Job Discussion Forums

[joshua2004]

I landed in Mexico and couldn't line up a job paying more than 50 pesos an hour for a couple hours a day with an hour bus ride. I guess I should have lined something up beforehand or researched a little more. Anyway, I was overcome with the "there's a lot of interest in English here!" school of market research, mentioned above. So I thought, well if I can't find a job, I'll just make my own job. So I did. I had about 5 thousand dollars to get me started and eventually spent very little of it on start up, almost all went to living expenses.

I didn't know anything about business. Luckily, I met a woman at a bar the week I decided to open my own business, who later would be the love of my live, and she has a passion for marketing. It was like pulling teeth for her to teach me about advertising (the need to spend money on it!), image, and selling. I was a teacher before I came to Mexico, but I hadn't taught English before. I read a couple books on the subject and learned the rest as I went.

The mistakes I made:
I didn't charge enough - if you want to make money on your own, you have to value your service. Plus, your clientele will realize the quality service you provide if the see they are giving you appropriate compensation.

I didn't have my teaching program laid out - I learned a lot from my experience, but I had a couple periods of severe frustration because I had to figure out what was the next step to advance the students. I wouldn't suggest someone open a school without experience, but I did it, my students learned, and it and my girlfriend taught me things I could never learn working for someone else.

So when and if I do it again, I would make sure to have enough money to float me by for a long time and have the experience to know what and how I am going to teach any level or need of the student.

[rossuh]

Hmmm, I must say I'm interested in Gregor's idea, but I also agree with the previous post that even if you were just teaching out of your living room, to make it work you'd need a business plan and enough money to keep you going through the initial lean times.

However, good schools get their reputation, and their success, via word of mouth, ie: satisfied customers. Build it up step by step and you could be onto a winner...

Uh oh! Here I go dreaming again... i'm THAT guy too!