Who teaches English as a Foreign Language?

[BigSister]

I´m thinking of getting back into teaching on a part-time basis, going into businesses or homes rather than working for a language school.
Has anybody else done this? Did it work out? In terms of becoming self-employed, was this a huge bureacratic nightmare? How much did you charge?
Any advice welcome!

I have. I didn't do it officially in spain though (but did in the UK).

I was also spanish self employed but as a programmer and it's not as bad as you'd think, but is a right palaver to set up. what country are you in?

I mean I did informal lessons in return for pints/favours, wasn't self employed.

charges vary enormously from country to country.

Hi SenoraPostrophe, I´m in Belgium. I want to get back in the job market but on my own terms. This seems to be my key "sellable" skill where I am but the aim is to move on to something else really. Have you got any more thoughts?

not really. I am confident that bureaucracy in belgium is less arduous than in spain though!

Also if you need money fast might be better to work for a language school first - you'll build up contacts apart from anything else. going rate is usually about half to 2 thirds of what the schools charge ime (eg here you pay 14 e per hour for 1:1 lessons, my friend who teaches charges 8).

Don't do it now but I did it for a couple of years when I first came to Brazil in the early 90's. I worked in a school and also set up my own school. I had so many pupils I had to turn many down. I also did it for a while in Denmark but they speak such good English there that it was no challenge at all really so I gave up.

Have you thought about in-house, going into offices and running small classes or one to one? These usually pay better, although timing can be a bit of a pain, early mornings or late afternoons. I don´t know about Belgium as I am in Spain, to complicate matters I work in Gibraltar. You need to do some research, get price lists from local schools, phone around and find out the going rate and stick close to that.

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I do it in Italy. I have teaching qualifications but not TEFL/CELTA. I approached the local schools and the expat network was great for sounding out jobs for me.

i love my job generally but I have only be doing this a year. I get about 20e an hour.

Downside to private lessons, don't get a lot of notice when lessons cancelled (therefore not paid) and from what I hear, though haven't had this experience sometimes it can hard to get people to cough up....

I do all my pricate stuff in the black and my school stuff as an employee, therefore no extra paperwork.

Hi some food for thought here... maybe it would be better to work with an established language school for a while and see how the land lies.. MaryP0p1, have you worked in local schools then? I would have thought this would be difficult for a state school to authorize..

CaliforniaFrau, absolutely unbelievable! How did you manage a whole month?!

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Yes Bigsister I work as a person doing a project in schools. Everything is undeclared.

I have just made a contact in the Italian Army so may be starting teaching some beautifully fit young men!!!

I've done it in France,UK and Russia and had a ball.(One highlight had to be swanky banquet Russian business man put on for me and him with staff waititng on)
Fun when you are young and flitting about,not so great when you're a bit older.
CF,staggered at your Italian experiences.
How unethical and unprofessional!
Unfortunately,there are a lot of charlatans operating.