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D.O.S.
Joined: 02 Apr 2003
Posts: 108
Location: TOKYO (now)/ LONDON
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 Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:36 pm Post subject: Smith's School of English |
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I have some friends new to Japan who are interested in investing in their own school (they are experienced English teachers)
I'm not really up to date on this type of franchise. Could anyone post their experiences or advice while I search for links myself.
Much appreciated!
DOS |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:40 pm Post subject: Re: Smith's School of English |
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| D.O.S. wrote: |
I have some friends new to Japan who are interested in investing in their own school (they are experienced English teachers)
I'm not really up to date on this type of franchise. Could anyone post their experiences or advice while I search for links myself.
Much appreciated!
DOS |
http://smithwatch.nanobit.net/index.php |
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D.O.S.
Joined: 02 Apr 2003
Posts: 108
Location: TOKYO (now)/ LONDON
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 12:48 pm Post subject: |
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I appreciate that link.
But I have many doubts.
Could you tell me what you know. And provide more information. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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| D.O.S. wrote: |
I appreciate that link.
But I have many doubts.
Could you tell me what you know. And provide more information. |
PM me walls have ears |
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D.O.S.
Joined: 02 Apr 2003
Posts: 108
Location: TOKYO (now)/ LONDON
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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| PAULH wrote: |
| D.O.S. wrote: |
I appreciate that link.
But I have many doubts.
Could you tell me what you know. And provide more information. |
PM me walls have ears |
I have never been afraid of honest and open debate before, and will not begin now. Who is this 'bearcat' person anyway? Just be frank!
There are some people interested in investing with Smiths's. They view it as a great deal and a wonderful way as experienced EFL teachers to work in Japan. Actually, many people from the UK are looking at this.
Does anyone have any REAL information or experiences?
It looks like a great opportunity for EXPERIENCED EFL teachers to go to Japan and practice their trade. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 1:42 pm Post subject: |
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| D.O.S. wrote: |
There are some people interested in investing with Smiths's. They view it as a great deal and a wonderful way as experienced EFL teachers to work in Japan. Actually, many people from the UK are looking at this.
Does anyone have any REAL information or experiences?
It looks like a great opportunity for EXPERIENCED EFL teachers to go to Japan and practice their trade. |
You sound exactly like justcurious on gaijinpot.
Im not even going to waste my time with this or you. |
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D.O.S.
Joined: 02 Apr 2003
Posts: 108
Location: TOKYO (now)/ LONDON
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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I only post here. This is the best Japan forum.
why don't you be a real man and tell us what you got rather than gossip and hidden links.
Just be a Man.
Is that so tough?
To just post what you know and what your opinions are? |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:35 pm Post subject: |
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| D.O.S. wrote: |
Huh? Referring to other forums that I don't even know of nor post on? Rather than add to this post with REAL information to help not only me, but my friends and hundreds of others? What is this link, link, link to "bearcat"?
You are a scary guy. All NEWBIES TAKE NOTE of this alternative personality/little person (we used to say psycho-loser- midget before the PC rules took effect)
So what about his franchise? Any real reviews? |
This link is on YOUR Profile. You are the crazy one.
Who's linking to bearcat? |
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canuck
Joined: 11 May 2003
Posts: 1921
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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| It's widely know that Smith's is a scam. Use the search for D.O.S. and quit being a troll. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:41 pm Post subject: |
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| Mods are on the way. |
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seanmcginty
Joined: 27 Sep 2005
Posts: 203
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:44 pm Post subject: |
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Well, I'll tell you my experience. A few years ago my wife and I were looking into opening our own language school and we checked out what Smith's has to offer. We were quite shocked to see that for $15,000 plus royalties they didn't really offer anything of value that a half competent teacher with minimal experience couldn't get for free or a fraction of the cost elsewhere. They offer an unrecognized 3 day training course that costs almost the same as a month long CELTA course. They offer a sub-standard curriculum for an astronomical sum when quality, professional texts are readily available for quite reasonable prices at any book store. They offer a brand name that practically nobody in Japan has ever heard of. They offer administrative and advertising support, which anyone owning their own school could do themselves anyway.
I was really hard pressed to figure out why anyone would buy into one of these franchises. What is the point? The English language teaching industry offers very few barriers to entry for people with even minimal experience. Start up costs are low, you only need to advertise in your local area, and it is possible for an owner/teacher to handle all the aspects of his or her business by themselves without outside 'support' that they have to pay a large amount of money for.
I would strongly recommend that your friends not waste their money. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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| seanmcginty wrote: |
I was really hard pressed to figure out why anyone would buy into one of these franchises. What is the point? The English language teaching industry offers very few barriers to entry for people with even minimal experience. Start up costs are low, you only need to advertise in your local area, and it is possible for an owner/teacher to handle all the aspects of his or her business by themselves without outside 'support' that they have to pay a large amount of money for.
I would strongly recommend that your friends not waste their money. |
The Smith business is not about selling businesses to language teachers. thats just a cover. 95% of franchises lose money and disappear in the first year.
the way Mark makes money is selling visas to people who dont otherwise qualify for them. He has about 30 people paying 50,000 yen or about 1.5 million a month for him to sponsor their visas that allow them to stay in the country. They pay $15,000 (less if you bargain him down, it cost him NOTHING) plus the 50 ,000 yen a month in royalties.
The rest of the Smiths is just quackery and smoke and mirrors. |
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PAULH
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="D.O.S."]
| PAULH wrote: |
Please explain? Is there some 'conspiracy'? I've read that a mod here is your woman...let's see.
I just want to know about Smith's School of English and PaulH has had a fit rather than providing comments.
Crazy. |
You read a helluva lot dont you. You are always 'hearing' about things too. What an inquisitive guy.
One Mod is female. Shes not 'my' Mod and she doesnt even live in Japan. |
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seanmcginty
Joined: 27 Sep 2005
Posts: 203
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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| D.O.S. wrote: |
I just want to know about Smith's School of English and PaulH has had a fit rather than providing comments.
Crazy. |
Funny, I just made a post telling you my experience and advice with relation to Smith's and you have completely ignored it, preferring instead to attack PaulH.
Seems pretty clear that you have no interest in people giving you information about Smith and are just here to libel PaulH. |
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seanmcginty
Joined: 27 Sep 2005
Posts: 203
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| Posted: Sat Jun 10, 2006 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| D.O.S. wrote: |
| seanmcginty wrote: |
| D.O.S. wrote: |
I just want to know about Smith's School of English and PaulH has had a fit rather than providing comments.
Crazy. |
Funny, I just made a post telling you my experience and advice with relation to Smith's and you have completely ignored it, preferring instead to attack PaulH.
Seems pretty clear that you have no interest in people giving you information about Smith and are just here to libel PaulH. |
Total B.S.
I read your post. But it was difficult to see with all of Paulh's post's of "read Bearcat"...
WHAT DO YOU ALL THINK ABOUT SMITHS SCHOOL OF ENGLISH? |
Fair enough. But I did post my opinion and what I think about Smiths. Why don't you respond to what I wrote? |
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