How to Start a Language School Business
An increasing number of communities around the world comprise multilingual citizens. For instance, countries in the European Union have a great deal of linguistic diversity, with residents often showing proficiency in a number of the Romance or Latin languages. In the United States, while English is the sole official language, a growing population of its citizenry are bilingual -- speaking and writing in both English and Spanish. As a result, for many English speakers in the United States a proficiency in Spanish is increasingly sought for business purposes. Conversely, there are a number of non-English speakers who seek language schools to learn English. The globalization or growth of languages makes starting a language-based school business a viable enterprise.
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Instructions
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Conduct market research. To determine the feasibility of this business enterprise, find out what languages are in demand in the communities where you are considering developing the schools. Market research will include reading reports regarding language trends. Many government agencies, such as the U.S. Census Bureau, provide statistical-based reporting on household language trends. Also, conduct formal and informal surveys about language educational demands for non-native speakers in a community.
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Develop a business plan and organize the company. A new business plan outlines a company's business goals and human and financial capital requirements. It also provides a road map of short-term and long-term tasks and activities to be completed by the start-up enterprise. Organizing the business includes registering it with applicable government agencies. It also requires securing a tax identification number from the Internal Revenue Service. Set up accounting systems starting with opening a new business bank account.
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Find teachers. The core resource of a language school is its teaching staff. Recruit teachers who are not only proficient in the native language, but also the secondary language to be taught at the school. Prior teaching experience is always a plus, but interviews and a sample teaching presentation can often determine whether a candidate has an engaging teaching style. Also, look to universities with language and teaching programs as a source for recruits capable of helping to develop good language teaching curricular.
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Find an operating facility. A language school requires classroom or seminar style teaching spaces as well as office space for administrative tasks. Teaching facilities should include teaching tools such as built-in equipment for computer and slide presentations.
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Advertise and market services. Specifically target your market through television and/or radio commercials. A printed catalog of available courses that includes a description of all course offerings will be important marketing material. Also, develop a website for the language school that includes course descriptions and information regarding registration.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit the teacher image by 26kot from Fotolia.com
