An Arab businessman in his 30s is offering nearly $200,000 for a private tutor to teach him English, piano, opera and Shakespeare in a bid to get him into Oxford University.
The man, who placed an advertisement in the Times Education Supplement, said the successful candidate would have to be available from 8am to 11pm every day and should stay in close proximity at all times, travelling with him to “a wide range of destinations throughout Europe and the rest of the world”.
According to the advertisement, the job includes an annual salary of €146,700 ($196,109), but only the “highly intelligent, erudite, well-read, musically accomplished… and socially and culturally versatile” need apply.
The apparently genuine classified ad suggested the role, which required relocation to Geneva, “would suit a retired former head teacher of a renowned British private school or someone with comparable experience who is seeking early retirement”.
An additional requirement is that the tutor speak English “without any geographical specificity” and be prepared to coach the client to such a standard that “his Arabic background is no longer evident”, focusing on idiom, rhythm and tone.
The man who placed the advert, whose nationality is unknown, said his goal was to attend Oxford, though he admitted this would only be achieved after years of hard work and he did not have a clear idea of what he would like to study at the prestigious university.
The man said he left formal education in his teens and now wanted to “invest in himself” after a successful career in business.
Though not expected to teach constantly from 8am to 11pm, the tutor should at least be available between these times and, when not engaged in one-on-one tuition, would be arranging cultural excursions.
The specifications read: “The tutor should constantly be researching and planning a culturally rich range of musical and dramatic performance, visits to art galleries and museums, restaurants, sites of historical or contemporary interest – any place or activity that the tutor thinks will be an essential part of this ‘life-curriculum’ in its most encompassing sense.”
Fitness and “joie de vivre” were also essential as the job will be demanding, despite nine weeks holiday a year. Although a female tutor was not specified, the advertisement referred to the candidate as “she” throughout.
Some who linked to the listing on Twitter called the role “incredible”, while others were not so impressed. One wrote: “Utterly astonishing. Someone advertising for the world’s most civilized human being to become their slave.”
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