Language schools have become an essential part of the modern world, since they help overcome barriers between people by raising the levels of communication. Knowing another language other than your native one can help you a great deal when it comes to travelling and meeting new people, but it can also be extremely important when it comes to finding a job. It is paramount when you are searching for a job in another country, but it is important when you are working in your own country just as well, since knowing two or more languages can only mean more benefits for you. If you are looking to start a language school, other than having teaching credentials and a passionate desire to educate, you need to make sure you have several other things in order.
Budget Estimate
Before you can start planning everything that needs to be done when opening a language school, you need to estimate your budget first. When you know how much you can afford for a school, you will know what size the school will be and the number of students you will be able to have. If you do not have enough finances, you can always get a loan from a bank, since there are many ways of getting out of debt nowadays.
Location
The location of your future school is extremely important, since you want to attract as many students as you can. The best thing for a school is to be located somewhere crowded with people, so that it would be visible and people would be aware of it. You don’t want it to be right next to your competition, so you need to find a place a little further from it.
Target Market
The next step you need to take is identifying a target market. You need to choose the type of students you want to attract, that is, whether you are going to teach adults or children. When you decide on your target audience, you can make your business plan accordingly.
Business Plan
When creating a business plan, you need to put in writing your company organization, marketing, funding and finances. It needs to contain a summary of market analysis and it would be very good for it to contain your plans for the next 3 or 5 years, which would be of the essence if you plan on getting a loan for opening of the school. It will also keep you focused on your priorities.
Setting up Classrooms
Regarding how many students and staff you will have, you need to carefully plan on how big the classrooms will be and how much space you will need for your employees. You need to set up the classrooms so that they will have a nice appearance and atmosphere that will inspire your students to learn. They need to be in a relaxed environment in order for them to provide their best assessment.
Teaching Supplies
Teachers usually need a photocopier and a computer, so you need to decide how much you will invest in purchasing that equipment. You also need whiteboards, markers, projectors, and other types of multimedia equipment that will make the teaching and learning process easier. Regarding the needed textbooks, you need to decide which books are the proper ones for each level of your language course and provide them to your students.
Finding the Right Teachers
When hiring teachers, you need to decide which qualifications and experiences you consider desirable. You need to draw up part-time and full-time contracts, and then calculate the salaries and bonuses you will be able to provide to the teachers. You also may consider other financial issues, such as health benefits, maternity leave and vacation time.
Levels and Tests
You need to decide on what tests to use and how the students will pass from one language level to another.
Book Keeping
It is essential that you keep your accounts and finances in order, so you need to understand the legal system in your country and any tax benefits you can have. If you have no legal experience, you should get advice from someone in that line of business so that you can keep everything in order.
Marketing
If you want to promote your language school in the best way possible, consider setting up a website which you can advertise on a number of social media networks and attract as many students as possible. Make sure you have proper hosting and that you students get relevant and useful information from your website. For example, you can use the website to inform them about class schedules, give them access to reading material and additional exercises, blog about your experiences with students and many other things. If you are unsure how to configure your blog AltusHost has a pretty neat video instruction in their Pinterest News section.
Once you are finished with setting up everything that needs to be done, you can open your language school and start your dream job. If you decide to go for a loan, you can find a way of dealing with debt as soon as you open your school. Just follow these simple steps and we guarantee that your language school will be successful and loved by all of your students.