Hello, if you want to approach a workplace about teaching workplace esl,
first do some homework about what their language needs might be.  If it is a
hotel, you know that there are housekeepers and public area cleaners and
kitchen workers that need to interact with customers, co-workers and
supervisors.  Then go there or ask around to see what percentage of the
workforce are limited English speaking or foreign born.  Then join
associations or go to networking lunches that the managers or hr managers
from these companies frequent.  Get your face in front of these people and
ask them about their language challenges in their workplace.  Then offer to
send them a proposal to conduct ESL at their workplace.  Include in your
proposal a needs assessment (I don't charge extra for this, but some people
do).  Don't forget to get a business license and some general liability
insurance to protect yourself as you start your new venture.  You might also
want to get workman's comp on yourself.  You can set up your business as a
sole proprietor to begin with, but you might want to later change to an LLC
to protect yourself.   Last, don't forget to charge a lot more than you
would just teaching ESL.  Workplace ESL companies I know charge between $90
and $120 an hour, but make sure you offer customized content.

 

I used to speak often at TESOL about starting your own workplace esl
business, but it's been a while since I've gone to TESOL.  I exhibit at HR
type conventions now since HR people are the ones "buying" my services J

 

Feel free to ask more questions!




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From: workplace-bounces at nifl.gov [mailto:workplace-bounces at nifl.gov] On
Behalf Of Pat Sawyer
Sent: Monday, July 21, 2008 10:19 AM
To: workplace at nifl.gov
Subject: [Workplace 1503] What do we do first?

 

I know that many of you who are members of this discussion list are
experienced educators who have established ESOL classes in the workplace.
There may also be others who have had little if any experience in the
workplace. 

 

 I am an "educator" and my only experience in the workplace was to wrap
Christmas presents at a department store when I was 18 years old. I didn't
know who to contact  or how to approach someone in a business where we
wanted to establish an ESOL class. This is the first and most common
question asked by those who are beginning to work with workplace ESOL
classes, "What do we do first?"

 

This question is answered many times and in many sections of our workplace
book, but if you will read page 144 in Appendix B-1 you may begin to think
about "what you do first."

 

Pat Sawyer

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