OK, so you are thinking about teaching English in Japan. It is a big business here due largely to the lack of emphasis on the development of conversational skills at the junior and senior high schools and the over-emphasis on grammar and translation.
Teach for a Big Corporate School:
There are a myriad of schools at which you can work. The average salary is 250,000 Yen per month for about 30 hours of work. It seems OK on the surface but you are not going to get rich and you will still be working for “the company” or the “man”.
Your Own Private School:
So what about starting your own private school. You could do that and may do OK for a while but as you get busier teaching you will not be able to take care of the scheduling job for trials and the lessons of your students. You would have to hire someone full time to do the scheduling etc. while you teach. So you would be back to a level at or below a normal employee-teacher.
Join/Buy a Franchise:
So what is your next option? Bingo! To buy a franchise from a company that has a 10-year track record and a proven system and many successful school owners. Smith’s School of English is your best option if you want to own a franchise. Just listen to what some owners have said.
You can also buy a developed school via Smith’s. Based on my experience, this transaction is carried out very smoothly and professionally. This is perhaps the best option as your “new” school already exists, has students, the furnishings, signage and “presence” in the minds of local residents due to the ongoing effort by the current franchise owner. The value is already proven.
Whichever way you go, you will enjoy teaching English in Japan, as Japanese students really appreciate your lesson as long as you keep it consistent, challenging and fun. But having a Smith’s franchise makes the overall experience much better by taking away of lot of the stress that comes with working for someone else and not having the flexibility to teach the students the things they really need to strengthen their weak areas. With Smith’s you are in command of your lesson. The Smith’s curriculum is very good and forms a framework that targets areas that Japanese students of English are known need to review. Hard work and determination will assure your success and the growth of your school. So take the plunge! You will not regret it!
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