
He’s the fucking rich guy.
More than likely, if you teach at a private institute, you’ll end up teaching a fucking rich guy at some point or other. The immensity of his fortune is variable – perhaps he’s just a guy who owns a mansion, a few big cars and a factory or two, perhaps he’s a guy with his own jet.
Whatever – he’s way the fuck richer than you’ll ever be.
And he made his fortune the old fashioned way, too. Through hard work. In conjunction, of course, with a lot of connections and the occasional assassination of a business rival.
Rich guys have their special position in England and America, of course. But in a country like China, Thailand, Russia, or Brazil, the rich guy is a virtual demigod. He can do ANYTHING he wants, to ANYONE he wants. (Except of course, to guys richer than himself. ) Just by flashing a document out the window at cops, he will be allowed to drive his Mercedes 200 km per hour down the wrong side of the road. Whenever he feels like it.
The rich guy wipes his ass with people like you. He probably wouldn’t bother to have his bodyguard pee on you if you were on fire.
Except of course, for one little problem.
He has to learn English from you.
He needs English for his many international business concerns. He can hire a translator for less than the cost of what he pays your school for lessons with you, but it galls him not to be able to do things himself.
So he’ll make the effort. Sporadically. In between mobile phone calls and jetting off for important business deals.
Not in a group class, no way. He needs private instruction, because he’d find it way too humiliating to be in a class with fifteen year old girls who speak English better than he does.
So it’s just the two of you. Probably his bodyguard will wait outside in the Mercedes.
What do you do in class with the rich guy?
You give a very well-organized and thorough lesson, with a lot of concentration on grammar and vocabulary. The rich guy will take every opportunity to complain to your boss that you’re the reason he’s not making any progress, so don’t expect to waste time playing hangman. Any sort of nonsense like making him listen to pop songs or do crossword puzzles will get you trouble quick. (Unless of course they’re already in the text book – he’ll probably be happy to do anything in a text book.)
And then of course you’ll have to talk with him a lot.
Now, firstly, and most importantly – DO NOT ASK THE RICH GUY A LOT OF PRYING QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EXACT NATURE OF HIS BUSINESS.
This is not simply because some of it might be illegal, but more because he’s probably involved in a large number of extremely complicated ventures which he won’t really be able to explain. If he volunteers the information, fine. But don’t be asking the guy shit like “And so what exactly do you import, and how do you deal with customs?” At least not until you get to know him better.
So what CAN you talk about?
Travel. The rich guy has no doubt traveled a lot and will probably be happy to tell you about it. And how much money he spent in each country, perhaps.
And cars. Rich guys LOVE to talk about cars. Nothing says “rich guy” in another country like an expensive German automobile. Look on the internet for information about the latest models of Mercedes, Porsches, and BMWs and you’ll keep the rich guy entertained for hours.
And entertaining the rich guy is a desirable goal. Because if he starts to like you, then it’s very likely that you’ll be invited out with the rich guy. This is a mutually beneficial situation. The rich guy will get free English practice and the chance to show off how much money he’s got, and you’ll get to eat and drink in restaurants that you’d otherwise never be able to afford in ten lifetimes of English teaching.
So don’t fear the rich guy. Have fun with him. At the very least he will afford you opportunities to have entertaining contests with other teachers – whose rich guy has the most bodyguards, whose rich guy has the most cars, whose rich guy has the biggest watch, etc.
God I love this job.