How do I start 1-1 ESOL teaching?

rosie383

Having completed CELTA a few months ago, and with the children due to go back to school, I really, really need to get myself organised and start teaching.
I have contacted any colleges in my area, but they all want teachers with a few years' experience. As I live in an area with a large immigrant population, I know that there is a need for ESOL teachers here.
I would love advice from anyone who has actually tutored 1-1 or in small groups.
Do I get business cards and fliers made and start giving them out?
Do I teach in my own home or theirs?
Try to find a room for hire in, say, a community centre or similar?
How much to charge?
My long term aim will be to teach abroad but I need to get experience here ASAP before I forget all that I have been taught!

Savvy_Sue

I think you will struggle to get 'formal' employment with no experience - how much actual teaching did you have to do to complete CELTA, or was it all theory?

Your questions:

rosie383 wrote: »

As I live in an area with a large immigrant population, I know that there is a need for ESOL teachers here.

A question sometimes asked on the small biz board is "You know there's a gap in the market, but do you know there's a market in the gap?"

Large immigrant population may mean a need for ESOL teachers, but there is not necessarily a demand for this. If there's been a recent influx, then the demand may be higher. If it's a settled population, they've probably found ways and means of coping. Plus, can they afford to pay for this? Are there already low cost courses available, perhaps with childcare available?

rosie383 wrote: »

Do I get business cards and fliers made and start giving them out?

Don't spend more than you have to: look at the small biz board for suggestions: for example you may be able to get some printed for free if you don't mind being practically spammed with further offers. But once you have some, never leave home without them ...

rosie383 wrote: »

Do I teach in my own home or theirs?
Try to find a room for hire in, say, a community centre or similar?

There are potential problems with all of these: in your own home, people know where you live, and you need to do a risk assessment and have insurance (in case someone trips over your front door step / living room rug). In their home, you have very little control over the environment and need to risk assess before you go there. Hiring a room will cost, and you may have to commit and pay for a term before you know if this is going to work or not.

I'd suggest that this is where you need to start networking like crazy. You mention children at school: are there mums at the school who struggle with English? Could you work with the school to run a class there?

rosie383 wrote: »

How much to charge?

Possibly more than you'd expect: you probably need to put 30% away for tax. If you expect to make a profit of more than c. £6000 this tax year you need to pay Class 2 National Insurance (and if you don't, then you need to get a Certificate of Exemption). You may need insurance, you will need materials, cost of transport?

What do other people charge for personal tuition? What's the cost for local classes?

gettingready

rosie383 wrote: »

As I live in an area with a large immigrant population, I know that there is a need for ESOL teachers here.

How many of those immigrants have no money to pay for private classes as they are on benefits?

How many have no interest whatsoever to learn the English language?

I live in East London - loads of immigrants here speak no English and have no desire to learn....

rosie383

Savvy Sue Thank you so much for a very, very helpful post. Lots for me to chew over.
I have to add into the mix that I am a Muslim, and I know through friends that there is a need for a female teacher to teach ESOL. There are many younger women who are needing to learn and are keen to do so. I also have Polish friends through school and there is interest there too.
As my long term aim is to teach abroad, I am really wanting to gain experience here and would have to tailor my charges to take into consideration that I have only about 6 hours actual classroom teaching so far.
Got to go and do housework now and will do some work on this later.
Again, many thanks.

Savvy_Sue

rosie383 wrote: »

I have to add into the mix that I am a Muslim, and I know through friends that there is a need for a female teacher to teach ESOL. There are many younger women who are needing to learn and are keen to do so. I also have Polish friends through school and there is interest there too.

I did wonder whether to say anything about cultural issues! Would it be possible to do anything through the mosque? Are there any local mums and toddler groups where your services could be useful?

The biggest problem, I feel, is making money from this. IF you can manage without making money from this for, say, a term, then you MIGHT find that you could offer some taster classes in various settings. After 2 or 3 sessions in one place, you could move on to the next, leaving your contact details and giving out feedback sheets. These would not only cover whether people had found this useful, but also how much people could afford to pay / would be willing to pay. Be aware that not everyone who says they'd pay £10 per class (roughly what I was paying for Spanish last year) will actually do so, when it comes to the crunch.

On those feedback sheets you ask for their contact details, and then when you start a paid for class, you invite them all.

If you're not charging, you're more likely to be able to get a free venue, IMO, eg ask the school if you could run a taster session and send out details in the satchel post; ask toddler groups the same; ask any local coffee shops which might be large enough and quiet enough at certain times, they might be glad of your business! I'd suggest pubs with function rooms, but realise that may not be culturally appropriate ... although for Polish ladies less of a problem, and there you might be able to try a taster in a church, especially if there's a popular 'Polish church'.

gettingready

Ermmm, actually I am originally from Poland myself and from what I see here in East London re Polish community.. they tend to go for "free" classes that are advertised everywhere.

But - good luck of course

rosie383

Thank you so much Gettingready that's useful info and something to bear in mind.
Savvy Sue- you're a star. Again, giving me much food for thought. I must get cards printed up this weekend and also some fliers.I think I will do some 'introductory' or 'taster' classes as per your suggestion. I have been warned off doing 'free' classes as such, as I have been told by friends who have started out in (albeit different) small business / tutoring of sorts that it sets a precedent that can be difficult to overcome, so possibly I may do some very cheap classes to begin with.