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Difference between revisions of “Essay:School v. freelance”
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Some teachers recommend teaching a mixture of school and freelance classes so as to obtain the "best of both worlds"; others will always opt for security and yet others for freelance freedom. It is accepted that, for various reasons, many teachers may have no choice in the matter; but for those who are in a position to make an informed choice this article attempts to compare the two possibilities. | Some teachers recommend teaching a mixture of school and freelance classes so as to obtain the "best of both worlds"; others will always opt for security and yet others for freelance freedom. It is accepted that, for various reasons, many teachers may have no choice in the matter; but for those who are in a position to make an informed choice this article attempts to compare the two possibilities. | ||
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==Subhead== | ==Subhead== | ||
{{sbs|School comment| | {{sbs| | ||
School comment | |||
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reelance comment | |||
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===Preamble=== | ===Preamble=== | ||
{{sbs|Most [[teachers]] will, at some time or another, [[teach]] in some sort of '''language school'''. The other usual way of teaching is as a [[freelance teacher]] | {{sbs| | ||
Most [[teachers]] will, at some time or another, [[teach]] in some sort of '''language school'''. The other usual way of teaching is as a [[freelance teacher]] | |||
In many ways working for a school has advantages, especially for those who are new to the profession. | In many ways working for a school has advantages, especially for those who are new to the profession. | ||
It should be clear that this way of working is not for the faint-hearted, and is probably not the best course for inexperienced teachers. Nevertheless, for those who make a go of it, it can be a highly rewarding venture both in financial and emotional terms.}} | | | ||
Working as a '''freelance teacher''' is the obvious alternative to working in a [[school]] | |||
It should be clear that this way of working is not for the faint-hearted, and is probably not the best course for inexperienced teachers. Nevertheless, for those who make a go of it, it can be a highly rewarding venture both in financial and emotional terms. | |||
}} | |||
===Income=== | ===Income=== | ||
{{sbs| | {{sbs| | ||
Your monthly/weekly salary should be guaranteed. Emphasis is on the "should" here, as there are [[Teflblacklist | many horror stories]] of teachers having to fight for their pay. So try to check out a school beforehand. | Your monthly/weekly salary should be guaranteed. Emphasis is on the "should" here, as there are [[Teflblacklist | many horror stories]] of teachers having to fight for their pay. So try to check out a school beforehand. | ||
In any event, you won't get rich working for a language school.|If you chose the market segment properly then your potential hourly rate could be many times greater than the hourly rate paid by a school. | In any event, you won't get rich working for a language school. | ||
| | |||
If you chose the market segment properly then your potential hourly rate could be many times greater than the hourly rate paid by a school. | |||
Your income will depend on the number of students you are able to find, your ability/reputation as a teacher, local competition and the sector you are targeting; it will '''not''' be guaranteed. If you are starting from scratch you might initially find that you need savings or a "fall back" source of income most probably from a school. | Your income will depend on the number of students you are able to find, your ability/reputation as a teacher, local competition and the sector you are targeting; it will '''not''' be guaranteed. If you are starting from scratch you might initially find that you need savings or a "fall back" source of income most probably from a school. | ||
Some teachers like to charge private students in advance to reduce students' tendency to cancel classes.}} | Some teachers like to charge private students in advance to reduce students' tendency to cancel classes. | ||
}} | |||
===Schedule=== | ===Schedule=== | ||
| Line 68: | Line 82: | ||
===Students=== | ===Students=== | ||
{{sbs|Although you won't have to find students you'll have no control over the selection of the students you have to teach. If you don't like them or they don't like you there is not a lot you can do about it. |In theory you will only need to teach [[students]] you want to [[teach]] - although if there is a shortage of students, or you land a company contract, your choices may not be quite so free. See: [[#Marketing|marketing]].}} | {{sbs| | ||
Although you won't have to find students you'll have no control over the selection of the students you have to teach. If you don't like them or they don't like you there is not a lot you can do about it. | |||
| | |||
In theory you will only need to teach [[students]] you want to [[teach]] - although if there is a shortage of students, or you land a company contract, your choices may not be quite so free. See: [[#Marketing|marketing]]. | |||
}} | |||
===Holidays and sickness=== | ===Holidays and sickness=== | ||
{{sbs|The school should give you paid holidays and sick leave. Check your contract thoroughly before commencing employment; see [[Teflblacklist | here]]. If you don't speak the local language then have the contract reviewed by somebody who does. It is by no means unusual for schools to offer contracts to inexperienced teachers at ludicrously low rates of pay.|You will not be paid for these. Sickness insurance is one option but it tends to be expensive. You will probably find that you have less income during Christmas and Easter (depending on the culture) and perhaps during the summer months.}} | {{sbs| | ||
The school should give you paid holidays and sick leave. Check your contract thoroughly before commencing employment; see [[Teflblacklist | here]]. If you don't speak the local language then have the contract reviewed by somebody who does. It is by no means unusual for schools to offer contracts to inexperienced teachers at ludicrously low rates of pay. | |||
| | |||
You will not be paid for these. Sickness insurance is one option but it tends to be expensive. You will probably find that you have less income during Christmas and Easter (depending on the culture) and perhaps during the summer months. | |||
}} | |||
===Motivation=== | ===Motivation=== | ||
{{sbs|Students will vary from highly motivated adults who are a joy to teach to utterly disinterested teenagers who would rather be somewhere else.|Students who are paying their own money for individual classes will usually be highly [[motivation | motivated]]. On the other hand they are also likely be highly demanding.}} | {{sbs| | ||
Students will vary from highly motivated adults who are a joy to teach to utterly disinterested teenagers who would rather be somewhere else. | |||
| | |||
Students who are paying their own money for individual classes will usually be highly [[motivation|motivated]]. On the other hand they are also likely be highly demanding. | |||
}} | |||
===Accountability=== | ===Accountability=== | ||
{{sbs|Depending on the school you may be left to do your own thing or have a [[DOS]] looking over your shoulder every moment.|You will be accountable to nobody but your students for the quality or content of your [[classes]]. Naturally, this also means that you had better give good classes as your students will be free to vote with their feet whenever they like.}} | {{sbs| | ||
Depending on the school you may be left to do your own thing or have a [[DOS]] looking over your shoulder every moment. | |||
| | |||
You will be accountable to nobody but your students for the quality or content of your [[classes]]. Naturally, this also means that you had better give good classes as your students will be free to vote with their feet whenever they like. | |||
}} | |||
===Coursebook=== | ===Coursebook=== | ||
{{sbs|You will probably have little control over the coursebook chosen by the school. You may love it or hate it, but you (probably) won't be able to change it. |You will be able to decide whether or not to use a [[coursebook]]. If you decide not to use one then some students may initially feel uncomfortable about not having the "support" of a coursebook - especially if it's their first experience with a class outside of a language school. This is likely to change as they come to realize the benefits of a more personalized approach to the learning process.}} | {{sbs| | ||
You will probably have little control over the coursebook chosen by the school. You may love it or hate it, but you (probably) won't be able to change it. | |||
| | |||
You will be able to decide whether or not to use a [[coursebook]]. If you decide not to use one then some students may initially feel uncomfortable about not having the "support" of a coursebook - especially if it's their first experience with a class outside of a language school. This is likely to change as they come to realize the benefits of a more personalized approach to the learning process. | |||
}} | |||
===Cancellations=== | ===Cancellations=== | ||
{{sbs|This is not an issue - though if students stop coming to your classes the school may wonder about your quality as a teacher.|Cancellations with private students can be the bane of a freelancer's life and you will need to consider how to deal with them. If your students have paid in advance than you may wish to be pretty ruthless about this, but on the other hand you will also want to keep the student and your reputation. | {{sbs| | ||
This is not an issue - though if students stop coming to your classes the school may wonder about your quality as a teacher. | |||
| | |||
Cancellations with private students can be the bane of a freelancer's life and you will need to consider how to deal with them. If your students have paid in advance than you may wish to be pretty ruthless about this, but on the other hand you will also want to keep the student and your reputation. | |||
Typically teachers use a sliding system along the lines of: | Typically teachers use a sliding system along the lines of: | ||
| Line 91: | Line 151: | ||
*Full charge for a class cancelled within 24 hours. | *Full charge for a class cancelled within 24 hours. | ||
(Times are illustrative only.)}} | (Times are illustrative only.) | ||
}} | |||
===Travelling=== | ===Travelling=== | ||
{{sbs|While most of your classes will probably be at the school itself you may also be asked to give some in-company classes. Find out if the school will pay your travelling time - very often it won't.|You may need to budget for travelling expenses and travelling time as you may have to spend a considerable period of time travelling between classes. You might be able to adjust individual fees to allow for travel distance.<br/>If you find you need a car you should give some thought to contingencies in case of breakdowns.}} | {{sbs| | ||
While most of your classes will probably be at the school itself you may also be asked to give some in-company classes. Find out if the school will pay your travelling time - very often it won't. | |||
| | |||
You may need to budget for travelling expenses and travelling time as you may have to spend a considerable period of time travelling between classes. You might be able to adjust individual fees to allow for travel distance.<br/>If you find you need a car you should give some thought to contingencies in case of breakdowns. | |||
}} | |||
===Materials and equipment=== | ===Materials and equipment=== | ||
{{sbs|These should be supplied by the school. However, don't necessarily expect this to happen as some schools do not carry sufficient supplies to run a successful lesson. In consequence you might with to prepare on this assumption.|Unless you intend to follow a coursebook you will have to create your own [[Create a topical class | topical classes]], [[materials]], [[handouts]], [[listening]]s, etc. You may wish to obtain a PC and encourage your students to use one as well. For example students can also use memory sticks to record "homework" on if they are coming to you or are in a business environment. (You could even use the [[Other_ways_of_teaching#Teaching_over_the_internet|internet]] to conduct lessons)}} | {{sbs| | ||
These should be supplied by the school. However, don't necessarily expect this to happen as some schools do not carry sufficient supplies to run a successful lesson. In consequence you might with to prepare on this assumption. | |||
| | |||
Unless you intend to follow a coursebook you will have to create your own [[Create a topical class|topical classes]], [[materials]], [[handouts]], [[listening]]s, etc. You may wish to obtain a PC and encourage your students to use one as well. For example students can also use memory sticks to record "homework" on if they are coming to you or are in a business environment. (You could even use the [[Other_ways_of_teaching#Teaching_over_the_internet|internet]] to conduct lessons) | |||
}} | |||
===Liability insurance=== | ===Liability insurance=== | ||
{{sbs|This is the school's problem.|If you are conducting lessons in your own premises, you will probably need liability insurance of some kind - though this will depend on local regulations.}} | {{sbs| | ||
This is the school's problem. | |||
| | |||
If you are conducting lessons in your own premises, you will probably need liability insurance of some kind - though this will depend on local regulations. | |||
}} | |||
===Networking=== | ===Networking=== | ||
{{sbs|Working for a school should give you the opportunity to make contact with other English teachers, start some [[networking]] and exchange opinions and class ideas in a social setting. If you are fortunate one of the "old hands" will be prepared to show you the ropes if you are a new teacher. |Your opportunities for social contact with other teachers may be reduced, as will the ongoing exchange of material and ideas. Partial solution: sign up with Teflpedia!}} | {{sbs| | ||
Working for a school should give you the opportunity to make contact with other English teachers, start some [[networking]] and exchange opinions and class ideas in a social setting. If you are fortunate one of the "old hands" will be prepared to show you the ropes if you are a new teacher. | |||
| | |||
Your opportunities for social contact with other teachers may be reduced, as will the ongoing exchange of material and ideas. Partial solution: sign up with Teflpedia! | |||
}} | |||
===Administration=== | ===Administration=== | ||
{{sbs|The school [[Teflblacklist |should]] ensure that appropriate regulations are complied with and that tax deductions, insurances, pension contributions etc. are made. |You will be responsible for things like your own invoicing and tax records. Keep records of '''all''' income and expenditure no matter how trivial it might seem. If you do not have at least a little experience at accounting and administration this may cause a problem.}} | {{sbs| | ||
The school [[Teflblacklist |should]] ensure that appropriate regulations are complied with and that tax deductions, insurances, pension contributions etc. are made. | |||
| | |||
You will be responsible for things like your own invoicing and tax records. Keep records of '''all''' income and expenditure no matter how trivial it might seem. If you do not have at least a little experience at accounting and administration this may cause a problem. | |||
}} | |||
===Location of classes=== | ===Location of classes=== | ||
{{sbs|Probably at the school, but you could be sent to company training locations as well.| | {{sbs| | ||
You will need to make your own arrangements. Our article [[freelance]] has more information.}} | |||
Probably at the school, but you could be sent to company training locations as well. | |||
| | |||
You will need to make your own arrangements. Our article [[freelance]] has more information. | |||
}} | |||
===Marketing=== | ===Marketing=== | ||
{{sbs|Not really relevant if you work in a school.|You will have to learn a new skill: marketing. Our article [[Freelance marketing]] has more information.}} | {{sbs| | ||
Not really relevant if you work in a school. | |||
| | |||
You will have to learn a new skill: marketing. Our article [[Freelance marketing]] has more information. | |||
}} | |||
===Your language ability=== | ===Your language ability=== | ||
{{sbs|Not knowing the local language is no big impediment if you are working in a school as the arrangements are made by the school authorities. Indeed, some schools maintain that they prefer their native English teachers not to know the local language as this means that they are obliged to use [[total immersion]].|Unless you are confident in your ability to negotiate and explain things in the native language (or have somebody to do it for you) then you will have some problems working freelance.}} | {{sbs| | ||
Not knowing the local language is no big impediment if you are working in a school as the arrangements are made by the school authorities. Indeed, some schools maintain that they prefer their native English teachers not to know the local language as this means that they are obliged to use [[total immersion]]. | |||
| | |||
Unless you are confident in your ability to negotiate and explain things in the native language (or have somebody to do it for you) then you will have some problems working freelance. | |||
}} | |||
===Gaining experience=== | ===Gaining experience=== | ||
{{sbs| | |||
If you are new to the profession then working in a school should give you a lot of valuable experience of teaching a wide range of abilities, group sizes and ages. You may also get an opportunity to practice teaching English for specialised purposes. | |||
|While some freelance teachers start off [[Backpacker | without previous experience, or even training]], it might be better to gain some experience before going it alone.}} | |||
| | |||
While some freelance teachers start off [[Backpacker|without previous experience, or even training]], it might be better to gain some experience before going it alone. | |||
}} | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[One-to-one]] | *[[One-to-one]] | ||
*[[Teaching portfolio]] | *[[Teaching portfolio]] | ||
[[ | |||
[[ | [[category:language schools]] | ||
[[category:freelance]] | |||
Revision as of 03:36, 17 March 2020
There are two main ways of working as an English teacher: working in a school and working freelance. The difference between them is really the difference between having security and a relatively low salary; and having little security and a relatively high high salary. (Although, in some cases the "security" of working for a school may be a little illusory as our article cowboy outfit mentions.)
Some teachers recommend teaching a mixture of school and freelance classes so as to obtain the "best of both worlds"; others will always opt for security and yet others for freelance freedom. It is accepted that, for various reasons, many teachers may have no choice in the matter; but for those who are in a position to make an informed choice this article attempts to compare the two possibilities.
