When searching for information about Chinese tutors online, do you find yourself overwhelmed by a wide array of private tutoring centers and language institutions, unsure of how to choose? Are you also uncertain if the money you’re spending reflects reasonable Chinese tutor rates? This article will provide you with some guidance.
The following points will help you think through several aspects, including online classes and in-person classes. For in-person classes, we will discuss details based on location, individual sessions, or corporate groups.
One-on-One Online Chinese Classes
On large language learning websites like Amazing Talker and Preply, you’ll notice a wide price range for classes, from as low as 8$ to as high as 50$ per session. The backgrounds and main subjects of the teachers on these platforms can vary significantly.
If you don’t mind whether the teacher has a relevant background and are willing to take your time to find the right fit among many options, that’s fine. However, it’s advisable not to pay less than 15$ per hour. Why? Because the platform takes a commission, and promotional discounts often cut into the teacher’s pay. In such situations, teachers must take on more classes, which makes it challenging to maintain quality. Moreover, one-on-one lessons require customization, and I don’t mean to offend, but lower prices ultimately affect the learners as well.
It usually takes some time to find the right teacher, so I believe that a reasonable hourly rate for beginners is between 15$ to 25$. The market rate for one-on-one online classes at language centers ranges from 12$ to 35$. The advantage is that the selection process is stricter, and most teachers have received training, resulting in higher fees. However, finding the right teacher is another matter altogether (Please refer to this article).
In-Person Chinese Classes
When I started taking personal tutoring jobs ten years ago (in 2014), the starting rate was $16 (approximately NT$500) for teachers with one year of teaching experience, certification, and internship experience. Today, the starting rate for in-person classes has not increased much (essentially, it hasn’t changed). There might be an opportunity to write another article to explore this phenomenon. But what is certain is that you should first ask yourself whether you care about the teacher’s background and teaching experience, and then we can look at other factors that need to be considered.
★Commute distance: If it takes an hour to travel to and from a class, this cost should also be factored in.
★Duration and frequency: Students who attend six hours a week are likely to have more room to negotiate prices compared to those who only attend for two hours.
★Location: Costs may include drink prices at a café, venue rental fees, or whether the lesson takes place at the teacher’s home or at your place. When attending classes at each other’s residences, the consideration may not be price, but rather the suitability of the location.
★Long-term or short-term: Some clients may come to Taiwan for short-term travel, visiting family, or internships and seek opportunities for brief language studies. In such cases, teachers need to rearrange their existing schedules, which naturally raises the price, starting at least at $32.
★Target audience: Some companies hire Chinese tutor to conduct lessons on-site, which involves commuting and time considerations (possibly during lunch breaks or before work in the morning). Additionally, last-minute work commitments may prevent attendance, and not all participants may be present in group classes. The curriculum may also focus on business Chinese, which adds to the challenges for teachers. Therefore, the price typically ranges from $30 to $50.
I has also taught students who require special education methods, such as those with ADHD or hearing impairments. Unfortunately, there are still limited resources and discussions on this topic.
Conclusion
The Chinese tutor rates mentioned here can serve as a reference, but they are not the only standard. After all, there are differences between self-employed tutors and those employed by institutions. However, I believe there are many aspects of the current salary structure for Mandarin teachers that need improvement, as the lack of transparency in wages may lead to an information gap between consumers and teachers. This article aims to help you find a suitable tutor more easily by providing a reasonable price range.
