How much to charge for private tuition?

Mojisola

Xaniwoop wrote: »

I've been asked to tutor a friends daughter (A level English lit) for an hour a week.

I have an Eng Lit degree and a PGCE (primary) but no specific A level experience apart from taking them myself!

Can you actually help her pass the exam if you haven't any recent experience of what is required?

LEJC

Ive actually been having a think about this and wonder if you might be better off not charging anything but do it as a favour....
Reasoning being that i've no idea what qualifications/insurance/public liability you would need but presumably you might eed some as soon as cash changes hands!


What happens if your student doesnt get the grade she wants despite your efforts at helping...would that cause tension between your friend and test your friendship.
What happens when in order to provide an hours worth of tuition it takes up a lot more of your time in research etc and starts to impact your family life because you are looking for the contents of the next lesson ...And then there is the situation of your children and family and how they fit into lessons being carried out within their home space...my son has piano lessons where he visits the teacher and I always feel slightly sorry that her children are banished to their rooms and asked to be quiet whilst the lessons take place...so consider the impact on the others in your house.

If it were me I would offer to help and perhaps say that you'll help out at no more than an hour a week and if the subject of money is bought up suggest that maybe once the exam is over they might want to buy you a gift....
Use the experience as a fact finding mission to see if private tutoring suits you and if you really enjoy it then look to do something on a more firmer footing and for payment if this experience turns out well for both of you.


I wonder if it becomes a whole different ball game to helping out once money exchanges hands however flexible the terms are.....

susancs

Have a look at the UKtutors site for English A level tutors in your area to see what they charge.
http://www.uktutors.com/

If you are taking money for tutoring, your pupils will be expected to get results in inhouse school tests and mock exams as they go along. Also you need to be aware that A level exams may have changed since you did them and you will need to keep up to date by purchasing books, looking at past exam papers, mark schemes and examiners comments. You will also be expected to do exam technnique exercises and questions with your students. If you have previously marked A level exam papers that may be a help.

pollypenny

How well do you know her set texts, any course texts, even if there is coursework?

How well do you know the exam board and its assessment structure?

I would advise your friend to use an experienced tutor, unless her daughter wants some specific help in understanding a text that you already know very well.

Xaniwoop

Thanks for the responses - all good things to think about there - some that hadn't really crossed my mind! I'm going to do some more research into the exam board/precise nature of the course as a next step before I make any decisions as you rightly point out I might not be as much help as her mum assumes.

FBaby

Could she come to you rather than you to her and save on the transport costs?

Xaniwoop

FBaby wrote: »

Could she come to you rather than you to her and save on the transport costs?

Oh that's no problem it's walking distance and would be at times when my girls are at school so the impact on family life would be small.

I'm more worried now about not being able to measure up, though my friend assures me that she was looking for more general essay structuring, writing style, grammar help rather than specific exam coaching. I have been totally honest about what I can help with and what I have no experience of. I helped her with an essay today so perhaps that will show how much use I can be!

She's still keen to pay and I'm not sure it's something I want to be doing just for the fun of it but it would be good experience to see if it is something I am interested in doing properly. I have to admit my view is coloured by the fact we are really feeling the pinch at the moment and £20ish a week would allow us to have some treats back.

So I still don't quite know what to do about the money but thank you to everyone who has pointed out how much work I'd have to do if this is something I want to pursue.

Mojisola

Xaniwoop wrote: »

my friend assures me that she was looking for more general essay structuring, writing style, grammar help rather than specific exam coaching. I have been totally honest about what I can help with and what I have no experience of. I helped her with an essay today so perhaps that will show how much use I can be!

As that is what they have asked for, then go for it. I wouldn't tutor for less than £20. Suggest a set number of weeks and then a review so that either side can pull out if it isn't working.

One-to-one tutoring can be very rewarding. The amount of progress you can make in a concentrated hour is huge compared to what happens in an hour at school.

Spendless

I paid £20 for an hour maths tuition last year for my then yr8 son, so not doing GCSE work at that point. We went to the tutors house. 3 years ago I paid £15 for an English tutor for him when he was 11, the tutor came to us but she lived a few streets away.

Person_one

Xaniwoop wrote: »

Oh that's no problem it's walking distance and would be at times when my girls are at school so the impact on family life would be small.

I'm more worried now about not being able to measure up, though my friend assures me that she was looking for more general essay structuring, writing style, grammar help rather than specific exam coaching. I have been totally honest about what I can help with and what I have no experience of. I helped her with an essay today so perhaps that will show how much use I can be!

She's still keen to pay and I'm not sure it's something I want to be doing just for the fun of it but it would be good experience to see if it is something I am interested in doing properly. I have to admit my view is coloured by the fact we are really feeling the pinch at the moment and £20ish a week would allow us to have some treats back.

So I still don't quite know what to do about the money but thank you to everyone who has pointed out how much work I'd have to do if this is something I want to pursue.

I would definitely do some research on the exam board/marking scheme etc.

You'd feel awful if you taught her how to write a great essay by the standards of your uni, but it lost her marks on her A level exam, and I'm sure that's possible somehow!