Private online Chinese tutor in China: what's a reasonable hourly rate?

[AdamD]

Apologies if this has been asked and answered. I've been searching the site for the last 20 minutes and haven't found exactly what I'm after.

 

This month I've started language exchange with someone in China. She's very, very good: she sends me phrases I've previously said on the phone, but with all my words and grammar corrected, and in writing as well as audio files spoken in her voice. She also follows up with emails and measured speech (normal speed, slow, normal speed again), and clear explanations of grammar. She told me she has a Master of Education, which would explain her approach.

 

This reciprocal relationship could run indefinitely—I'm trying my hardest to give her as much help as she's giving me—but I think it's unlikely. I'm fully expecting her to drop the me-correcting-her-English half and offer continued Chinese tuition for a fee. I would most likely say yes without a second thought, but I don't know what post-grad teachers in China charge for one-on-one tuition. This link indicates 100RMB was the upper limit in 2009.

 

What's a reasonable hourly rate for quality online tuition with someone of this experience and quality in China? Any experience or advice you have would really help me at this point.

 

Thanks heaps.

[li3wei1]

Have a look at italki.com, You can get them as cheap as US$4/hour, but you probably get what you pay for. They go as high as US$30/hour. I'm currently happy with one in the $15-17 range.

[abcdefg]

I think that 100 Yuan an hour would still be a reasonable rate of pay, given that the teacher does not have to commute to your home or to a classroom. Sounds like she's giving you way more than standard service. Plus you are happy with her style. That means a lot.

 

I just now looked at the Keats (Kunming) price for online teaching and it seems to be 1200 Yuan for 10 hours, which is 120 Yuan per hour.

 

http://keatschinese.com/en/online-chinese-course/fee

[AdamD]

Have a look at italki.com

 

Thank you! That's exactly what I need. The rates seem to be around the 90RMB/hr mark, even for postgrads.

 

Sounds like she's giving you way more than standard service. Plus you are happy with her style. That means a lot.

 

It really does. A good teacher isn't half as valuable as a good teacher who fits your learning style.

 

With Keats I presume the teacher gets a cut, whereas on iTalki I'm guessing the teachers see more of their payments.

[li3wei1]

italki takes 15% and they pay through Paypal, which takes another chunk before it reaches your bank account. Don't know if Chinese teachers are likely to use Paypal, though.

[AdamD]

That's not too bad (surely better than the Apple app model), but I assume it doesn't leave much for the cheaper teachers.

[roddy]

At the cheaper end - if you assume the tutors are still coming out of it with around 15Y an hour (allowing for both italki and Paypal, plus exchange rates), that's still a chunk more than they could expect to make, ie, in a fast food place. You're not going to get anyone with qualifications or much experience, but it might look quite attractive to an undergrad in some third tier uni.