FAQs
How many teachers
are there?
Have you got any experience?
Where are the classes held?
What sort of timetable is it?
If I miss a class, can we reschedule it?
How much do the classes cost?
Do I have to pay for any class I miss?
How much do the translations cost?
Is there anything extra I'll have to pay for, like
a registration fee?
Do you teach children?
Could I join an existing group?
Can you do me an invoice so I can give it to my employer?
Will you come to my place of work 20 km outside Valencia?
Can I send you my CV?
How many teachers
are there?
I'm self-employed and I work alone.
It's not a school and there aren't any more teachers. This is why
I often have to say that I can't take on any more classes.
Have you got any
experience?
Of course I have. I started working
as an English teacher in 1991, after doing a University of Cambridge
training course for English teachers. I've worked with big and small
groups of children and adults, and most of my classes now are one-to-ones.
I also have a lot of experience
as a translator. I began doing translations when I came to Valencia
in the early 90s, although I'm sure the translations I did then probably
weren't very good - experience and training are essential for good
translations. I now have a great deal more experience along with
the Diploma in Translation set by the Institute of Linguists in London.
Where are the
classes held?
As I'm self-employed, I don't have
a school or any other premises where we can have classes. Mostly
I give classes in companies, although I do also go to private houses.
What sort of timetable
is it?
Most people want classes at 8 in
the morning or at midday or after work. It's difficult to work to
a timetable covering all these three possibilities, so I choose to
work at midday and in the afternoon. The fact that everyone wants
classes at the same time means that you'll have more chance if you're
available at 12, for example, or between 4 and 6 in the afternoon.
My timetable fills up quickly every
September because almost all my classes continue from one year to
the next, and students that begin with me in September generally
continue until the following June. There are no classes in July or
August.
If I miss a class,
can we reschedule it?
Yes, as long as we're both available
at the same time. If you have a class at 2 on Mondays and you want
to change it to Tuesday, then that's not going to be possible. But
if you can do it at 4, then there's a much greater chance.
How much do the
classes cost?
The price of a one-hour class for
one, two or three people is 30.00 €. If it's for more than one
person, the total price is divided between all the students. For
example, for a one-hour class with two students I charge 30.00 €,
so each student will pay half. If there's only one person, I still
charge the same, i.e. 30.00 €.
A one-hour class for between 4
and 6 students costs 34.00 €, and it's 38.00 € for between
7 and 10 people. I don't charge for travel time or expenses, and
there's no VAT because it's an educational activity.
Do I have to pay
for any class I miss?
You won't need to pay for the class
as long as you tell me you have to cancel it at least 24 hours in
advance.
How much do the
translations cost?
0.09 € a word in the original
text, plus VAT unless it's an original literary, scientific
or artistic text. You can find cheaper rates if you look on
the internet, but if what you want is an accurate translation that
reads like it was written originally in English, then you're going
to have to pay for it. If it's important for you to have a good translation,
then it's better to spend the money wisely now because translations
done by people with no experience or training can give a very bad
impression.
I'm not a sworn translator - I
don't want to spend the rest of my life translating legal texts and
contracts.
Is there anything
extra I'll have to pay for, like a registration fee?
No. There's no registration fee
because I'm not an English school. And there's no charge for travel
time or expenses. There's no VAT on English classes because it's
an educational activity, and many translations aren't subject to
VAT either.
Do you teach children?
No.
Could I join an
existing group?
No. This isn't an academy, so the
groups I've already got are private.
Can you do me
an invoice so I can give it to my employer?
Yes, of course. I issue invoices
for all the work I do. If the invoice is for a company, it will include
a deduction for income tax. You'll receive an invoice at the end
of every month.
Will you come
to my place of work 20 km outside Valencia?
No, sorry, I won't. I don't drive
and it takes a long time to get anywhere by public transport, so
I generally only accept classes within the area enclosed by the ring
road comprising Peris y Valero, Cardenal Benlloch, Pérez Galdós
etc. There are exceptions, but everything depends on what transport
is available.
Can
I send you my CV?
It's not worth it. I'm self-employed
and I work alone, so I'm not going to be taking anyone else on. Not
even you.
Now
what
are you looking for?
I
need an English translator in Valencia.
I
want an English teacher in Valencia.
I
want to know who you are, what you do and how much you charge.
I
want to listen to English while I'm driving.
I'm
looking for grammar explanations and exercises.
I'm
bored and I want to read something in English.
I
don't know what my English level is.
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