Job Discussion Forums

[bucko2004]

Hi there,

My girlfriend and I are wanting to put flyers in letterboxes around our neighbourhood to do private lessons. I've made the design, it's going to have English and Japanese on it, however, I want to make sure that the Japanese doesn't sound too strange/informal etc. There are also some phrases that I have no idea how to say. I've listed below what is going to be written on the flyer, if any of you Japanese experts out there can help out it will be greatly appreciated!...

Study English today!
きょう英語を勉強をしなさい!
(is using the "nasai" form ok here? Or should I change it to "masu"?)

FIRST LESSON FREE!
最初の授業は無料です！

Average lesson ￥3000 per hour
(don't know how to say in Japanese)

At your house, or at our house, or at a caf�.
あなたの家が私たちの家でがカフェで
(I'm pretty sure that's wrong. Would I use "soretomo" instead of "ga" for "or"?)

English conversation　英会話
Business English (don't know)
English Grammar　英文法
KIDS 子供

Please contact Bucko or Bucko's Mrs
(I'm fine with our names in katakana - of course I'll use our real ones! - but I'm unsure what verb to use for "contact"??)

(then we'll have our email address and kaitai)

Email contact is preferred
(This is because we'd rather speak by email at first as our Japanese skills aren't too good, but I'm unsure how to say this Japanese)

Then right down the bottom we'll say "we can speak a little Japanese"
私たちは少し日本語を話せます

And that'll be it basically.

And while we're on the topic, how much success has anyone else had with flyers? We figured it might be a good idea beacause we living in quite a wealthy area of Osaka, lots of huge houses, even by Western standards.

Thanks guys,

Bucko

[PAULH]

[quote="bucko2004"]Hi there,

My girlfriend and I are wanting to put flyers in letterboxes around our neighbourhood to do private lessons. I've made the design, it's going to have English and Japanese on it, however, I want to make sure that the Japanese doesn't sound too strange/informal etc. There are also some phrases that I have no idea how to say. I've listed below what is going to be written on the flyer, if any of you Japanese experts out there can help out it will be greatly appreciated!...

Study English today!
?????????????!
(is using the "nasai" form ok here? Or should I change it to "masu"?)

Neither. This is an imperative.command and what a mother would say to get her child to do homework.

Much better is request or invitation e.g. "why dont you study English?

Eigo o benkyo sh-ite mimasen ka?

kyou also means this day, as in not tomorow and not yesterday. Once its tomorrow "kyou" never comes back again

Something like from this time "kore kara.....".Today is not even really necessary


FIRST LESSON FREE!
???????????

Just say free trial lesson..

"anata ni Muryou taiken resun wo teikyou shimasu!!!".

Average lesson 3000 yen for 60 minutes (60-pun)
(don't know how to say in Japanese)

jugyouryo 1 jikan 3-sen en. (not sure what average is for though) What do you mean "average" lesson. Japanese for average is "heikin".

Do you mean cost varies even for one hour? You should say your rates for private, semi private or group lesson. or what rate you start from i.e your cheapest lesson..


At your house, or at our house, or at a caf�.
?????????????????

Give the students a choice as to where the lesson will be.

kyoush-itsu wo youi sh-ite arimasu (we have prepared a classroom)
okyakusama no hou e haken suru ka (this is kanousei (possibility) no "ka" not question no "ka". ) Students will not let you go into their house unless they invite you or meet you first. Meet with the student and then discuss where the lesson will be held. How about the students work place?)

(possibility to send teacher to the student)

jyugyou ha kissaten oyobu resutoran nite erabimasu. You can choose where to have a lesson

(I'm pretty sure that's wrong. Would I use "soretomo" instead of "ga" for "or"?)

English conversation????

nichijou kaiwa, (everyday conversation- they know they are studying English)


Business English (don't know)

katakana eigo bijinesu eigo.. kigyou no eigo

English Grammar????

eibunpou

KIDS ?? (youji (Children's) eigo) .

Please contact Bucko or Bucko's Mrs
(I'm fine with our names in katakana - of course I'll use our real ones! - but I'm unsure what verb to use for "contact"??)

kuwashiii koto ha MR Buckos e denwa shite kudasai.

(for more detailed information contact Mr Buckos.." contact is "renraku or toi-awase"


(then we'll have our email address and kaitai)

.Kaitai means demolish. You mean keitai. .

Email contact is preferred
(This is because we'd rather speak by email at first as our Japanese skills aren't too good, but I'm unsure how to say this Japanese)

How will you read Japanese and how will you respond to enquiries if your Japanese is no good?.


Then right down the bottom we'll say "we can speak a little Japanese"
??????????????

Good way to not get students to contact you if they think they cant communicate with you. How much is "sukoshi"?

go-chuui: wareware ha Shoukyuu teido no Nihongo wo rikai sh-ite imasu. Go-rikai kudasai

(we only speak basic japanese. Please understand. .


And that'll be it basically.

And while we're on the topic, how much success has anyone else had with flyers? We figured it might be a good idea beacause we living in quite a wealthy area of Osaka, lots of huge houses, even by Western standards.

[Jon Taylor]

'And while we're on the topic, how much success has anyone else had with flyers'


I advertised for privates using English only flyers and small posters on the local notice boards (these are dotted around your local area)

I had no joy from the flyers (my assumption is that people do not tend to read and ignore any advertising that comes through the door)

I did have considerable joy with the posters however.

[bucko2004]

Thanks PAULH. Looks like I have a bit more work to do.

[PAULH]

[markle]

Yes I would question the need for flyers unless you were looking to rely on privates as your only source of income.
I put up a notice at the local International Association and got 3 solid hits and have 1 regular student out of it. also got students from findateacher and senseibank. all of which were free and took me an hour to organise.

I didn't use Japanese simply because it would create the wrong impression that I spoke it well enough to write a flyer in flawless kanji.

[bornslippy1981]

I've had some success with flyers.
I've only had them up in two locations for about 3 weeks, and have been contacted by 4 students, two of whom I now teach.
Using Microsoft Word, on the bottom of the page, I have about 13 columns with my name, phone #, and e-mail. You can type your information, and then go into Tools, I think, and turn the message vertically. Just copy and paste into the other columns.
Before posting on a message board, cut these tabs, as it allows people to just pull it off, rather than writing down the information.
Good luck.

[king kakipi]

[CanKorea]

Is 3000yen the standard for a private lesson? I'm assuming that its for an hour. I'm thinking of starting some up myself.

[bucko2004]

[bornslippy1981]

It probably depends on your area-what you can charge. Of course, most language schools probably charge a little less, but there are other people in the lesson. A private lesson at a language school can be around 8000 Yen, from what I understand, but could be completly wrong.
On the flyers I put up, I have 2500 Yen for 45 minutes. I had the same amount on a website, but for an hour lesson. I recently changed on the website to 3000 Yen, and have gotten more of a response. It could be a mentality that more money = better quality.
I have also found it works best that the "first lesson free" is a good time to sit with the student, and find out what they want to learn. Since every student is different, it's a good time to evaluate them, and determine what route you will take. It's also good because the next time you meet can be the actual lesson, and the materials you use can be tailored for the student. This website has many resources that I find quite useful when teaching privates.

[bucko2004]

What's the actual poster etiquette in Japan? In Australia you can pretty much stick flyers up anywhere you want, most bus stops and train stations are littered with them. But I don't really see the same here in Japan. If I stuck up posters advertising private lessons I'd be worried about breaking some rule and getting in trouble with the neighbours or something. Don't particularly want that to happen when we're trying to get on their good side.

[guest of Japan]

I give reduced rates for the initial lessons, but never for free.

I've never done flyers.

I did a newspaper ad once in all Japanese. I got one student from it 4 months after I placed the ad. I didn't get any other calls.

I've had pretty good success from findstudents.net despite not posting a picture.

I charge 3000 an hour, 4000 for 90 minutes. The price for multiple students varies.

After factoring in prep time and transportation time, I don't think that private lessons are very wise economically. But, they do supplement a regular salary nicely. Say goodbye to your Saturdays, because that's when most students want lessons.

[Chris_Crossley]

[PAULH]