After 2 and a half years I decided that it was time for a change
and I signed up as a freelance professional (language teacher
and translator). I was lucky enough to find an institution that
was looking for a freelance German teacher where I started teaching
various days a week and where I was paid a fair hourly rate.
I also started teaching in-company-classes in companies without
intermediaries, so that I got a far better rate than I had in
the years before.
Now I still work as a freelance teacher (and translator) of
German and for the time being I make enough for a living. I
teach in institutions, companies and I also have some private
classes. No longer am I pressed to take on everything that is
offered to me at any price.
To those who would like to start as a German freelance teacher
I would like to give the following advice:
- The best place to find clients is Internet and it is important
you can be found by potential students in the web.
- Before accepting a class think twice if it suits you concerning
timetable, distance to your home, etc. To abandon a class after
one month is regarded as a lack of professionalism.
- If your client is a company do not forget to offer them to
hand in a monthly follow-up sheet and course outline. That will
help you to enhance your image as a professional teacher.
-Try to look professional at any time. That does not only concern
clothing (it might not be necessary to wear a suit, but avoid
trainers and torn jeans) but also the material you hand out
to your students.
- Do not “run with the fastest”. Do not let the best student
of a group set the class’ pace. The others will either complain
or abandon the course and the company might cancel the course
as a consequence.
Although there is not as much demand for German teachers as
for English teachers, the market in Madrid is big enough for
a freelance teacher to make a good living. German is becoming
more and more popular and many company and private classes are
available. It is a risk to sign up as a freelance teacher without
having enough classes but it is also very motivating to have
your own clients and be able to charge a fair price. And that
leaves you more time to prepare your classes better and create
your own teaching material.
I wish luck to all those that decide to take this step.
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