Job Discussion Forums

dragon450900 · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 26

Just curious what you guy's think of that. With all the ups and downs with other schools it seems like a good idea. Am i just a nut or could it be done and succeed in mexico?

T

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Legally, you need a Mexican partner to do it. I did this with my wife years ago, then sold it.

New language schools pop up all the time around the country, founded by foreigners with local partners. If you are in the right place and there is demand, it can be done. You are most likely not going to get SEP endorsement though, and you'll have to be careful not to run afoul of immigration, if you are hiring FTs.

dragon450900 · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 26

Hey Guy how ya been? I was wondering about the puebla area which is sort of close to you. My wife and i are very ready to return to her home town for good. I have discovered that i am not a teacher but i do know business it's what i do and with what i've seen i think it could be done. I would love to talk specifics with you if possible maybe off board so everyone doesn't get bored with us

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Do you have any experience in school management? I once acted as a DOS for 5 months, and I have to say that there's a lot happening at the management level that your average TEFL instructor never sees. Running a language school is a thankless job, and not a task I would wish on my worst enemy.

dragon450900 · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 26

Well i am asking from an investors point of view as i know i am not a teacher and will not damage students with my pretend skills just for money!

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

If you were to remember one thing and one thing only from researching this, it would be:

Pay the teaching staff well, and pay them on time, every time.

How many complaints do we see here and elsewhere on this?

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

It is NOT necessary to have a Mexican partner to start a business in Mexico, including a language school. Foreign investment is highly encouraged, at least in my area where it is a piece of cake for foreigners to start their own businesses. The question is - will you make money? It surely isn't easy because of the regulations. Schools go under all the time if they aren't properly run. The successful ones are quite wealthy, on the other hand and that is a whole other story. You need a good accountant, good advice (a good lawyer would work) and good common sense. Bring a truckload of money to get rolling and be prepared for a mountain of red tape.

Language schools can be VERY lucrative businesses if managed properly, since Mexicans tend to invest as much as possible in their children's education. One of my private's, a lawyer, mentioned the other day how he was going to send his yet-to-be-born son to a different school than that of his 3 daughters (who I also tutor). I inquired why, and he replied "it has a better sports program". Most of the schools I have worked at have limited sports programs so this is something to consider as well.

dragon450900 · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 26

Oh yes paying the teachers decently would be a priority of mine. Happy teachers = happy students i would think!

Samantha define "truckload of money" please. What would your definition of run well mean good teachers good curriculum or just run well from a business? My wife is my partner in this and she is 100% mexican so that should help with the red tape i think? Sports program at a language school is that usual? I have looked into some of the franchise schools but the are out of their minds with the fee's lol

MELEE · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:59 pm Post subject:

I'm interested in starting a small school in the future if we stay in this city. At this point an Ingl�s Individual is the only school in town, and I personally think they are a scam operation. If I were to open a school, it would probably be only kids classes, and only me an maybe a part time accountant/finacial manager, and only be enough for me and her-him to live on, and most likely be out of my home. But I haven't looked into any of the detials yet. It wouldn't happen for at least 4 years and I plan on having citizenship by then, which I assume will make it easier, even if it's not necessary.

dragon450900 · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 26

What would make an ideal school from a teachers point of view? I am curious though what you guy's would think would be a reasonable dollar figure to start if you were not going to be doing the teaching? I know what i can and cannot do and i fear teaching is not something i could do very well and if i do this i want to do right by the students, to me it's not so much about the money but the quality, if that is done the money will follow at least in my exp.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

MELEE · Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 3:30 pm Post subject:

It depends on where your going to be. The cost of living varies a lot from place to place. You mentioned Puebla. People here think Puebla is expensive, but I didn't notice much difference from here. (We are 4 hours away)

It also depends on what the teachers responsiblities are and how much knowledge you expect them to have. Schools like Harmon Hall that have a method, materials and preplanned lessons, don't ask the teacher to do as much places where the teacher has to design the lessons, locate or provide materials, maybe even plan the syllabus and write the tests. I don't think its unreasonable that a place such as HH would pay the teachers less, because they are asking less of the teacher. Likewise the second type of school should recoginze that to attract a qualified teacher they will have to pay more. Around 10,000 a month as a starting wage. And I think rewarding good work is good business practice. Unfortunately where I work now the pay scale is very rigid, which is what I don't like about it.
Also I think that teachers will be looking for you to provide good materials, opportuntites for professional development, and flexibility in leave (if you have foriegn teachers, the ablity to take a long vacation home, might mean that they will come back to work a second year, rather than just quiting and then getting another job for the next year.)

dragon450900 · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 26

Which curriculum would work best for spanish learners and could one purchase a complete system? I want to do this right when i decide to do it and input from teachers is what i seek right now like what would tuition run in Puebla or elsewhere, what is the average price a student pays for a month and how many hours of class does that include? What is the average wage paid to teachers? How many hours would be expected of a teacher per week?

cwc · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 372

Personally, I think a �Centro de Asesorias� would be a good start. No SEP probs and a chance to build a reputation. The money is much better. People will pay 750 a week, 300 monthly, for 1 hour daily of English tutoring when they are paying that amount for a whole curriculum. It�s all about reputation.

dragon450900 · Joined: 20 Oct 2005 Posts: 26

that sounds interesting cwc. please tell me more. what is a Centro de Asesorias? I mean center of advisors is that a tutorial type of place?a one on one?