeky of her to ask. I would keep the current price for your existing students but advise that your rates will be increasing and give them plenty of notice, say 6 weeks. Any new students start at your new rates. £20 is way too cheap for a qualified teacher.

LavendersBlueeee · 31/01/2025 21:51

Myboilerisbroken456 · 31/01/2025 20:50

I'm in the North West and not in a particularly wealthy area, maybe rates are cheaper outside of London?

I don’t think so OP, I think you’re underselling yourself. We are NW too and it’s £30-£40p/h here for private tutoring.
But yea, the parent is a CF

Original poster
Myboilerisbroken456 · 31/01/2025 20:50

I'm in the North West and not in a particularly wealthy area, maybe rates are cheaper outside of London?

OP posts:
coxesorangepippin · 31/01/2025 20:50

Could she be from a culture where haggling is standard? She may not have meant it to sound cheeky.

^

Maybe....

coxesorangepippin · 31/01/2025 20:50

£20 is really cheap

Choccyscofffy · 31/01/2025 20:49

Myboilerisbroken456 · 31/01/2025 20:48

Good idea, I'll try to signpost her to lower cost/free English classes.

That would be nice of you, OP.

Original poster
Myboilerisbroken456 · 31/01/2025 20:48

Good idea, I'll try to signpost her to lower cost/free English classes.

OP posts:
TheFrendo · 31/01/2025 20:48

I think £20 is too low.

It is up to you how much you charge and who you teach. You do not have to explain or justify your charges.

FairFuming · 31/01/2025 20:46

Wow that's cheeky! If you were near me I'd hire you in a second at that price. I've been trying to find a local tutor who can help my son who has ADHD and autism with his reading and the cheapest I can find is almost £40 for 45 minutes

Choccyscofffy · 31/01/2025 20:43

FoxtonFoxton · 31/01/2025 20:33

Did you tell her that it is below minimum wage? She's free to look around for a cheaper rate -telling someone that they are far too expensive is very rude. Doesn't matter if it's just a chat; it's an hour of your time. You aren't mates meeting up for a coffee.

She didn’t say OP was far too expensive. She said £20 was far too expensive. There’s a difference.

I think OP should signpost the mum to Meet up, where she find a group and meet people and practise English for free.

Original poster
Myboilerisbroken456 · 31/01/2025 20:37

FudgeSundae · 31/01/2025 20:36

Could she be from a culture where haggling is standard? She may not have meant it to sound cheeky.

Could possibly be, it's somewhere in the middle East, obviously don't want to make any assumptions but yeah it could be.

OP posts:
Original poster
Myboilerisbroken456 · 31/01/2025 20:36

Where's 38k come from? I wish 😂

OP posts:
FudgeSundae · 31/01/2025 20:36

Could she be from a culture where haggling is standard? She may not have meant it to sound cheeky.

TadpolesInPool · 31/01/2025 20:34

Its an hour that you can't then sell to another customer at £20... so no, don't do it for 10.

FoxtonFoxton · 31/01/2025 20:33

Did you tell her that it is below minimum wage? She's free to look around for a cheaper rate -telling someone that they are far too expensive is very rude. Doesn't matter if it's just a chat; it's an hour of your time. You aren't mates meeting up for a coffee.

missmollygreen · 31/01/2025 20:33

I dont think it is cheeky to ask. But you can just say "no sorry, the price is £20"

Non event

MumChp · 31/01/2025 20:31

WhenTheyComeForYou · 31/01/2025 20:28

£38k for talking to someone in your mother tongue?!

£20 is fine, if people are willing to pay for it (not me) but it’s hardly cheap by anyone’s standards (except yours surely).

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Tbh you find very few ESL priced under/or £20/h unless you opt for a young online uneducated teacher based in Africa or India.

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