Selling conversation

Teaching English always seemed to me like prostitution, during the brief time that I did it in Seville.

I did not have any special training for the purpose. The "classes" that I gave were clases particulares in conversational English, wherein myself and one or two people would meet and we'd speak in the language. We'd have conversation, in English, and a student would give me money for that.

I would offer occasional suggestions about usage. And, I believe, my English is good. My international English is above average. I think I have a good ear, and I'm certainly interested in language. But it bothered me to take that money.

I was getting 1500 pesetas per hour - about $7.50 USD. (The euro has since replaced the peseta.) That amount wasn't bad, there in Seville. I had earned 550 pesetas per hour working as a cook.

1500 pesetas seemed like a lot of money to ask for just sitting and talking. I didn't really know if it did anybody enough good to be worth their money.