Cert in Business English or Young Learners?

[Enoch83]

I get to choose which bonus certification i want to get along with my TEFL certification as a special promotion. I can choose Business English or Young learners. does anyone have any opinions on which i would benefit ($$) from more.

I am thinking the business english one since i would think that i could get some rich business clients that would pay top dollar.

but at the same time i like working with kids.

so the moral of the issue is does money buy happiness?

[cool ice]

Do the one you will enjoy! You can make BIG money teaching children too! If you organise your own class of 5 children in it with each child paying 1500 yen per hour, then you're making 7500 yen per hour!

Not many adults I know want to pay 7500 yen per hour for a private lesson.

Get rich busines clients? Yeh, possible, but you seem to forget that the agent that introduces you will take their cut. So when the client pays the agent 10,000 yen for 1 hour instruction, you would only see 3,500 yen of that! That's the reality.

SO don't follow the $$, but follow what type of students you think you would rather prefer teaching. There is money in both if you go solo.

I have taught company classes and kids and I still get the same pay.

[Enoch83]

thanks man, thats the kind of advice i'm looking for. but also, you said you can charge a child 1500 yen an hour and get 5 of them, thats 7500 yen/hour, and i prob wouldnt be able to get an adult to pay 7500/hour but then you said if i went with a business person, after the cut, i'd only get 3500/hour. well isnt that just for one person, what if i got 5 of them like the kids, thats over twice what the kids would charge isnt it?

[cool ice]

It's much easier to get a group of kids than a group of adults. Really to get any group, you need to advertise your availability and start treating your English teaching as a business. You will also then need to find a place to teach these students. At your apartment just wont do, as apartments in Japan aren't big enough to swing around a dead cat.

[Enoch83]

haha, don't they eat alot of dead cat in japan? i heard there was a book called "25 ways to wok your cat" lol. so where do you suggest holdin a teaching session....oh ya and is this like the freelance teaching that is frowned upon by the schools ?

[cool ice]

Freelance teaching is not frowned upon. But don't forget you need to first get a work visa before you can be adventurous with finding your own classes. As long as your privates don't interfere with your full-time job, then most schools don't have a problem with it.

Eating dead cat in Japan? Nah... you have the wrong country. The worst you get here is eating fish intestines called "shiokara".

[LeslieW]

If your only doing private lessons, 3,000 yen an hour is reasonable but if teaching a private group they may expect a huge discount.

Private lessons for kids is good money, usually in their home, but no matter what, it comes down to the contract you sign in your day job. If they say you cant teach others after hours they mean it. If you decide to teach after hours, you would be wise not to do so in the area you work. Someone will notice and your contract can be terminated. READ YOUR CONTRACT very carefully, even the small print. If there is no mention of after hours lessons your safe. Nothing they can do if it doesnt interfere. I wouldnt announce it to them or discuss it when at your day job though.

Best advice is set up your own private lessons, cut out the middle man and the money is earned by you and dont have to lose any to a third party. I found most of mine by flyers put in english and japanese and stuffed the mail slots of the apt buildings, houses, companies. Some by fellow teachers that had no more open spaces, etc.

Eat cat, not in Japan, S. Korea eats cats and dogs, probably a few other countries as well but not Japan.

[Enoch83]

thanks for the tips, but back to the original question, would you get the Cert for busines english or young learners???

[LeslieW]

I have a 2nd degree in Early Childhood Education, but if I didnt I would complete the cert by taking the Young Learners course.

[english grammar man]

Originally Posted by Enoch83

thanks for the tips, but back to the original question, would you get the Cert for busines english or young learners??

It all depends on what age group you want to focus your teaching on. Don't let the money dictate your decision. Both types of students can make you good money.