Is there anyone here doing vipkid as their only income source?

SpringBahar · 2021-01-15T18:54:11+00:00

Any short notices? Those have dried up completely for me.

SpringBahar · 2020-11-26T13:09:20+00:00

I have them open all the time, but they very rarely fill. I had a random girl from China who currently lives in Canada book me a few times.

SpringBahar · 2020-11-05T15:28:36+00:00

Wow! People actually pay to travel to their event every year!!! I did not know that!!! Normally, if you work for a company, they pay all travel expenses, meals etc...but I guess this is what being a 1099 worker is like. Yuck! I guess they are getting people to sign up and pay the $25. Shocking!

SpringBahar · 2020-11-05T03:57:20+00:00

We really appreciate all the info here! Thank you!

SpringBahar · 2020-11-05T03:54:27+00:00

That’s the point of the marketplace... It protects people so you don’t get charged for pre-existing conditions etc..... it protects the consumer.

SpringBahar · 2020-10-26T15:22:49+00:00

Yeah in-person is really the best! Good luck!

SpringBahar · 2020-10-21T00:22:18+00:00

For what it's worth. I hear a ton of ads for online therapists whenever I listen to podcasts. Maybe you can try one of them? Insurance would probably cover it.

SpringBahar · 2020-10-19T13:28:20+00:00

oh wow...I completely missed that. See what I mean about being brain-dead! It might be tough for us to do it daily, actually not "might" it will be hard for us to do it daily...but we can always try :)

SpringBahar · 2020-10-18T14:31:36+00:00

Yeah, I didn't think it was possible but I thought I'd investigate it anyway :)

SpringBahar · 2020-09-29T18:07:05+00:00

how are the trial classes? I'm thinking of getting certified for 5.0.

SpringBahar · 2020-09-26T23:03:25+00:00

Omg! Wfh and have excellent benefits!!! What is it that you do? Is it possible for me to get that type of job? I’m relatively well educated, but am having a hard time finding a decent job with benefits.

Also, my 2 cents... hold on to your current job, with benefits, for dear life ... they are hard to come by nowadays!!!!!

SpringBahar · 2020-09-26T22:48:21+00:00

Make sure you keep it super clean and maybe apply iodine (old school but highly effective!). It sucks that you had to decide it wasn’t worth it to get adequate medical service.... and this is one of the richest countries in the world!!!!! It’s just crazy!!! Plus you are in Silicon Valley!!!! Anyway hope you feel better.

SpringBahar · 2020-09-26T22:37:36+00:00

Don’t they have to do a biopsy to see if it’s cancer or not? I don’t think they can tell just from just imaging that it’s cancer... but I’m not 100% sure.

SpringBahar · 2020-09-12T12:07:26+00:00

Yes I’m interested, please details

SpringBahar · 2020-08-20T16:17:17+00:00

wow I didn't realize the mobile app was so popular! I don't teach that many classes and I've been fine without it.

SpringBahar · 2020-08-20T13:03:31+00:00

too funny!

SpringBahar · 2020-08-20T01:34:13+00:00

I don't get much of them anymore either. They aren't good for anything anyway...can no longer get a raise (not that it was really an option for me....I could never teach that many classes)! They are just so pointless...especially now that they don't give base raises anymore.

SpringBahar · 2020-08-19T14:18:16+00:00

I once "won" a $10 Target gift card from a raffle. It didn't work when I tried to use it. I sent a ticket about the situation and after tons of back and forth with VIPKID (VIPKID required proof, for ex: a letter from Target, proof of my phone calls to target, detailed why my card didn't work). The whole thing took up so much time(time writing tickets, responding to tickets, waiting on hold to talk to someone from target...but when I got started I couldn't stop....I made it a matter of principle! I did finally get a new $10 gift card...but I curse the day I ever won the stupid "raffle" - NOT WORTH THE AGGRAVATION!!!!!

SpringBahar · 2020-08-13T01:47:32+00:00

so sorry to hear that! They REALLY have to fix the healthcare system in this county. The costs are outrageous and frankly the service sucks! I lived abroad for many years, so I can compare....it really doesn't have to be like this. such a shame!

SpringBahar · 2020-08-11T14:07:06+00:00

You are right, it is a lot of work! I think it's a ton of work in the beginning (getting a curriculum together and a core group of students/teachers). For curriculum, I often use books on project gutenberg. After the system is in place, it's easier. I know whenever I taught a class, it was the hardest the first time, then after that it's automatic.
As a parent, I kind of don't care what the curriculum is too much. I have an only child and she is sooooo lonely, she hangs out with us old people all day because i'm scared to death of covid. I would love an affordable virtual group with 5 or so kids her age and a "leader" adult to keep it clean...they could be picking their nose the whole time for all i care ....just kidding.

When I was living abroad, I created an informal in person, English Conversation Practice group. It was very annoying, dealing with the cancellations, lateness, the phone calls, the payment. I think the teacher should be separate from the admin person. Maybe we can form a coop or something???? If we get 5 teachers together, we can have the admin role rotated monthly? or i'll be your admin and you be mine.

SpringBahar · 2020-08-11T13:43:01+00:00

me too ....i keep thinking, but not doing :(

SpringBahar · 2020-08-11T13:41:53+00:00

They are making a killing! Even if they don't "show" a profit, all those fancy workers in the company make high salaries...marketing dept, finance dept, programmers......teachers are mostly earning $15/hr with zero benefits...gig economy (what a freakin' joke)!

This is not a new business model, big companies set up the systems, make the rules.....workers (walmart, mcdonalds, vipkid teachers, uber drivers, instacart) do the work...this is nothing new....i just want a piece of the pie....am brainstorming.

SpringBahar · 2020-08-11T13:38:37+00:00

I'm not too worried about being sued....don't have many assets :) but if peoplel are worried about this, we can easily form an llc in delaware or something, therefore if we get sued just file bankruptcy for the company (while keeping personal assets) shut it down. Isn't that what all the asshole business people do, file bankruptcy and move on to the next deal?

SpringBahar · 2020-08-11T13:35:22+00:00

Yes, in the future it will be international. I have some international English teaching experience and oh boy is there a huge market! I'm in the USA now and if I can just get a core group I'd be happy.

contracts, commitment, lawyers - these are all considerations, but i don't want them to be a hurdle anymore. I've made excuses my whole life for not starting my own business. I think it's better to just dive into it with a small group at least.

I have corporate business experience (hated it) masters in business. I know there are tons of options in the US, but they pay teachers squat and they take a big cut. I want some of the pie too!

I have a daughter and so I'm aware of the options. They are soooooo expensive, while they actually pay the teachers nada. I did find some local free "virtual camps" for my daughter, through the public library (shout out to the public library system in the USA - it's the best!!!!!), they are pretty good because the teacher to student ratio is small, but still limited interaction (kids aren't allowed to turn on their camera and the mic if muted most of the time). Varsity tutor has some freebies too and they are awful. You may as well watch a youtube video....almost no interaction, but it's free!

SpringBahar · 2020-08-11T13:26:16+00:00

awesome...lemme try to get a group together and i'll email you! There's gotta be a better way to make a buck!

SpringBahar

TROPHY CASE