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Matty
Joined: 13 Jun 2008
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 Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:45 pm Post subject: Starting a Language School in Seoul |
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So a friend (or a couple) and I we're thinking of starting a language school in Seoul or nearby in a few years. So it's always good to start planning as early as possible.
She is Korean, I'm Australian and we have a Chinese friend who may be joining us. We are thinking of teaching English, Korean and Chinese at the moment. (Teaching Korean to foreigner students and our teachers)
So my question is, what advice does anyone here have?
What problems have you experienced with your schools that we should avoid?
What are things we should ensure to provide?
What other questions should I be asking?
Basically any advice you can provide whether I've asked the question or not is appreciated since I'm not entirely sure what questions I should ask yet.
We want our school to be a good and reputable school.
Anything is appreciated, and as I said we're only just starting researching into this so I have no idea where this will lead.
Thanks,
Matty ^_^ |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject: |
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I think it was Juregen (sp?) who previously posted a lot of info about this. He knows (assuming he was the poster) about the hoops that one needs to jump through in order to set up an academy.
As I recall, it sounded like a real bitch of a process. |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:34 pm Post subject: |
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| One of my friends and his wife have a language school in a smaller city on the coast. They seem to be doing pretty well. |
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Matty
Joined: 13 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:53 am Post subject: |
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Well I tried searching all 1500 or so of Juregen's posts, doing some generic searches too, no luck yet.
Does anyone know who it was? Or have a link to the thread? |
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caniff
Joined: 03 Feb 2004
Location: All over the map
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 4:32 am Post subject: |
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Sorry if I was wrong. The memory could be failing (but the search function also sucks).
When in doubt, always ask ttompatz. |
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Matty
Joined: 13 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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Ok, I'll try and find out who ttompatz is and ask.
But as teachers, what do you find disturbing or would like to improve in your schools, what mistakes do your schools make so that we can make notes no to make these same mistakes with our teachers.
Or perhaps a better question is, if you were to work in our school, what would you want, and what would you feel is a good learning/teaching environment? |
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bobbyhanlon
Joined: 09 Nov 2003
Location: 서울
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Or perhaps a better question is, if you were to work in our school, what would you want, and what would you feel is a good learning/teaching environment? |
it shouldn't be too hard- just pay people on time, and do the things you say you'll do, and that will make you better than 90% of hakwons out there, as far as teachers are concerned!
i think the way to go with an english school is to systematise it as much as possible. a well-defined series of classes, levels, and so on, with tests to allow progress up to higher levels; a serious approach to education rather than just a playschool with some whitey in the room. be selective and have entrance tests, and don't tolerate any bad behaviour from the kids- throw repeat offenders out if necessary. the parents will respect this and it could give you a 'premium' image. recruit higher quality teachers by paying a bit more and treating them well, but demand professionalism from them.
basically this is what cdi have done, and it has been very successful. they realised that the average hakwon is a joke, and if someone came along and approached the industry in a logical, systematic fashion, they could clean up. |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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The guy who runs EFL-Law has his own hagwon in Busan. He has a long posting which breaks down most of the process, including costs, requirements you have to meet, etc.
www.efl-law.com |
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curlygirl
Joined: 26 Mar 2007
Location: Pundang, Seohyeon dong
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Well if you're going to run Korean language classes why not capture a huge chunk of the niche market by opening your hagwon somewhere other than Seoul? I live in Pundang, which has a large foreign population, and there is nowhere for me to study Korean (I've already posted about this in this forum). Find a large foreigner population and cater to it: you'll have no competition. |
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Matty
Joined: 13 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 8:28 pm Post subject: |
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| curlygirl wrote: |
| Well if you're going to run Korean language classes why not capture a huge chunk of the niche market by opening your hagwon somewhere other than Seoul? I live in Pundang, which has a large foreign population, and there is nowhere for me to study Korean (I've already posted about this in this forum). Find a large foreigner population and cater to it: you'll have no competition. |
I'd love to but almost everyone I know in Korea, (hundreds) are from Seoul and nearby. Perhaps once we start we can open schools in more areas, but I'm trying to figure how to get our doors open fast and have a well respected school loved by both our teachers and students.
It definately is a useful piece of information to know though, and I will discuss it with my friend (business partner). |
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purple_buddha
Joined: 18 Apr 2003
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Cheonmunka
Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject: |
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| If you haven't an f visa your Korean friend will have to get the registration documents to employ and sponsor you for your visa as an English instructor. |
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Matty
Joined: 13 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 1:18 am Post subject: |
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Thanks alot purple!
| Cheonmunka wrote: |
| If you haven't an f visa your Korean friend will have to get the registration documents to employ and sponsor you for your visa as an English instructor. |
I think I'm going to try and get a D8 Visa and see if I can open it.
So that way I shouldn't have any visa issues after that. Now just to try and soak of the funding while I'm planning. And by soak I mean work really insanely. |
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billybrobby
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| Matty wrote: |
| curlygirl wrote: |
| Well if you're going to run Korean language classes why not capture a huge chunk of the niche market by opening your hagwon somewhere other than Seoul? I live in Pundang, which has a large foreign population, and there is nowhere for me to study Korean (I've already posted about this in this forum). Find a large foreigner population and cater to it: you'll have no competition. |
I'd love to but almost everyone I know in Korea, (hundreds) are from Seoul and nearby. Perhaps once we start we can open schools in more areas, but I'm trying to figure how to get our doors open fast and have a well respected school loved by both our teachers and students.
It definately is a useful piece of information to know though, and I will discuss it with my friend (business partner). |
they'll definitely love your spelling |
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Matty
Joined: 13 Jun 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jul 27, 2008 7:00 am Post subject: |
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| billybrobby wrote: |
| they'll definitely love your spelling |
Thanks for the vote of confidence, I know I'll need to brush up on some of my English skills after intensively studying Chinese and almost not speaking English for the last 2 years.
Plus I think over my English a little more carefully whilst teaching than when I'm typing on forums. But point taken.
I can admit I am known better as an organizer and creator than an English teacher, but I am going try and fill some of these gaps in my skills whilst I prepare. |
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