Tipping Spanish teachers?

Hi,

I will be studying Spanish in Antigua for a few weeks, and I was wondering whether it is appropriate to tip my instructor (and if so, how much). The lessons are one-on-one for 20 hours a week.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

ana

Tipping is certainly not the norm, and is certainly not necessary. My suggestion is if you do give the teacher something that it be considered a gift rather than a tip. Many students do give something in the way of a gift. Maybe take him/her shopping for something he/she would like to have. If you want to give cash you can still have it be a gift rather than a tip.

Buen viaje!

It's a good idea..they are paid very little. Like Aloysius mentions... a gift is nice. Or invite them to lunch a couple of times. Even a restaurant meal is a big treat.

Anything will be appreciated. Also they have to buy their books & supplies--anything you give them will be helpful. Look for used Spanish books at yard sales--or notebooks, pens, etc.

From an older post of mine:

A while back I worked with high school kids from the US traveling to Guatemala for 2-3 week trips and they always took up to 2 weeks of Spanish schooling. These trips were geared around a lot of environmental issues, social issues, economic issues, etc... and, with these inquisitive kids, the topic of unfair wages came up all the time. The owners of the schools are driving around in nice cars, buying properties, building houses, traveling, but the teachers are barely getting enough to live on. It was between Q50 and Q75 per day in Antigua back then depending on how many hours were worked. A lot of the teachers I knew and befriended moonlighted working at bars and restaurants or teaching salsa, etc... The organization I worked for toyed with the idea of sponsoring a teacher owned Spanish School but in the end decided against it because of not wanting to upset the unfair balance of things. It's a bit mafioso with the Spanish school thing in Antigua and elsewhere. It's a huge cash cow and the teachers aren't the only ones getting screwed. The host families don't get much either and they work their asses off, too, and the same goes for the drivers who sometimes cart the students around to events and such. Some of the bigger schools have over 100 students in the high season paying well over $100 a week. That's a lot of cash!! The means of teaching here in nearly every school is usually the one on one scenario and the fairest solution I can think of is for some of these travelers that care to do so is to find a private teacher. The next best thing is to give a nice tip if you think your teacher deserves it.

Where will you be studying and when? I, too, am going to be studying in Antigua in July. I've set up only one week and plan to look around to see where I want to be for the rest of the time. I've signed on at Casa de Lenguas, which no one seems to know. Anyone out there have any specific suggestions. There are too many choices! and it's really hard to know without being there...

Nancy