Working at SayABC - Three types of classes...
SayABC is a company that books classes for you. You open the slots you would like to work and they fill them.
There are THREE types of classes you might teach at SayABC:
- Trial
- Homeroom
- Standby
Here is my experience with each:
1. Trial:
When you first open your slots it is likely that you will be assigned trials to begin with. When I got approved I already had a preplanned week in Tasmania where I wouldn't be able to teach.
Basically I had a week where I could teach - and a week off. The big thing with Say (That's what the pros call it) is opening as many times that you can teach as possible. (More on that in point 2. Homerooms.) But basically because I had a break in the schedule where I couldn't teach I was only assigned a couple of trials - One in my first week and One in the week I got back from holidays.
Trials are paid at your base rate $13-$15USD. They are for parents that are trying out SayABC - if one of your students decides to sign up within three days you will get an $8USD PER STUDENT incentive. That means if you teach 4 kids you have the opportunity to make $32USD on TOP of your base pay for 40 min!
A pretty good deal if you ask me! If you happen to teach the 1v6 trial then the opportunity for more possible bonus payments increases.
A Trial will appear as a green locked slot on your schedule.
When you have a trial you will enter a queue 5minutes before starting time. You may or may not be thrown into a trial class. If you aren't you just stay seated in front of your computer - you MAY receive a sub class,
...or you may just sit there and read (Don't shut down the portal or leave the queue). If this happens you'll get paid $7.5USD.
My first trial I was thrown into a trial and made ONE conversion - BEST DAY EVER!
My second trial I just sat in the queue and got paid $7.5usd.
When you are on the portal you can click on the powerpoint symbol and look at all the possible trials you could teach. They are also listed here.
There are 5 of them. So take the time to look and prepare for each class as you never know which one you'll get!
2.Homerooms:
SayABC run homeroom classes - These are the bread and butter of the company and really what you want to get because they offer consistency. Homerooms run twice a week for 9 lessons. You will be given your base pay for each class plus a Homeroom completion bonus at the end of the 9 lessons (If you never cancel or are late). The completion bonus is $4USD a class. A very nice incentive!
To teach homerooms you need to be available on certain 'paired nights' of the week.
They are:
- Monday/Thursday
- Tuesday/Friday
- Wednesday/Saturday
- Saturday/Sunday
The only paired slots I could do (Due to other commitments ) were Mon/Thurs. I opened up all available slots on my timetable for 10 weeks (You need to open at least 6 weeks to have a chance of getting homerooms - the more into the future you can open the better chance of getting them!)
Whilst I was away in Tassie I noticed that my homeroom availability had been filled - 4 New Homerooms! I was stoked - all my availability with Say had been filled and I was on my way!
As with trial classes you can view all the powerpoint materials on the portal. Preparation is key!
3.Standby:
Ok let's be honest - from my experience and from what others have told me, getting a standby class these days with Say is nearly impossible - here's why:
They lock slots for trials (See point 1). If those slots aren't filled with Trials then the teachers in the queue will be given sub classes. This leaves VERY little left for the rest of us.
You let SayABC know you are available for trials by turning the time slot orange 24 hours in advance (Click on it to make it orange). Then you need to be at your computer to confirm your availability just before classes begin. Have Skype open...and wait. Apparently (and I wouldn't know as i've NEVER been assigned a sub - despite my best efforts), they will call you on Skype to assign a sub class. If you are lucky enough to get one you will get your base pay plus a short notice bonus (I for the life of me can't find how much it is at this time).
HOWEVER if you get a sub class from sitting in the trial queue (See above) you will only get the basepay because technically that slot was locked and it wasn't 'short notice'.
...
So there you go three different class types you can teach at SayABC. At the end of 9 lessons if you are available your homerooms will 'hopefully' been renewed. Mine have been once so far and I WILL keep you updated.
Word on the street is you will get the MOST homerooms when you first sign up...as they drop off it is harder to get new ones...
...why do they drop off? Kids drop out - move up a level - move on... so homerooms can be cancelled... this is NOT my experience so far...but i'll keep an eye on it. This is one of the reasons why I signed up to another company (a back up). More on that in my next post!
Happy Teaching x
P.S. Every company offers a referral bonus - If you're interested in getting started and would like my help with the process drop me a line!
Palfish referral code: 58910752
SayABC referral code: EG63VF
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