Questions about private tutoring / Grinds

Arathea

Hello there!

I'm a linguist and I consider starting giving French grinds to pupils and students as from September, and I have a few questions for parents, students or tutors My decision is not made yet so I'd need some insight.

In Ireland is it more customary to go and teach the student at their place, or at the tutor's one?

I know French is needed for the Leaving Cert; for a student who has a low level, how many hours a month would be helpful to improve themselves?

Is French often taught in primary schools? (or as an option?)

Do grinds need to be declared to Revenue?

How much can I reasonably ask for 1h lesson (in Cork)? Given that I am a native (it's a good start!), that I have a M.A in translation & linguistics, that I tutored about 8 different kids from 11 to 18 but also that I last tutored a year and half ago back in France.

I know I'll have to provide a resume, but are letters of recommendation from my previous agencies required? (I taught through two agencies, but also just thanks to Internet ads).

Thanks a lot!

gaeilgebeo

Arathea wrote: »

Hello there!

I'm a linguist and I consider starting giving French grinds to pupils and students as from September, and I have a few questions for parents, students or tutors My decision is not made yet so I'd need some insight.

In Ireland is it more customary to go and teach the student at their place, or at the tutor's one?

I know French is needed for the Leaving Cert; for a student who has a low level, how many hours a month would be helpful to improve themselves?

Is French often taught in primary schools? (or as an option?)

Do grinds need to be declared to Revenue?

How much can I reasonably ask for 1h lesson (in Cork)? Given that I am a native (it's a good start!), that I have a M.A in translation & linguistics, that I tutored about 8 different kids from 11 to 18 but also that I last tutored a year and half ago back in France.

I know I'll have to provide a resume, but are letters of recommendation from my previous agencies required? (I taught through two agencies, but also just thanks to Internet ads).

Thanks a lot!

Firstly, grind students can either come to your house or you can go to them. Entirely up to you.
For a student who is weak at French, a parent is unlikely to spend money on more than 1 hour per week. Grinds are expensive enough.
French is not taught in primary schools as far as I know. (open to correction).
Grinds should be declared to the revenue, that's not to say all teachers do!
I know you have a lot of qualifications as a linguist but to be honest, when parents are paying for grinds 99% if the time they want a qualified teacher to give the grinds.
Do you know all levels of the French syllabus for Junior+Leaving Cert?
Are you familiar with the marking scheme?
Are you confident to teach exam technique? Show students where they will lose/pick up marks?
Can you provide good notes and sample answers for the student?
Are you familiar with the exam papers/layout etc..?
Do you have aural cds to practice aural work with them?
D you have access to a photocopier to copy notes/questions etc?
These are all things that will be expected.

From your post, I gather that you will want to concentrate more on the oral side of the exam, however, that is only a percentage of the course.
Students/Parents paying for grinds will expect you to cover everything on the paper(unless they request otherwise).

Again, because you are not a qualified teacher, you will most likely have to charge less.
I give a lot of Irish grinds and parents often ask me to to recommend people for maths/english/french grinds and always ask for said person to be a qualified teacher.
That said, people who are not qualified do give grinds so you have nothing to lose by trying. My advise is to be well prepared and know your courses inside out.
Best of luck.

Toto Wolfcastle

gaeilgebeo wrote: »

French is not taught in primary schools as far as I know. (open to correction).

I don't know how widespread it is but back in the 90s I learned French in Primary School from 1st class to 6th class and I know of a few primary schools who teach a modern language.

gaeilgebeo

Bobblehead Panda wrote: »

I don't know how widespread it is but back in the 90s I learned French in Primary School from 1st class to 6th class and I know of a few primary schools who teach a modern language.

I did French in 5th+6th class, but it was more of an "extra" once a week.
I put it down to the teacher having french as a second language.

That said, in the context the OP is asking, if parents of primary school children were going to send their child to grinds and pay for them, I can't imagine it would be for french as opposed to one of the core subjects.

Toto Wolfcastle

gaeilgebeo wrote: »

I did French in 5th+6th class, but it was more of an "extra" once a week.
I put it down to the teacher having french as a second language.

That said, in the context the OP is asking, if parents of primary school children were going to send their child to grinds and pay for them, I can't imagine it would be for french as opposed to one of the core subjects.

A French woman came to the school once a week to teach us. I vaguely remember someone posting a link in Primary and Pre School with a list of schools that teach a modern language. Can't find it at the moment.

I agree though, I doubt very much that a parent of a primary school child is going to get them grinds in French.