Job Discussion Forums

Moore · Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 730 Location: Madrid

Here in Spain, there seems to be just as much work as last year, but business classes have started a lot later than normal, kicking off at the start or October, meaning a lot of teachers have had no work at all for August or September. Does the fact that there are just as many orders mean that English is seen as an essential for companies now, rather than an extra which can be trimmed off in harder economic times? Just wondering if anyone else has noticed an effect on our sector?

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

It hasn't affected me yet, but prices are going up.

rusmeister · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 867 Location: Russia

I think teachers that work with children tend to do better than those that don't at times like this.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

It helps that my students are Asian expats too Smile

Manaus · Joined: 15 Apr 2008 Posts: 52 Location: Orlando, FL

I haven't noticed a difference (yet). I work in the U.S. and there are still students coming to study English here. However, there are also students who have been living here for a year or so deciding to return home since it's becoming more expensive to live here.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 7:12 pm Post subject:

I imagine it will probably increase my student intake. I work teaching GED now at the New Mexico State Penitentiary.

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

I've increased my rates by 10%.

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

The crisis is still in process,so I think the effects won't be noticeable until next year.If it continues as is, next semester.
Cheers,
WW

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

Nope. I moved into the public system this fall, and our collective agreement was negotiated in 2007 for five years. I couldn't have got in at a better time. I can't express how glad I am not to be making my living teaching Business English at the moment!

rusmeister · Joined: 15 Jun 2006 Posts: 867 Location: Russia

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I expect the private language schools that depend on international students are going to feel the pinch very soon...Asian markets haven't been exempt, and I guess fewer are going to be signing up for months in Canada or the US.

Teacher in Rome · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Posts: 1286

Seems much the same in Italy as in Spain - slow start back after summer both for me in rural Italy and for my ex-boss in Rome.

Still plenty of work - some big businesses have gone under / going bankrupt in Italy, but business sector pretty much as usual. (= never had much of a training budget anyway)

I agree with a previous poster that the kids market is definitely growing. Cambridge exams have been pushing the early exams in my area of Italy and it's a real growth area for them.

jonniboy · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:01 pm Post subject:

Kootvela · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 513 Location: Lithuania

From what I've noticed in Lithuania (supported by my friends who teach at language schools), now there are more 1-to-1 students and in-company teaching decreased. There might be several reasons for that:

1. People are no longer satisfied with learning in groups.
2. The needs of the students are too varied to fit for groups.
3. There are more people willing to invest in their learning and cater for their own needs as related to their job prospects or personal life.
4. Companies cut paying for language courses because staff motivation is too little (bad attendance, leaving their job soon, etc.).