Julija

Dear Karina,
Thank you for your comment. Your feedback is important so I have an opportunity to reflect.
I am sorry it left you feeling this way.
Here is my view.

When I came last time, and was 5 or 7 min late, your husband said they literally just came back from school, and he wondered if I had to wait outside, that’s way I didn’t say anything. But of course, I could. However, it’s not always possible to arrive on time while driving, and I always give extra time at the end of a lesson in case if I am being late. But that day your husband and Naomi had to leave 5 min earlier we normally finish, and notified me 10 min before so there was nothing I could do to give an extra 5-7 minutes of me being late.

First of all, I straight away expressed my professional opinion that having lessons fortnightly might not be that beneficial for Naomi as having them weekly, especially being a complete beginner. We would need to catch up every lesson, and to try to remember what we were doing two weeks ago.

I cancelled the lesson but offered online instead which I guess was not an option for you.

As regards my fee, I checked my profile, and there’s nowhere I could put this information that I charge for travel. But I assumed it’s makes sense since I am spending my own time and petrol to get to someone’s home as it’s very convenient for students, and it was not a 10 min drive. Otherwise, students need to spend their own time and money to get to my home. My fee doesn’t include any travel, it’s just hourly rate for a lesson itself. Majority of my students are coming to my place or we are having online lessons.

I also didn’t think that an extra £10 fortnightly will be such a big deal, given that we had a good connection with Naomi, she appreciated my style of working with her, which is very important and not always what children experience.

I then suggested you to come to my place, then it would be £40, but then you’d need to spend your own time and money for travel. I also offered to continue online (during the pandemic children done home schooling and got used to it), at least we could try. I also suggested to continue doing one lesson online and one in person a month. You haven’t even replied my last message.

Sometimes it’s hard to understand from the beginning if the travel will feel comfortable enough, plus petrol suddenly became very expensive too. I am sorry it took me two lessons to realise that driving for more than 30 min each way (which means I was spending more time in my car than teaching Naomi for 1 hour) for £50 is not something I can do, especially given we do lessons fortnightly and that means I wouldn’t be able to put any weekly student as this time slot will be partly occupied.
But I feel it’s better if I let you know how it felt to me after two lessons rather after establishing a solid attachment with Naomi and then saying it.

I am wishing you good luck in finding an experienced tutor who will come to your house for a cheaper price, and best of luck for Naomi with learning and progress in Russian. I am also happy and open to work with Naomi for £60 per hour at your place or £40 at mine, or online.
With warm wishes,
Julia

Thank you for your kind words Luke! I was happy to work with you! You are a very talented student and just like you said - I really enjoyed our time together!