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ESL forum >
Ask for help > Help for my school
Help for my school
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Olindalima ( F )
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Ichazinha 
SOOOOOOOOOOOO LOOOOONG...
�happy to hear from you, though you are having some troubles around... well, just to leave here my support, I really can�t imagine what I can do to help; your business is miles away from what I usually do, I wish I could give you at least a small suggestion. ANYWAY, if you discover a slight thing where I can help, you know you can count on me. I wish I could be sending you something more positive.
Well, you said all opinions would be well accepted, so now, don�t complain ( Heheheh)
You live in South America, so things probably may be different around there, but, here, in Europe, nowadays, even with all the economic crisis, one thing is for sure...you manage to sell more easily expensive products, than cheap ones... people who sell cars, ... they complain because the market... and so on and so on... but people who sell Ferraris, Jaguars, Porches ... they go on selling and selling as if there was no economic crisis. Crisis??? what�s that.
Every kind of market, if you sell expensive and with quality... you have no problem. Rich people are still there and they want good quality, so, if I had to go in such kind of business I would bet for quality, first, second, quality, third, quality. and only in the end I would think about quality and anything more.
You have business people attending your school, in a "prime time" which, in my opinion, if they pay, should be quite appropriate to "give" (????) a kind of small, quick, dinner/ snack " free", between lessons: It could be something to motivate, well, Ichazinha, I am not a business woman, but I tried my best.
Anything you may dream I can REALLY help, just let me know
I do appreciate your work, here in this site
BIGS HUGS
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9 Oct 2008
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s.lefevre
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Hi Icha
It isn�t easy to maintain a language school, I imagine, because there arealways lots of cocurrents. That�s why you have to have a very good marketing. You have to anounce why people should study in your school. I imagine that you run a small school and that there would be few students in each class. This is a good start. Tell them Learn English getting individual treatment, no more than (x) students in each class. Preparation for travelling, business. People love to hear how they will learn even if they don�t understand how it works. I don�t know what social classes you teach but you can�t be too cheap, which doesn�t mean that you can�t propose something for free. For instance, if somebody brings you a student, he gets a bonus. Tell them that you have your own method. Students love "own method" and than explain that From the first day on, they are going to speak.
I have a friend, who has a small English school and all these things have worked perfectly so far.
I hope you find a solution for the crises,
A big hug,Silvia |
9 Oct 2008
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manonski (f)
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Can you offer "housecalls". By that, I mean, can you offer to teach them during their office hours, accompany them when they have to use English, during the time they work.
Would it be possible to offer discussion groups during their lunch time if they eat at work? |
9 Oct 2008
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danibauer
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Hi Icha!!!
I�ve also been out lately doing other things but now I�m back! It�s really nice to see you around again...
Well, I work in a school that tries to innovate the method of teaching.
They call it Leaving and Learning and it�s basically to use English as a daily activity.
We have a kitchen in the school, so we have cooking classes (even if adults). Our rooms are thematics, for instance, DVD room, games room, internet room and language.
Even businesspeople like to have different activities and it makes the classes not so tiring after a long workday.
Well, I wish I could help you more... but I�ll be sending positive vibrations to you!!!
Good luck, and let us know how things are doing!
Take care!!!
XOXO,
Daniela |
9 Oct 2008
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Vickiii
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So nice to see you around again Icha,
I have missed your wonderful commentary, contributions, and supportive comments.
Hmmm ideas - what about an online component to your course. You can link into things like BBC English for homework so students are doing a reading in advance accompanied with an audio and comprehension questions to guide them.
I like the idea above where students are taught English through real life situations.
You could have specialised nights - for example - teach students language around court processes and then have a real life trial with an appointed judge, jury, defendent, prosecutors etc.
I believe Role plays are really helpful for our students - especially if they are playing another person - even a special murder mystery night could be fun - I use to write them for special events and would be happy to send you one as an example.
I think food is the biggest draw card of all! people love food, good coffee and tea (I hate coffee, but love a good cup of tea), and a relaxed atmosphere.
I hope these help to inspire you.
Good Luck
Vickiii |
9 Oct 2008
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maestra545
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Hi, Icha,
I teach adults in a public adult school and I also tutor professionals. One thing you could incorporate into your curriculum (and marketing materials, website, etc.) is business English and presentation skills that can be used in conferences and meetings. I don�t know of any specific websites, but there are some very good books you can use: "Presenting in English" by Mark Powell, for intermediate and upper-intermediate students, is one that my clients have found interesting and useful.
Our adult school did a survey and found that most of our students came to us by word-of-mouth. You might want to think about incentives you could offer your existing students to bring in new students.
Good luck to you!
Janet
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9 Oct 2008
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!! It�s been a long time since I last wrote on this forum, and I�m so sorry for that 
It�s that I�ve been soooo busy, that I haven�t had the time to browse through all your new work, or participate in the forum. So I�m so sorry that I haven�t left any comments or replied to any of the posts and I haven�t been able to download anything lately 
And I�m afraid I won�t be able to be active again until February or so... 