Ask Micki: Pay increase etiquette

© penywise

Question: Hello, Micki. I am struggling with an etiquette scenario, and was hoping you might have some advice for me.

Simply put, I need to increase my tutoring rates.  When I started out about 10 years ago, I was charging a really low rate.  I hadn't done much research and just sort of picked a random number.  It was lower than what other tutors were charging and, looking back, this was both good and bad.  I had a lot of business, sure, but I wasn't making nearly as much as I should have been. 

Fast forward to 2011, I am definitely not making as much as I could be now.  I'm making about half, sometimes less, of what other tutors make per session.  Also, the fact that the cost of living has increased over the past decade doesn't help my financial situation much.

So I looked over my expenses, researched rates for other chemistry tutors, and know exactly what price range I want to charge.

The problem is, I've never asked for a raise of any kind before.  How do I increase my tutoring rates without coming across as greedy?  I really like my clients, and don't want to offend anyone.

Thanks in advance,
Mike from VT


Answer: Hi Mike, thanks for your question!  Tutor pricing can be a very tricky thing, especially when you are first starting out like you were 10 years ago.

Charge too much, and you risk not getting any tutoring business.  Charge too little, and you wind up cheating yourself. 

The good news is that it sounds like you have gotten things pretty much figured out regarding your new price point.  You have found your ideal rates, and can be confident knowing that you are charging your tutees for quality tutoring.

Ready for more good news?  Believe it or not, increasing your rates is easier than you might think.  It can be as simple as printing out a quick paper letting your tutoring clients know:

a) How much? What your new rates will be.

b) Why? Let your tutees know why you are increasing your tutoring rates.  Giving clients a quick explanation for the new rates will help humanize the increase, and will help clients better understand why you are charging what you are charging.  Keep the tone upbeat, straightforward, and to the point.  Chances are, they will appreciate your reasons (increased expenses, cost of living, etc.), and they will definitely appreciate your honesty about the increase.

c) "What's in it for me?" Include any discounts that you want to offer clients (if applicable).  This can be done in two ways.  The first is a bulk rate discount that offers lower rates if your client agrees to a set number of hours.  So, if you both sign a contract that guarantees you, say, 35 hours of tutoring, you can offer a lower rate based on that contract.  The second approach to offering a discount is to individualize the discount for each client.  If you have been tutoring a client for 9 years, for example, you may want to give them a better discount than you would a client you have only had for a few years.  It's a loyalty discount.

d) Show gratitude! Thank your client for all of the business that he or she has given you, and assure your tutee that the quality of the tutoring will be just as good as ever.  Showing gratitude can go a long way.  By thanking your tutee for their business, you are making the transition to higher tutoring rates much easier for them to accept. 

When you hand over the new rate sheet to clients, have a quick talk with them about the increase.  Go over what is on the sheet you typed up for them to read.  Let your clients know that the increase will also help fund learning materials, printing costs, etc.  Be upbeat, straightforward, and friendly.

You may be a little nervous, but trust me when I say it will all work out fine.  I have found it necessary to increase my rates every few years, and it has always worked out well.  In fact, I can honestly say that in all of my years as a tutor, I have only lost 3 tutees after raising my rates.  Everyone else stuck with me.

Good luck, and let us know how everything works out for you!

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Photo Credit: © sxc.hu/penywise
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Ask Micki: Ideas for rewards?

© D. Sharon Pruitt

Question: Hi. I was wondering if you have any ideas for rewards? I'd like to give some incentives to my young students, and I would also like to give some kind of rewards to their parents.

My students are mostly between about 6-9 years old.
Any ideas?
Thanks, Micki,
Helen

Answer: Hi, there, Helen.  How great that you want to provide rewards and incentives to your tutees and the parents - very nice!

Tutee rewards can provide a great incentive for young tutees to keep up with their work and pay attention during sessions.  They get excited about earning rewards, and it can give your tutees an exciting goal to strive for through the week or month.  

On a business level, rewards for parents are also a good idea.  By providing incentives for parents, you will likely be ensuring that you have happy, repeat customers who are willing to recommend you to friends and family. 

That said, there will definitely be a pretty big difference in the types of incentives you provide.  Here are a few ideas:

Kids

1. Pencils, pens, and erasers are always a hit with kids.  Always.  Just make sure they are fun.  No one wants a plain ole' boring #2 yellow pencil.  Pick up some scented erasers, colorful pencils, or crazy pens to give to your tutees.  The more fun they are the better!

2. Stickers - Most kids cannot have enough of them! (Check out my blog posting all about these popular little rewards)  Crazy shapes, scented, sparkly - pretty much any kind of stickers will be a hit!

3. Games and books are also a good choice for rewards.  Now, obviously, since these rewards will be a bit more expensive, they will be higher level rewards.  However, if your students are willing to "save up points" or wait a little longer for a reward, games and books can be great incentives. 

Parents/Guardians

1. Offer a free session for a certain number of paid sessions.  You have probably seen those reward cards at coffee houses and other retail establishments.  Why not take the idea into the realm of tutoring?  For example, you can print out a punch card that reads, "For every 11 paid tutoring sessions, the 12th tutoring session is free!"

2. Discounts for time packages are always a hit with parents and guardians.  Instead of charging, for example, $45/hour, offer parents/guardians a $35/hour rate if they agree to have you tutor for at least 30 hours.  They will be happy at the $300 savings, and you will be happy with the repeat business!  Just make sure to get something in writing so that you can all keep track of the hours tutored, and so that you all have a copy of the agreement. 

3. Offer discounts for referrals.  If, for example, your tutee's parent refers a friend to your tutoring service, give your tutee's parent 20% off of future tutoring sessions.  Something like that is always appreciated. 

Stick with these basic ideas, or build off of them and come up with some customized ideas of your own.  I guarantee your tutees and their parents/guardians will be thrilled!

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Photo Credit: © D. Sharon Pruitt
http://www.sxc.hu/profile/dspruitt

Field Notes: ESL Technique, Realia

I was reading the blog the other day, and noticed someone asking about ESL terminology.  Well, that got me to thinking about my own ESL tutoring, and I wanted to share a great technique that always works well for me and my students.

It's "Realia."  In other words, it is "stuff" that I bring to my ESL tutoring session.  Kind of like tutoring props. 

By using real objects during my ESL tutoring, I can help my tutee increase his or her vocabulary, act out English speaking scenarios, and improve his or her conversational skills.  Plus, it gives my students real, actual, tangible things to use when working through sentences and grammar.

A great example of realia I use all the time: travel brochures and play money.  My student and I go through the travel brochures together, and then my tutee chooses where he or she would like to go on vacation.

Then, my tutee tells me how they want to travel (train, ship, airplane, car, etc.), where they want to stay (good for learning basic travel/hotel vocabulary), what time and date they would like to leave and return (great for learning numbers, time, and calender dates), and how they want to pay for the vacation.  If my tutee wants to pay with cash, it gives my tutee a chance to practice counting money in English. All while looking at some great pictures of travel destinations!

Also good is the fact that this kind of realia is easy to travel with, because it folds flat, and is lightweight.  A definite must if, like me, you ride a bike to your tutoring appointments.

So far, I have had a lot of success with this technique, and my students really seem to love it!
Tammy from Eau Claire, WI

Ask Micki: Math tutee in over his head.

© lusi

Question: Hello, Micki. I need help in a big way.  I just started tutoring a guy in mathematics, he's taking Calculus I. 

He's friendly, pays attention while we're tutoring, and is always on time for sessions.

In other words, he is a great tutee.  Except that he is having a lot of trouble with the math.  I mean a lot of trouble, as in he cannot do it.  On his first test he received a 35%, and the homework hasn't been going as well as we'd both like either.  I think, honestly, he's just in over his head.

He also told me that his parents used to pay a tutor to do his math homework for him while he was in high school. 

Obviously, this got him decent (unearned) grades in high school math, but has done him no favors now that he is in college. 

He is really trying to put in the effort, and get past this learning block, but it just isn't happening, even after a month of tutoring (3 days a week).  Should I tell him to drop the class?

Thanks,
MathDude01

Answer: Hey, there, MathDude01. 
Great name, by the way - no question in my mind about what you tutor :o)

Sounds like a tough situation. On one hand, you want to be encouraging, and help your tutee achieve all of the success that he strives for during his academic career.  On the other hand, you want to keep him grounded in reality, too, so that he doesn't fail the course for the sake of "hanging in there."

If it has been a month, and you're seeing no improvement at all (consistently low test scores, inability to work problems even after you two have gone over them several times, having a hard time grasping the concepts, etc.) then, yes, I would advise him to drop this math class, and opt for a lower level math course.

If he can get into a lower level math course, that will give him the opportunity to brush up on his math, get familiar with the material, and undo some of the intellectual damage that his parents did by paying for his high school grades.  

A lower level math course will also help him bolster his confidence in math, and give him the opportunity to practice his skills before moving on to Calculus I.

It's also important to keep in mind that only he can make the final decision. 

You're helping to guide him towards a class that would work out best for him, but he needs to make the final call. 

That said, approach the situation in a friendly, upbeat manner.  Chances are, he'll appreciate the advice, and will be much happier with the grades he'll be earning in his new (lower level) math class!

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Photo Credit: © sxc.hu/lusi
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Ask Micki New to ESL and confused!

© lusi

 Question: Hi Micki, I’m hoping to be an ESL tutor, and I need some guidance.  

I got the idea to be an ESL tutor recently, and am really excited about it!  I’m just starting out, trying to get all of the information I can, but I have to admit that I am kind of puzzled.  It seems like there are A LOT of different terms out there when it comes to ESL related subjects, and I am completely confused by them.

TESL, TEFL, TESOL, ESP, ELT - help!

What do they mean, what do they do, and are there any that I need to be less worried about than others?  

I want to tutor ESL, but I also want to know everything I can about the terminology so that my students can feel confident that I know what I am talking about when I meet with them.

Thanks for your help!

Confused Katie in RI

Answer: Hi there, Katie!  Great question - you hit on an important aspect of the tutoring profession.  

Pretty much any profession under the sun with have its own lingo.  A lot of it is terminology and jargon that you will pick up as you move forward in your profession - in this case ESL tutoring - however, it is a great idea to have a foundation of knowledge to use when you are getting getting started in your new career.

In other words - way to think ahead! It will save you time and trouble later.  With that said, let’s get into Micki’s quick guide to ESL acronyms - you may want to grab some coffee or tea, this is going to be a long post!

ESL - English as a Second Language

This is the term you will likely encounter most often.  It refers to a person whose mother tongue is a language other than English, who is learning English in a foreign country.  An example of an ESL student might be a Russian man learning English in the US or Canada.  

EFL - English as a Foreign Language

This term is similar to ESL in that it refers to a student who is learning English, whose mother tongue is a language other than English.  The difference is, while ESL students learn English in an English speaking country (UK, US, Canada, etc.), EFL students learn English in a non-English speaking country.  For example, a Japanese woman learning English in Japan.  

TESL - Teaching English as a Second Language

TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language

TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

              (or Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages)

All of the above terms and acronyms refer to the practice of teaching English to non-English speakers.  TESOL refers to both a professional association in the US, and the field of ESL teaching and tutoring. Usually, you will see TESOL used more often in the US, while Canada typically uses TESL.  For the most part, the terms are used pretty interchangeably.

You will likely be seeing the above terms and acronyms most often as you begin your ESL tutoring career.  However, here are some other terms used in the ESL profession.  

ESP - English for Specific or Special Purposes

ESP puts into practice exactly what we were talking about - specialized lingo and terminology for specific professions.  The main focus of ESP is on teaching specialized terminology that is most often used in very specific fields.  An example would be a professional in medicine or technology who needs to learn specialized English terminology (vocabulary and context) within his or her field.  

EAP - English for Academic Purposes

EAP refers to preparing students to speak English in an academic setting within an English speaking country. A high school student in India, for example, who wants to study at a university in Canada.  Typically, EAP utilizes a more formal approach with a lot of focus on reading, writing and presenting.

ELT - English Language Training

ELT is training relating to the teaching or tutoring of English as a second or foreign language.  It is a term widely used in the UK.

TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language

This is the test that measures a non-English speaker’s ability to understand English.  Typically, foreign, non-native speakers of English take the TOEFL as part of the application process to colleges and universities in Canada and the US.  A student from Malawi who wants to prove her English language abilities, for example, would take the TOEFL test for admission to college or university.  

TOEIC - Test of English for International Communication

The TOEIC, much like the TOEFL, is a test used to determine a non-native speaker’s English communication abilities.  The TOEIC is more recognized in Europe and Asia, whereas the TOEFL is more widely recognized in Canada and the US.

Phew - Thanks for sticking with me through all those acronyms!  And good luck on your journey towards becoming an ESL tutor - with your enthusiasm (and quest for knowledge), I have a feeling you will be really successful! 

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Photo Credit: © sxc.hu/lusi

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Ask Micki: Younger sibling blues.

© theswedish

Question: Hi, Micki, I was hoping to get some help with a kind of delicate situation.  It's a little awkward, so I'll be keeping everyone's names (including mine) anonymous. 

See, I've been tutoring a student in 9th grade math for the past few months.  We meet once every week for an hour.  She's smart, pays attention, gets involved during the tutoring session, and is a pretty cool kid to tutor.

The problem is her younger brother.  I'll call him Mike (not his real name).  He's in the 7th grade, and is one of the most ill-behaved, annoying kids I have ever met.  He will walk by the table, knocking the books off of it on his way past us.  He'll throw pencils, erasers, and other things at us during tutoring.

Recently he's started throwing this little bouncy ball against the wall really hard, watching it bounce wildly around us while we try to work.

So far, I've tried ignoring it, but it didn't work, unfortunately. 

I also tried talking to his parents, but they just laughed, and said "Well, boys will be boys!"  Ugh. Annoying, and way less than helpful.

As you can tell, I'm getting frustrated, and am not sure what to do next.
Help!
Feelin' frazzled in FL


Answer:  Hi, there, Feelin' Frazzled, sorry to hear about your annoying situation.  You have my sympathy - that sounds really frustrating to deal with on a weekly basis!

The great news is, I am sure I can help find a way for you to keep tutoring your tutee with a lot less interference from her younger brother. 

First of all, I commend you for talking to his parents.  You did the right thing, and (in my humble opinion) they were not helpful to you, or to their daughter who is trying to be a good student in the midst of chaos.  By ignoring her needs and favoring the boy's bad behavior, they are doing everyone involved a disservice. 

That said, here are some options for you:

1. Talk to "Mike."
Let him know that it is really important that you and your tutee get some time to work together on her math.  Honestly, he seems like a disrespectful kid, though, so this may not work quite as well as I would hope.  That said, give it a try!  You never know.  He may just be desperate for attention, and you talking to him one-to-one may just be the attention he needs to snap him out of his annoying behavior.  Just remember to keep the conversation upbeat and positive. 

2. Move locations.
Since Mike is allowed by his parents to rule the home, you might try moving locations to a place where Mike isn't.  Try heading to the library, or another quiet area where you two can work.  If Mike is not there, then you two can focus more on getting the work done, and less about being harassed. 

3. Try ignoring him a little while longer.  Okay, obviously there is a shelf life for this idea - if it has been many months of no change, then ignoring him probably won't be effective.  However, if this is a fairly new behavior, ignoring him a little while longer may work wonders.  He may finally get bored and simply give up.

4. Try talking to the parents again.  Now, I know what you're thinking - it didn't work the first time, why do it again?  If you can sit down with them and impress upon them just how negatively the interruptions are affecting the tutoring sessions, they may be more inclined to start acting like parents and make some changes.  It is definitely worth a try.

Good luck, and please stop back by, and let us know what happened!

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Photo Credit: ©  sxc.hu/theswedish
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Ask Micki: Flyers? Good idea or not?

© irum

Question: Hi, Micki. My friend and I were just talking about how to get the word out about our services (we're both tutors. She tutors science, I tutor math), and we have a friendly debate going.

I swear by flyers. I put them up at the local schools, libraries, and anywhere else I think students might be frequenting.  One of my best "hot spots" is the coffee house that's about a block away from the college.  I've gotten a ton of business from that spot!

My friend, on the other hand, thinks that flyers are outdated in the modern world, and that I'd be better off going high tech, posting my tutoring services on websites. 

What do you think?
Can you help us settle our friendly debate?

Thanks!
Jasmine, NM

Answer: Hey, Jasmine, thanks for the question. 

Well, you and your friend will be happy to know...drum roll, please...
You're actually both right!

No, that's not my inner diplomat talking!  There are a lot of benefits to both techniques, and combining them can make you a tutoring powerhouse when it comes to finding new clients. 

I post quite a few flyers myself, and I always make sure to ask my tutees which flyers they used to contact me.  Based on their responses, I've been able to pretty well home in on which areas work well for my flyers, and which ones don't.  

I would guess that probably about half of my business comes from good, old fashioned paper flyers stuck up on bulletin boards. 

The other half of my business comes from online advertising.  Bulletin boards, forums, blogs, social media, tutor-tutee matching services, etc. can all be great resources when it comes to finding new clients. 

Maybe both of you could try combining techniques - merge the low tech and the high tech.   Help each other learn what techniques work best. 

Trust me, you two will both be happy with the results! 
Good luck finding those tutoring clients!

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Photo Credit: © sxc.hu/irum
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