Quote:
Originally Posted by tkdfn0987
. He would constantly text me with questions (most of the time when I am working, which is annoying sometimes) when he uses office hours to study. I was proud of him at first because I feel that as a teacher, I should be glad when my student really makes an effort. So I always reply to him as much as possible even though I really shouldn't be looking at my phone during work. He did make a lot of progress in the language and I was really glad to see him improved.
Does anyone have an insight to this problem? I mean he is generally a very good student and nice person in general, but I've been wondering if this is some kind of overzealous learning behavior or is this just his personality? I've been feeling a little uncomfortable because I feel that as much as I care about helping him making progress, I am in fact paid by the hour and I really shouldn't do this much work for him outside of the actual in-person lessons
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tkdfn0987
That's what I've been trying to tell him for a long time. Maybe I need to be more clear on things with him. Maybe I should ask him to gather questions and ask them in one setting during the lesson instead of shooting random emails and texts to me.
As an experienced language learner myself, I have never had a tutor my entire life and I managed to teach myself speak a few different languages fluently. I personally think that one should not rely too much on a tutor because the majority of the work should always be on practicing in your own time. I get that he doesn't want to spend extra money on subscribing to blogs/online lessons since he's already spending money to hire me. And as a business-minded person, he probably thinks that he's wasting money on lessons if he's not progressing fast enough.
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Are there any free blogs or webcasts or social groups where he can practice practice listening or talking in that language? Even movies or educational videos? What about a meet up group? Are there any cultural activities or religious groups or even restaurants in your area where he could attend/visit to hear or practice the language?
If you had to a cancel an occasional lesson perhaps he wouldn't get as obsessed if he had other ways to practice the language.
Quote:
Originally Posted by tkdfn0987
My problem is just the amount of maintenance (text/emails/extra work) I've been doing outside of class.
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If you are being paid by the hour and he is asking a lot of extra questions on your personal, non teaching time you need to make it clear that you will either respond to his questions at the start of your lesson or start to charge him for that time.
Think of it this way, would any other professional, who is paid by the hour, such as an attorney or doctor or accountant, just answer question after question
after question between the paid times? I really doubt it.
Just be honest with him. You charge so much per each hour of direct lessons and that includes whatever amount of preparation/planning time is built in to your pay scale. Perhaps it is a little, perhaps it is a lot but whatever amount it is he is greatly exceeding that time. What if every single client of yours started to email frequent questions to you and expect immediate answers? What if he starts to tell all of your potential clients "Mr. Smith is great, you can him ask questions day or night and he immediately answers and does not charge any extra". And all of your new clients start to do that, too.
Figure it out and tell him that the new rates will start in two weeks.
PS. You will
really need the extra money if you get fired for constantly using your phone to answer texts while on your regular job.
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