T. Nicole Pankratz - Bodner - Start & Run an ESL Teaching Business

The best way to use this book is to first read it through entirely and get a feel for the ESL industry and what is involved in starting a tutoring business or a school. Then by revisiting Part 1, you can think about what role you want to play in the industry and decide which type of business best suits your interests and aptitudes. Refer back to either Part 2 (Starting and Running an ESL Tutorial Service) or Part 3 (Starting and Running an ESL School) and get started thinking about what will become part of your business plan.

Taking a second look at Part 4, you can begin to identify some of the things you need to know, find out, and do to make your business legal.

Once you have read the book and worked through the topics, you will be well prepared for the next step opening the doors of your new business! And chances are, you will be a welcome addition to this exciting industry that promises both financial gain and the opportunity to put to use your creative energy, management skills, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Good luck!

Since the early 1980s, North Americas English as a Second Language (ESL) industry has grown by leaps and bounds, and now generates almost $20 billion USD a year in tuition fees, accommodation, and other related services.

While the future of ESL-related businesses in North America is promising, it is important to understand that the ESL industry is somewhat fickle, as it is tied to the global economy and tourism. The Asian economic crisis in the late 1990s, for example, resulted in a sharp decline in the number of Asian international students coming to North America. Then there was September 11, 2001, and the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), followed by Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE, or mad cow disease), and the 2008/2009 world economic meltdown, all of which affected the number of students coming to the United States and Canada.

The ESL industry is also subject to a great deal of change with regard to visa laws. Business owners need to keep themselves aware of new rules and information, since changes can increase or decrease the number of international students and immigrants allowed to enter North America.

Industry associations are another important influence on the ESL industry. Decisions made by industry associations can affect a schools hiring practices and ability to market effectively. One of the roles of an association is to establish a clear set of ethical and professional standards for schools to follow. The American Association of Intensive English Programs, for example, requires its member schools to hire instructors with a minimum of a masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) or a related field, or experience appropriate to their course assignments. Reaping the marketing benefits of belonging to an organization such as this means following their hiring rules, even if you do not subscribe to the logic of those rules. Opting out of association membership means making your own standards, but it also means you may lose credibility in the eyes of students, agents, and government officials who decide which schools are permitted to generate student visa forms and documents.