How much is it per hour? One of the first questions client ask when considering signing up for a language training programme. While price is indeed an important factor, here are a few key points I think should be considered when it comes to evaluating different offers from different teachers.
1. Learning a language is a life skill that will accompany you for years to come. It’s a life changing, transformative experience that gets you out of your comfort zone, it’s action oriented and intense. It’s about doing the work, being seen for who you are, leveraging your unique strengths and getting challenged to grow into your full potential. How much is that worth for you per hour?
2. If you didn’t learn the language, what would you loose out on? Relationships, business, money, meaningful connections? If you could put a price on that, how much would that be?
3. In London UK, a 60 minute full body massage costs on average £60 at the moment. It will make you feel good, relax you and help you regain strength and energy, and its effect lasts for a week or so. Compare that to a language lesson that consistently delivers lasting change and personal development. How much is it then worth for you? (I know it’s a provocative comparison, but I’d like to challenge our thoughts …)
4. Price represents quality, reliability and certainty. When a teacher is cheap, that to me shows lack of self-respect and lack of confidence in their own skills and abilities. When you get reliable results, you’d certainly consider paying a higher price.
5. When language teachers price themselves low, they need to take on as many students as possible in order to be able to support themselves. It becomes impossible to consistently deliver a great quality service and they may take on clients that aren’t the right match.
6. Cheap teachers inevitably need to move on to another job sooner, therefore you can’t count on an ongoing support from them.
7. Learning a foreign language is indeed an investment. It is an investment into your personal and/or professional growth. To make your investment pay dividends, there has to be commitment. Without enough leverage, there won’t be enough drive and consequently, there won’t be enough change. Consider investing upfront rather than bit by bit, paying by the hour. Your motivation, energy and commitment will skyrocket.
8. Besides being able to communicate in another language, there is so much value in the skills and capabilities you develop, the risks you take and the relationships you build along the way of learning another language. How much is that worth for you?
“Learning another language is like becoming another person.”
Haruki Murakami
These are just a few ideas that I think are worth to think about when choosing a language tutor. I know that on a global level, this is a much more complex topic. The price of language tuition may depend on many other factors such as where the teacher is based, what experience they have, what they are specialised in, whether they come to you or you go to them, online or in-person, one-to-one or small groups, is this their main job/business or a side hustle etc.
The bottom line:
If the value you get is in line with your expectations and you can afford it, then it’s a yes, if the three don’t line up, it should be a no.
Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.
Warren Buffet
Now, I’d love to hear from you. What are your thoughts on this topic? Is there anything else you’d add to the list, or anything you don’t agree with? Let me know in the comments below.
Important: share your thoughts and ideas directly in the comments. Links to other posts, videos, etc. will be deleted as they come across as spammy.
Looking forward to hearing your voice on this one.
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Gabriella Ferenczi 