3 keys to this language school owner’s success:

by aaron

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Part 1 of 4.
Originally interviewed in 2007, School Owner Sean Gallagher (happyenglishclub.com) shares some of the keys to his school’s success. He mentions 3 important factors. He starts off with the fundamental advice that persistence is key to starting any business, especially a language school.

Find out what else Sean says…
(Leave your comments for Sean below)

Tagged as: keys-to-success, language-school-management

http://www.happyenglishclub.com Sean Gallagher

In my unbiased opinion, this is the best interview I have ever seen.

Sean Gallagher
aaron

Well thanks Sean. I’d have to say it ranks up their with Dan Rather interviews, or 60 Minutes interviews, at least!

Cheers 24/7,

aaron
Myron Wright

Thanks for taking the time to do this. Sean, have you looked into making the lesson files in a database format instead of paper? The paper files are probably more secure than a datafile, but they would be easier to keep current and edit into an actual manual.
But you are on the right track with your system thinking.
Steve W.

Very interesting. I found it intriguing that have lesson files and a “teaching system”. I have always been a more ummm “organic” teacher and very rarely follow the set lesson plan I make nor the timing of it so I suspect I’d find your system a tad “confining”.

It probably suits your school very well and works well considering but I am not sure it is something every teacher would want. My feeling is to allow teachers some flexibility and creativeness when they are teaching and to never say “You have to teach this at this point!” To me that just does not sit well considering how students learning styles are and how some need more time to understand what is going on. I wonder if this is a by-product of where you began your career and where I began mine. I certainly rebelled against these kinds of things when I was a language student and as a language teacher now. However, I am just seeing a small tidbit of what this is.

Best of luck with the school, Sean!
http://www.happyenglishclub.com Sean Gallagher

Hi Myron,

I’d love to have a database instead of a bnch of hard copies. I did a cost benefit analysis and decided I’d be better off focusing on other aspects of growing my business.

Also the actual papers are just reference points. I have informal weekly meetings with my teachers about the curriculum for the week. The real content is in these informal meetings.

Thanks for your feedback.

Sean
http://www.happyenglishclub.com Sean Gallagher

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your comments.

It sounds like you do not employ teachers. Do you have teachers working for you?

There are very clear skill sets an EFL student has to learn in order to improve. Our curriculum is based on teaching those skills.

I do not feel comfortable abdicating the responsibility of deciding what those skills are to inexpereinced teachers.

Having said that,there is quite a bit of room in our school for teachers to be creative.

Regards,

Sean
http://potatopals.blogspot.com Patrick Jackson

No, Sean. THis is BETTER than the best interview ever! Actually, very interesting and wise words. Thanks for the insight into your success*