Tutoring is an excellent way for professionals to make a living. This is because it consists on sharing knowledge with students about subjects that you are already proficient in.
In the case of language teaching and language tutoring, the benefits are many, including the fact that you can set your own tutoring prices, budget and manage your rates.
If you have decided to become a German tutor and help students reach their goals in the language, there are many excellent ways in which you can work on a strategy to set your prices and make sure that you are making the right amount of money.
If you are passionate about foreign languages, the German culture and everything to do with the German language, you could be well suited for a job where you can help students improve their reading, writing, listening, and speaking in German as well as teaching them interesting new German phrases.
But, how can you set your rates as a private German tutor? What are the things you need to consider? How can you make sure you make a living as a tutor and not put yourself in a complicated position?
In Superprof we work with private tutors from all over Ireland and the world in order to help them connect with prospective students and provide the best possible experience so they can reach their personal and professional goals.
This is why we have the best possible advice for you to find your tutoring prices as well as some tips on setting your rates according to your needs and professional experience.
Keep reading to learn more about tutoring prices for German lessons in Ireland and some practical tips to set your tutoring rates!
Tutoring Prices: What do I Need to Know?
The first thing you need to know is that private tutors are almost always paid by the hour. This is because it is easier for students to budget around tutoring hours and it allows for a tutor to also make sure that they are considering their hourly costs. But, what does this mean for you? This means that when you do finally decide on your rates, you’ll need to work them out in terms of how much you will charge per hour.
You’ll also need to think about the prices charged by the other tutors on the market in order to give you a general idea of what people are willing to pay and what people are getting paid.
Some things that determine how much you can charge per hour of tutoring are as follows:
- The topic. Tutoring rates definitely depend on the topic you’re teaching. Some subjects are more specialized as is the case with topics such as applied maths or chemistry. Others might be considered a bit more general or lightweight and as such the prices per hour of teaching go down.
- The hours you dedicate to teaching per day. If you have a schedule that allows you to work less hours than the average tutor, you might consider adjusting your prices in order to make ends meet.
- The centers and websites you’re a part of. Some websites or tutoring centers charge tutors a fee in order to provide the services of connecting them to prospective students. Depending on the fee is the amount of money that you will have to charge for your tutoring.
- Your expected income. There are people that tutor for extra money but also to it is that tutor professionally, making a medium to high salary off of tutoring only. The better you set your rate, the higher you will be paid; however, your experience should match.
The average rates for German tutoring in Ireland is around 31 euros but this can vary depending on many variables like:
- Your experience as a private tutor.
- Your academic background and whether you have any relevant diplomas like a German degree for example.
- The reviews you have received from previous students.
Does My Tutoring Level Affect the Price?
By finding out the cost of German tutorials, you’ll see the difference in rates in terms of the tutor’s level. No two German tutors are alike.
Don't believe us? Check out the various German tutors in London on Superprof by typing “German” into the search bar. You’ll quickly see how different they all are.
The rate per hour can vary wildly depending on the level of these tutors.
Are you a psychology student with a good level in German? Are you fluent or did you learn to speak German online You won’t be able to ask for as much as a qualified native German teacher!
To work out how much you're going to charge, you’ll also have to gauge your own level.
If you’re a teacher working in a school, it’ll be quite easy. Is it a primary school or a secondary school? Reception or sixth form? Did you study a PGCE?
Once you start answering these questions you’ll see the steps to take and how to find your students.
A tutor’s experience plays an important role in how much they charge.
Working out your level is even more important if teaching isn’t your day job, even if German is your native language.
Are you student with a good level in German but not a native speaker? Have you taken hundreds of language courses and know how to speak your second language almost as well as the natives of German speaking countries?
You can work out your proficiency by taking a level test.
Are you fluent, advanced, or conversational?
You can work out where you are on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Get in touch with your nearest Goethe Institut to find out when the next exams are.
For example, anyone wanting to learn German from a native speaker in Dublin will be looking at upwards of €30.
However, students are available for less than that.
Why are there so many different rates?
Because the rate doesn’t only depend on the tutor’s level of German!
There are several other things you need to consider when coming up with your rates.
Does the Student Level Affect the Cost?
The difference in rates for a primary school student and a secondary school student is around €10.
This makes sense since the work required can vary wildly.
Online teaching jobs for basic German grammar, new words, and the German alphabet to a primary school student is very different to teaching intensive Leaving Cert German or degree tutorials. The latter can require all your German language knowledge.
You have to choose your students in terms of your preferences and your abilities. Be logical and consistent!
Are you a first-year student wanting to give private German tutorials?
It’d be a good idea to teach primary school students as opposed to other students who may even have a better level than you.
Have you got lots of experience?
You should mention that you teach all levels on your advert. In this case, you should have a rates table detailing how much you charge for each type of student.
What Things Should I Consider When Setting my Hourly Rate?
If you thought teaching privately didn’t have any running costs, you were wrong! You need to bring more than just your language skills and a few German words to each lesson!
In fact, your running costs should be taken into account when working out the rates of your German tutorials.
Don’t forget that you’re aiming to earn money, not lose it!
Get out a pen and paper and make a note of everything you’ll need to teach private German tutorials.
Some things are obvious, like pens, notebooks, etc. If you don’t have them already, you’ll probably have to buy vocabulary books, grammar books, and German exercise books.
Whether you send progress reports by mail or deliver them by hand, you’re probably often going to need to make photocopies (of corrections, for example). Work out how much your ink cartridges cost or how.
Finally, work out your transport costs. You’ve probably already worked out how far you’re willing to travel for your German tutorials. If you use public transport, consider the cost of your passes.
If you have your own car, work out how much your journey costs in terms of petrol. There are sites to do this.
You’ll also need to work out your taxes, too. Being a private German tutor can be your main job or a side hustle.
Either way, you need to declare what you earn!
You’ll need to take into account business expenditures, too.
Work out all your overheads before you decide on your hourly rates.
Practical Tips for German Tutors
How Can I Reach More German Students?
The platform or organisation you choose to work with to find your future German students will also affect the cost of your tutorials.
Some organisations can take as much as 50% of your hourly rate!
Some take barely anything and you go home with almost all your pay: Superprof, for example, doesn’t charge a signup fee.
The traditional (and outdated) method of advertising in a launderette or supermarket noticeboard has been replaced by on-line adverts. While these are often free, they’re not academic support specialists.
Make a list of the advantages and disadvantages of each platform: there’ll definitely be one that stands out!
After taking all of these into account, you’ll be ready to teach your students German.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
