For ESL/EFL teachers who enjoy spending time with kids, babysitting can be an excellent source of supplementary income. Because many babysitting assignments take place at the weekends and in the evenings, this kind of work can fit in very well with a busy daytime teaching schedule.

For parents whose native language is not English, having a native English-speaking babysitter can represent real advantages: not only are the children being looked after, they are simultaneously gaining invaluable exposure to the English language.

Bear in mind that most parents would rather not leave their children with someone who:

a) They don't know
b) Is not fluent in their own language
c) Might have culture-related customs which are alien to their own (eg, washing diapers Vs disposing of them)
d) Has never done any prior babysitting work

So how do you go about getting this type of work?

1. Familiarize yourself with the specifics of the culture in which you are living.

Food habits, meal times, the social status of a babysitter in that country's society, etc, may all be different from those in your own country.

2. Get some business cards printed

Qualifications, if they're relevant, should be mentioned. Some cultures pay more attention to letters after names than others, but even in the least discerning countries, the abbreviations BA, BEd, MA, PhD etc count for something. So do words like 'EXPERT', 'PROFESSIONAL' and QUALITY. Use these words judiciously, but include them where appropriate.
An effective business card might look something like this:

English Speaking Baby-sitter

Is looking for private work in Barcelona

Very experienced - Children of all ages -
Qualified English language teacher

Rachel Darling, BA, CELTA,
Tel: 93 330 28 50 E-mail:darling@yahoo.com