i want to make my own english school?

Question

hi i am a british female living in japan, recently my husband suggested that we make our own english school, but i dont know anything about making a business. There are some competition here with other teachers who rent rooms and teach english there for several hours etc, however i want to make a school with a difference, i want to be unique in some way. If you or your child were to attend foreign language classes what would you like to encounter? perhaps some service to the parents while their kids learn english, or something which would appeal to a student to provoke more learning? and how about advertising,,,i can only think of the local town hall,or local supermarket pin boards,,,hmmm am really new to this, i have 2 kids and all i have done for the past 3 years is look after them,,which is DULL,,,i want to be out there doing something for the public, not at home, my brain is growing a beard. any suggestions would be really welcome thanks.

Answer 1

Before I start on the first part of your comment (starting a business) I have to say something about your last remarks about being bored with your own kids. Don't forget that these formative years are the most important of all - and you shouldn't just be looking after them - but you should be sharing this wonderful time WITH them, as they grow and discover the world around them. Be a kid with them - you'll never get these wonderful years back - and in the future you'll wish you could, believe me!
Now to your main question....
I've been teaching EFL for twenty years - and am still learning how to do it! It's not as easy as it sounds - if you want to do a good job that is! Firstly, you should take a good Introductory course iin TEFL - go to the British Council website to find out about them. Most language school owners in this country worked in other language schools first, to get to know the ropes, and gain invaluable practice in dealing with students etc. It takes a real love of the language plus love of your students to succeed. It's tiring, exhausting sometimes, but very worthwhile, especially when you send a student out speaking and writing good English, which you know s/he learnt via you! Once you feel you're ready for your own school, you'll already know enough about the field to decide how best to compete with other schools. I have been teaching privately for the past few years, self-employed that is, and have never had to advertise yet! Students come to me by word of mouth because I've worked hard and diligently and have gained a good reputation. If you just dive in at the deep end and open a school before you know much about it all, you'll waste so much time making mistakes and may give up the whole project.

Answer 2

I know it does seem like a good idea and no doubt you are full of Enthusiasm.

But teaching English is not as easy as you may think. I mean can you explain the technicalities of Grammar ?

If you are not able to then you would have to think along the lines of a play group or Creche, at least then you are only concerned with singing songs, Dancing and telling stories.

Trust me , when you start dealing with the older generations, all sorts of question can be raised in relation to the usage and application of English Grammar, and if you can not provide an answer, then you may look foolish.

Personally I would recommend small kids, if you can deal with them.... Check out Tumbl tots, they have a very good concept.... although I have only encountered them in Germany....

Good Luck

Answer 3

Your english (like mine) sounds like that of a second language speaker.

The expression that your brain is growing a beard is either a very new and innovative way of saying something, or a direct translation from another language. As an English teacher one should be carefull to teach correct idiomatic usage.

Answer 4

The best site for info would be Dave's ESL Cafe. There are a lot of experts on teaching in Japan on the site.

By the way, you'd better use better grammar and punctuation on Dave's or risk being shot down big time!

Answer 5

Oh hiya gozimas

You could also teach western cooking. When I lived in Hon Atsugi, I invited lots of Jap friend for western dishes, like Hotpot, Haggis, Stew, Sunday Lunch, etc

Gambatti

(as a second thought. You could teach Japanesse to westerners like me who lived in Japan for two years and could only order beer and say hello)

Answer 6

1) be grammatical and punctuate correctly in your written work
2) get a teaching qualification

Answer 7

And I want to make my own kindergarten...