Video summary

Советы начинающим репетиторам: с чего начать, ставка, личные границы и правила

Main summary

Key takeaways

Wellness and Self-Improvement

Key Recommendations for Beginner Tutors (Irina Mikhailova)

Start teaching as soon as possible (don’t wait for “perfect readiness”)

  • Lessons can’t be fully predicted—students differ in level, mood, and goals.
  • Get your first real student quickly, even if it’s for free (friend/family) to overcome fear of the first lesson.
  • “Dive in” with practice immediately and try different students and topics to find what you truly like.

Embrace mistakes and learn from them

  • Mistakes are normal—even experienced teachers make them.
  • The key is what you do afterward:
    • notice → acknowledge → explain → understand how to avoid repeating.

Set an appropriate starting rate (and plan how to raise it)

  • For beginners: aim for ~500–800 rubles/hour (not 100–300).
  • If you already have teaching experience (teacher/lecturer): you can start higher, potentially 1,000+.
  • Don’t stay at low rates too long:
    • Low-paying clients often have more demands, “guarantees,” urgent requests, and frequent schedule changes.
    • Clients paying <1,000 are often more sensitive to price increases.
  • It’s easier to start new students at a higher rate than to increase rates with existing low-paying clients.
  • Don’t wait for “million certificates” or tons of reviews before raising prices—don’t devalue your work.

Avoid spreading yourself too thin

  • Choose a single niche/topic early on to reduce preparation overload.
  • Focus on one type of student/exam material so you can reuse materials and get consistent practice.
  • Build skills first; then shift attention toward marketing/sales.

Build clear boundaries with students/parents

Discuss and formalize rules around:

  • Handoffs, postponements, cancellations
  • Payment timing for reschedules/cancellations
  • Any consequences (“sanctions/rules”) if rules aren’t followed

Also:

  • Set work-hour limits (e.g., don’t give 10 unpaid extra minutes).
  • Treat tutoring like a real job:
    • be on time, don’t raise your voice, send materials on time, prepare properly
    • don’t normalize things like eating/sleeping during lessons (unless explicitly agreed).

Create a supportive environment

  • Find a community/mentor:
    • a tutoring environment or “tutor for tutors” who can advise in real situations.
  • Support matters because relatives/others may discourage tutoring (“get a stable job instead”).
  • If you’re scared to start, consider joining a good online tutoring school that provides:
    • training
    • teaching materials
    • guidance, rather than “throw you in and you swim alone.”

Use parallel practice wisely

  • If you work through a school first (often lower rates), immediately start looking for private students in parallel to build experience and transition later.

Presenters / Sources

  • Irina Mikhailova (teacher, entrepreneur, founder of the online tutoring school Rooney)

Original video