A fair wage

[Expat_teacher]

Hi All! I´m new to this forum after being a lurker for awhile.. Just want to say that it´s a great site and I have learned a lot so far!

I have a question to ask that I have seen posted around in various ESL sites.. and that is the question of a fair wage. What is everyone´s opinion about what a fair wage is for teaching English in Spain. I have read on other places like Dave´s ESL site that teachers are earning like $30 an hour in Japan. I wish I saw that kind of money here in Madrid. I´m lucky when I get what they say is the standard $15 an hour.

What do you guys think?

• Tweet

[RebeccaG]

Hi Expat Teacher!

Glad to know that you find this site useful to you in your teaching quest. Keep posting more questions and we will answer them quickly!

I don´t know how I missed this one...

Ahhh, that age old question about what is a fair wage. I think it´s a really tough question to ask because it depends on so many variables. I mean, how many jobs do you know of that have a standard hourly wage apart from working at Mickey D´s? Of all the jobs that I have held (and they have been a few!), I started with one wage (annual salary) and after proving myself and developing my skillset, earned more and more.

I don´t think it´s so much \"I´m  a native speaker, TEFL trained, so I deserve 15€ an hour\". Believe me, I have come across many TEFL trained who deserved much more than that and some who don´t deserve to be called teachers. Likewise, I have met some who aren´t TEFL trained and deserve much more than 15€ an hour and those who deserve much less.

I could go into real detail about fair wage, cost of living, etc. etc. but would like to hear what others have to say about the issue as well.

If you are yearning for those 30€ an hour (based upon a 20 hour work week working 48 weeks a year that is 28,800€. A pretty comfortable income here in Spain), ask yourself the following questions:

1. Why do I deserve that kind of pay? What skills do I have that support such a \"demand\"?
2. What skills do those who are earning that kind of money have that I don´t?
3. How much effort do I put into my English teaching? (Teaching English is more than showing up to teach a class, it´s lesson planning, prep, and follow-up as well as correcting papers!)

Also remember, you can´t really compare from country to country what English teachers make because the cost of living varies city to city as well as country to country.

What experience do other board members have here?

Tony, what is your take on this situation?

 

• Tweet

[tonytorero]

Coming from an academy type of environment, this is a bit of a touchy subject for us. I mean, academy hourly rates run between 11-14 Euros an hour or so for in center work, while business classes will run between 15-20 an hour.

Now, most people just take the business jobs because the hourly rate is higher without really thinking this decision through. I mean, in a center you tend to have blocks of hours together. So, 25-30 hours at 11-14 per hour is more than 17 business teaching hours + 10 or more unpaid travel hours to get to your classes at 15-20 per hour is actually less for roughly the same amount of hours invested in teaching the classes.

Not to mention the fact that you should consider many more factors than, \"How much will I take home at the end of the month?\" when deciding which job to take. How is management? What is the support infrastructure like?  How teacher and student friendly is the center? How excited do the students appear to be about learning at that center? Is the philosophy of this center in line with the way I teach? Will this teaching situation challenge me to improve? Will I grow as a human being? Where will I be happiest teaching at?

My point? Be prepared to look for multiple bottom lines when looking for a teaching job! :book:  :cafe:   Teaching isn't only about the salary you GET and the classes you GIVE. It's also about what you will RECEIVE from your bosses, students and yourself.

What? Huh?? :unsure: Was I up on that darned soap box again? Oops... Sorry!  :blink: Let me get down....   Won't happen again, I promise!  B)  

• Tweet

[CJK]

Hi all!

I agree with Tony - look at the important variables, which for me are
- travel time
- how many hours (block hours)
- what hours will the student be prepared to take eg 'dead hours'
- do they pay for books / resources / photocopying etc
- cancellation policy

I work for myself and average €18+ per hour after tax etc. I have  a nice balance of businesses and private students. With the privates I am prepared to take a little less than the corporates because I know what I would be prepared to pay myself for a private language teacher, ie not much, also you get people closer to your house. The acadamies do pay less, but make sure you find out what support the offer you - eg a good range of books, computers, photocopying, block hours, guaranteed cancellation policy etc etc etc

Do not think just because you are a native speaker you are a good teacher and deserve the money though. Students are looking for a teacher, not a chat, if students don't want to pay what you want offer them a 'conversation class' for a lower price - ie you have to do very little prep work, or offer to put them in touch with a non native speaking teacher - they will soon get the point!
Reg
CJ







 

• Tweet

[Deman]

When you guys talk about €15 per hour, is it an actual hour? I teach in Finland where the rates can vary from €18 to €25 per hour, but the hour is actually only 45 minutes. The teacher is supposed to be allowed 15 mins in every teaching hour for preparation. Is it the same in Spain?

• Tweet