You can use this section to ask any question you’d like :-)

Teaching, jobs, working on your own like I do, whatever. The only crappy question is the one you don’t ask.

1. My school has just a few activities, but they're kind of warn out. I've asked for new ones but they said they'll think about it... That was six months ago. what can I do?
2. How do you find students if you're teaching on your own?

1. Rating: +5

   

   My school has just a few activities, but they're kind of warn out. I've asked for new ones but they said they'll think about it... That was six months ago. what can I do?

   This is common. I'd hit the dollar store and buy a few things to make my own activities.

   You must have a student book you use with your classes right?

   Each lesson or unit in the book has a target. Build activities with each target in mind.

   I'll be posting heaps of activities soon that you can make at no cost or low cost.

   If spending a few bucks is the only thing between you and an easier life in the classroom, I'd spend the money in a heartbeat.

   You can also hit all the ESL book fairs to find card games and ideas for making your own activities.

2. Rating: +0

   

   How do you find students if you're teaching on your own?

   Great question and until a freelance teacher has a base of students, it seems like this question can dominate your thoughts all day long!

   I'm sure I could write a 40 page report about this but to keep it real simple, I'll give you three tips.

   1. No matter what, you MUST over-deliver!
   Say you teach man-to-man classes out of your local coffee shop and the lesson is for 50 minutes. Always give 55 minutes. And over prepare content for your student based on their needs and what they want out of the lesson. This is KEY!

   Why, is because you want them to talk to everyone about you. The biggest lesson I've learned teaching on my own is to make my students raving fans / in-house sales reps ;-)
   Because I run my business this way.

   I get all new students based on word of mouth.
   This is great because I spend no money on flyers or ads in the local paper looking for students.

   2. When just starting out, you'll need to get a base of students.

   15 students is a good base. Where to get them is by word-of-mouth.
   Get some business cards made but ones that don't look business. Make sure you give it to EVERYONE! The calls will start to come.

   Also, you'll be well on your way to register with websites such as http://findateacher.net/

   3. Get out to all your local activities such as the yearly summer festival and network your butt off. Join your local community center too and join all the classes you can.

   The classes are like five bucks a pop but you'll meet so many locals there.

   OK, I'll give you one more, it's a big tip! Get out and network with other teachers.

   I've pointed teachers to jobs I just had no time for or did not fit my business model.
   The student is already warmed up because I'm sending the teacher to them.
   If the student comes from a newspaper ad, they hardly ever join but coming from a referral, you have a 90% of getting that new student.

   having said the above, number one is my favorite :-)