Wondering What My First 3 Days as a Preply Tutor Were Like? Tips, Challenges & Triumphs Revealed!

[@RainyDayBookshelf]

I started on Preply 4 years ago. Initially I started with a low rate. I got a lot of bookings quickly but to be honest, the hours spent in preparing (I have never used the Preply inbuilt lessons because they are dry as toast and have not suited any child I’ve ever taught), and the actual time per lesson really made me resentful of living the life of endless prep and lessons at weird times and over weekends (all the things to get me a basic i come). I very quickly pushed my rates up and blocked off to times that suited me and my family. It took a month or two and I fulled those slots and have kept those students for just on 3 years now.

[@axelsparks21]

Thank you for sharing!

[@teacherjessonline]

You are welcome!

[@busyelectron]

Thanks for sharing i love ur expresion and elucidations. I will try it out i have not had one student for three weeks after being accepted on preply.

[@teacherjessonline]

Thanks!

[@tagalogtutorgen]

After the trial class did you just increase your rate or inform them after the trial class

[@teacherjessonline]

Since I'm a full-time in-person brick and mortar teacher, this was a fun experiment for me to try during the Summer vacation. I enjoyed getting to teach adults English and meeting a bunch of diverse adult learners. With my teaching during my Summer break, I wasn't able to teach long term (only about 3 weeks), so I chose to keep my rate at $3. This Summer, I plan to teach long term and will increase my rate before allowing students to book lessons with me. Last Summer was definitely a learning experience! 😀

[@chunkychunks17]

Hi Jess, any updates on your Preply journey?

[@teacherjessonline]

Thanks for asking! Due to my in-person full-time brick and mortar teaching job and family responsibilities, I only get to tutor for Preply during the Summer (May-July) here in the states. I'm already looking to start planning my Preply schedule for Summer 2024. Definitely going to be raising my price as I'll no longer be a beginner on the platform. Looking forward to meeting more students and helping them accomplish their English language goals. ✅

[@jennythompson9787]

I need to do my video for the application process, what do you use for curriculum or just general conversation?

[@hemanarayansamy9182]

Hi there, do you still have lots of students. I just started and I only have one student

[@elevateeducation5652]

Thanks

[@TeacherJamesOnline]

The idea is, to offer low prices to get students to bite. Deliver great lessons and raise your prices over time. Contact your students and inform them of the price increase. If they like you and see the value, they will be happy to pay the extra cost for the value you are delivering. You are also accumulating reviews which can help with rankings and getting future students. You have to work with the algorithm, even if it seems backwards at times.

[@teacherjessonline]

You are 100% correct! Last Summer, I joined Preply towards the end of my Summer break (full-time brick and mortar teacher), so I didn't really understand how Preply worked. However, I've started planning to tutor this Summer with Preply and will be raising my rate to reflect my teaching experience.

[@SuperLeonSax]

Hello Jes: After watching your video, I have to ask myself and you, why would someone with your expertise and experience experience experience

[@teacherjessonline]

Starting on Preply was a teaching experiment while I was on Summer Break from my brick and mortar teaching job. Since it was supplementary income, I didn't worry about the price I was offering. I simply enjoy teaching and meeting new students. Now, I am planning on offering my ESL lessons on Preply this Summer for a much more competitive rate with my teaching experience and expertise. 😀

[@AkesSamenos11]

A low price is also good on Preply because it helps your profile to take off, get more visibility and in the end lower the Preply commission. After 400+ hours, the commission goes down to only 18%, whereas when you start it's 33%!!! The more you teach, the lower it gets. Hope that they will lower it even more to at least 15% in the future, as this is a good chunk of the teacher's income, without mentioning taxes you need to pay further on.

[@RainyDayBookshelf]

THIS is he heart of the matter. Make the platform work for YOU and resist the temptation of booking up a full day timetable. Honestly I found peace and joy on the platform (after hiding my profile twice due to being overwhelmed and frustrated)….when I looked at my lifestyle and my needs and then blocked my time and set the higher rate at $20 (which is NOT close to the rate that some US tutors are charging).

[@wendyangeliacero4275]

Hi! is the lesson here in preply provided?

[@teacherjessonline]

@@wendyangeliacero4275 Yes! Preply provides lesson curriculum for you and your student to work through together. When students complete their account setup, they are encouraged to take the placement test. This is very helpful for tutors as we want the best lesson during our session. Also, during your trial lesson, it is advised you ask the student what they are interested in studying specifically. Preply has a plethora of lesson options for students and tutors to choose from. Hope this helps!

[@ladychokmah8540]

I am never teaching for $3 an hour...that's crazy.

[@teacherjessonline]

From a financial stand point, it definitely wasn't worth it. However, since I'm a full-time in-person brick and mortar teacher, this was a fun experiment for me to try during the Summer vacation. I enjoyed getting to teach adults English and meeting a bunch of diverse adult learners. It was a great experience overall! 😀

[@SuperLeonSax]

Tutor for 3.00 per hour???

[@teacherjessonline]

Great question! I was curious to see how long it would take a new Preply tutor to fill their teaching schedule by posting lessons at the lowest rate possible. Preply's website states that $3/hour has a 100% booking rate. Being curious, I set my rate to that amount and was stunned at literally how fast my schedule and inbox was filling up with student requests for lessons. I've done ESL tutoring on other platforms where it takes a while to build up a student base, but on Preply with a super low rate, I was swarmed with student interest. It was a fun (and overwhelming) experience! And yes, I am definitely increasing my rate to match my experience and qualifications. 😀

[@melissashealthyliving]

@@teacherjessonline how long before you can increase you rate? are there rules as to how often you can up or lower your rate?

[@teacherjessonline]

@@melissashealthyliving I don't think there is a specific time frame when it comes to increasing your rate. Preply does offer a "How to Ask for a Raise" course in in the Tutor Academy. They mention when you add more value to your lessons (as in more planning to meet specific individual student needs), then it is important to adjust your rates over time. Hope this helps!

[@urarakao-h8b]

​@@teacherjessonline Hi. I'm a new tutor on preply. There are a lot of debate on rates. What I want to know is once you keep rate as low as 3 dollars and there is a conversion. Do these students continue at 3 dollars. Cuz as I presume we cannot change the rate after the classes are booked. Or we have to manually ask each student permission for rate hike. And it's not allowed I think.

[@sophiedifilippo7571]

Taking out a percentage of 3$ an hour… how is it worth it ?

[@teacherjessonline]

From a financial stand point, it definitely wasn't worth it. However, since I'm a full-time in-person brick and mortar teacher, this was a fun experiment for me to try during the Summer vacation. I enjoyed getting to teach adults English and meeting a bunch of diverse adult learners. It was a great experience overall! 😀

[@creativerhythms6250]

But Jess! They take 33% and you charge 3 dollars...is this even worth your energy??? :(

[@teacherjessonline]

From a financial stand point, it definitely wasn't worth it. However, since I'm a full-time in-person brick and mortar teacher, this was a fun experiment for me to try during the Summer vacation. I enjoyed getting to teach adults English and meeting a bunch of diverse adult learners. It was a great experience overall! 😀

[@real.presets]

How did you get 100% profile score

[@teacherjessonline]

At the time, I followed all of Preply's recommendations. However, that was when you could see your profile ranking instantly on the platform. They have changed the algorithm, so my profile (though it used to be 100%) is now at 93% even though I haven't made any changes. Preply suggests profile score to be at 90% or higher.

[@real.presets]

@@teacherjessonline I see, thanks for the response. I have followed all guide lines and don't get more than 70%, probably unhappy with video or picture qaulity or setting