I’ve invented a new sport.
It’s called “apartment surfing.”
Here’s how you play: Every week (or two) you rent a new apartment, pack your bag and move.
That’s exactly what I’m doing now in Prague.
I was in the States for the past 23 months. Three weeks ago I returned to Prague, the city where I became a teacher. And now, because there are no tourists, rental prices are incredibly cheap. So I’m enjoying my new sport.
In fact, my current apartment even came with a Tesla.
Seriously.
You don’t believe me?
Here’s a picture.
Here’s a closer look…
The Best English Lessons
When I first started teaching in Prague, most of my classes were group classes.
They were the most popular not because they were the most effective (they weren’t), but simply because private lessons were so expensive.
As an example, a language agency might charge you $40 or $50 an hour for a private lesson, but only pay the teacher $15. (That’s one of the reasons I started Teacher Creature)
And if I did have a private student, it was usually the owner of a company or a top manager.
Later, I started to get to know more Czechs who would offer to meet in cafes and pay cash. They introduced me to their friends. I got more and more clients. I started Teacher Creature and got even more privates. And in this way I was soon teaching 100% private lesson.
What I Learned After 14 Years of Privates
After teaching hundreds of students for thousands of hours, I now have a pretty good idea of the perfect lesson.
It’s not a vocabulary lesson, or a business English lesson, or even a conversation lesson.
Those can all be fine.
But what’s most important is this:
Enjoyment.
Do you like your teacher? Do you look forward to the lesson? Do you have interesting conversations? And does time fly?
If you can answer “yes” to all those questions, you’ll have more lessons, you’ll be more focused, you’ll miss fewer lessons, and you’ll want to try harder to please your teacher.
Simply, you’ll make faster progress.
That’s why my first piece of advice to anyone looking for a private teacher is to interview at least three.
Have a short chat. Maybe you can get a sample lesson. Then you can choose.
Think of it like you’re interviewing for a job. You wouldn’t hire the first person you met. It should be the same with your teacher. A little more time and effort today will pay off greatly in the future.
Also, there’s no rule that says you can only have one teacher.
Imagine how fast your English would improve if you had a Monday chat with a Brit, a Wednesday chat with an Aussie, and a Friday chat with an American…