Since I started playing chess seriously I always envyied the people who taught and got paid for it. I wanted to become a teacher one day also and that's one of the reasons I started taking chess seriously.
Well now I have a few of my own students but I could have more. I just need a chance.
This is my story:
There is this guy who runs the junior chess events for our city and the neighbouring ones, he also runs the school chess events, teaching of juniors and he has his own chess store where he sales supplies and that's his base for teaching and stuff. So basically he is the man. If you want to teach chess he is the guy.
So last year he posted this ad that he was looking for teachers since all the elementary schools want a chess program now days. So I said that I was interested and he said alright good. Then I was asking him what kind of stuff they teach, if you bring your own lectures from home, etc...
He didn't reply to my e-mails and we left it at that. I thought he was a jerk. 5 months or so after another ad, So I phone him up and he told me to come in and give a lecture to a junior and see if I like it. Then when I got there, he said I know we talked earlier but you were confusing the issue with all your questions??? (Is that why you didn't respond to my e-mails?) So he starts talking about how he thinks i'm charging very little and I could get a lot more if I worked for him as a teacher and stuff like that, more students = more money per hour.
So we both gave a lecture to this junior and he said I did good and he would get back to me 2 weeks and I would come in 2 weeks on saturday and give another lecture to one of the students. When I met him he seemed like a decent guys, down-to-earth etc... Not a jerk anymore.
He didn't get back to me, I phoned him couple of times and nothing.
Now I think he's really a jerk. Is that a massive mood swing or what? You're a jerk but then in person you are all nice and stuff, then you are a jerk again.
Anyways I just left if at that and it's been about 8 months since. He is always looking for teachers and posting his ads but i don't bother anymore.
He made a fool of me twice already.
So what to do? He is the guy for teaching chess at schools and junior chess events. I need some more students but he has them all. When I try to become one of the teachers which he needs, since there is a serious lack of teachers which he is always complainingg about, he keeps being a jerk and isn't making it happen!!
What to do?
You could always go it alone. It seems that this dude is giving you the vibe that he doesn't need you.
Put some adverts out in small local papers and shop windows. See what the response is like. If it's good and you get a couple of customers, then perhaps the demand is there for chess tuition, then think about spending a little more money on advertising in larger papers etc.
You'll never know unless you try it.
Originally posted by KJCavalierI was thinking about going again but telling someone they did good and to come back 2 weeks from then and teaching is a serious offer don't you think?
With all this, I would take the initiative to attempt 1 more face to face meeting. Make it unscheduled. and in person. If there is no serious offer on the table, then part company and continue on with your teachings.
If you are really good at teaching the game, students will come.
How much more serious could you get besides bring the paperwork out.
Great product don't sell themselves. You need advertising.
Samething, students just don't show up.
Originally posted by jimslyp69You know you just gave me an idea -> chess newletter.
You could always go it alone. It seems that this dude is giving you the vibe that he doesn't need you.
Put some adverts out in small local papers and shop windows. See what the response is like. If it's good and you get a couple of customers, then perhaps the demand is there for chess tuition, then think about spending a little more money on advertising in larger papers etc.
You'll never know unless you try it.
My friend works with this fellow to run the shop. They aren't exactly partners but this friend is a solid teacher and proven himself to this fellow.
I was thinking about getting in touch with him and asking him if he could help me out.
Is that to rude? Going behind the other guys back, because after all he does run the show?
Originally posted by RahimKThis could be tricky. Don't take this the wrong way, but how do you know that you are a good teacher?
My friend works with this fellow to run the shop. They aren't exactly partners but this friend is a solid teacher and proven himself to this fellow.
I was thinking about getting in touch with him and asking him if he could help me out.
Is that to rude? Going behind the other guys back, because after all he does run the show?
I know that one common tactic among employers of teachers is to simply stop responding to people whose teaching style they either don't like or don't respect.
Again, no disrespect intended. What teacher training have you undergone?
Originally posted by blakbuzzrdMy students tell me that I am and plus you should visit the Chess forum 🙂
This could be tricky. Don't take this the wrong way, but how do you know that you are a good teacher?
I know that one common tactic among employers of teachers is to simply stop responding to people whose teaching style they either don't like or don't respect.
Again, no disrespect intended. What teacher training have you undergone?
I don't get why you would tell someone you did good and come in next time and then go back on your word.
Just tell them to their face, no. Why lie.
Originally posted by RahimKYou're kind of stupid aren't you? Employers lie all the time, he probably didn't think you were a good teacher. Maybe not, but it sure seems like that's the case.
My students tell me that I am and plus you should visit the Chess forum 🙂
I don't get why you would tell someone you did good and come in next time and then go back on your word.
Just tell them to their face, no. Why lie.
Originally posted by RahimKAh, but how do you know your students are right? What your students are telling you is really how satisfied they are with what you do. That's not the same as being an effective teacher. To what extent do you know whether or not your teaching actually results in improve ratings, for instance? Or what you as a teacher could do to improve?
My students tell me that I am and plus you should visit the Chess forum 🙂
I don't get why you would tell someone you did good and come in next time and then go back on your word.
Just tell them to their face, no. Why lie.
Side questions, of course, but ones that interest me as a teacher (I don't teach chess, though!). I ask myself the above questions all the time.
As far as going back on one's word and sending conflicting signals, I've observed the following: when it comes to dealing with conflict, many people involved in the teaching profession choose avoidance rather than direct dealing.