WmGo

[KenMan]

In see in your post that you mentioned English lessons cost $2 to $5 for a two hour class in Ukraine. I am looking into lessons for a friend of mine. The only company I have contacted is Lugan-Girl a First Dream affiliate. They charge $125 a month for two hour lessons three times a week. Thier hourly rate is $5 an hour and $7 an hour and a half. I thought that was a little expensive and am still looking around. Do you have any facts that base your cost mentioned above. I saw where MarkH said he found lessons for $3 an hour for his girl in Kiev the capitol. Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks Ken

[WmGo]

... in response to WmGo, posted by KenMan on Jan 18, 2002

Whenever and wherever I travel I always make a point of quizing the people I meet on various subjects including prices of food, services, lodging, clothing etc. And in my FSU travels I always ask the ladies many, many questions to better learn their country, culture and circumstances. In both Russia and Ukraine the ranges that I have been told for the cost of English lessons has been $2 to $5 per *private* lesson, each lesson lasting two hours. Once or twice I heard $5 per hour for a lesson.

Going through an agency is the absolute *WRONG* way of obtaining English lessons for a lady. If you have met the lady and have such strong and good feelings about her such that you are motivated to help her with English lessons, the CORRECT way to do it is for the lady to make the arrangement for PRIVATE lessons with a local linquist. There are many primary school and university English teachers that desire to supplement their meager state incomes by providing private English lessons. I am currently assisting a lady to do this at the rate of $5 per two hour lesson. The teacher expects a lot of private study and practice between lessons, and thinks that a once a week lesson is enough for the first few months. I think that twice a week would be better, but the theory here is to not create a dependency on the teacher and to encourage practice outside the lesson as opposed to the lesson itself becoming the practice (each lesson is about introducing new learning and reinforcing past learning).

The $125 of month is a grossly excessive price IMO. But what do you expect from an agency. You are only a cash cow to them. Moreover, the learing environment at an agency is typically this: 5 to 15 ladies at a time. There is a lot of visiting and cackling going on not to mention interruptions (I presided over some agency English lessons in Riga one time with a group of half a dozen ladies as the manager was being constantly pulled away for other duties, so I seized the opportunity to step in and help out

My kopec.

Good luck!

WmGO

[Dan]

... in response to My experience, posted by WmGo on Jan 18, 2002

Didn't teach them Alabaman.

--smile--

- Dan

[BubbaGump]

... in response to Oh NOOOO! Not Alabaman English! Tell Me ..., posted by Dan on Jan 18, 2002

If they have a thick Texas accent, Russians can't understand them.  I had a couple of Europeans tell me that was the hardest.  Alabamian is easy by comparison.

[BarryM]

... in response to They have a hard time with Texans, posted by BubbaGump on Jan 19, 2002

Arkansas, Tennesee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Rural Illinois to name a few.
Very difficult accents. Think Gomer Pyle. Think of him saying "thick or thin".

-blm

[John K]

... in response to Texans, no, posted by BarryM on Jan 19, 2002

Think of a Russian lady learning Southerner slang...

"That dawg won't hunt..."  meaning "that device is most surely broken."

Or the old favorite MR DUCKS...

[WmGo]

... in response to Oh NOOOO! Not Alabaman English! Tell Me ..., posted by Dan on Jan 18, 2002

Ya dang straight, man!

[Rags]

... in response to WmGo, posted by KenMan on Jan 18, 2002

My wife went to several different classes in Kyiv but she liked the last one she went to the best. $5 for a two hour semi personal lesson. I'll e-mail you with the teacher's name and details if V still has them (she gave all her notes to WSBill's lady).

Some of her classes were cheaper but with many students involved at the same time she did not get as much personal attention.

[Del]

... in response to WmGo, posted by KenMan on Jan 18, 2002

I confirm that many private teachers of English charge $3  per hour (my knowledge is limited to Crimea).

[BubbaGump]

... in response to Re: WmGo, posted by Del on Jan 18, 2002

I subscribe to another message board and $3 a lesson was listed as the cost there also.  I don't know if that was for 1 or 2 hours.