Teaching > Theory and Practice

After School Program - Pressure to keep/gain more students?

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Okazaki5000:
Hello,

I'm new to the board but I've been working in an After school program. I'm wondering if anyone has came across or has been in a similar situation where you had to make sure you keep/gain more students  - mainly the pressure comes from your employer of course.

In my program we lose some students, mainly the 6th graders who's parents want them to focus more intensely on their English studies in a hagwon. While I agree with this to a point, I have to realize that there is a competitiveness with the hagwons so I'm wondering...

What have you done as an english teacher to keep your students, or how have you advertised yourself so that more students will be interested in joining your program. I'd love to hear any suggestions.

Thanks!

msay:
Hi there,

I just recently switched on over to an After School program and I've run into the same thing where there is a bit of concern with keeping students. My after school program is pretty good so I haven't run into that problem too much and my classes are pretty full. A lot of the kids here are poorer so it's easier for them to come to the program. I can't say that much for the other foreign teacher since his students are dropping out.

I've noticed that since I've moved on over (I was at a hagwon before) the kids are very low leveled and I have to start from scratch. At my school, I have a lot of flexibility and leeway, so I get to choose my own books for the kids. My manager has been very accommodating and supportive of the decisions I've made as well as giving a lot of encouragement. And that's been helping with the cause - my students weren't disciplined and didn't learn that well from the previous teacher so it's been kind of revamped. So I guess the management has been taking notice?

What kinds of classes do you offer? We have some special classes for some students who like to do Friday classes. They have regular classes twice a week and on Fridays those students can come to a cooking/science class, music class (where they have a play at the end of the year) or they have TOSEL for some of the higher levels. 

Hope that helps.

Okazaki5000:
It helps a lot. Same as you I do have leeway and I was able to to choose my books for this new session so I'm excited about that. However, last term the books were mediocre and that played a huge part on some classes.

You are fortunate that your manager is involved and encouraging. I wish I could say the same. Most marketing of the actual program should be orchestrated by him since it is his business, but I barely see or hear from him. Me and my co-teacher are using the tools we have and doing the best we can.

oldstoneface:
sounds like the situation isnt too bad for you. I have been stuck with an afterschool internship class for a year now.
it is only now that they have fully explained that im expected to raise the level of vocational students to taking the TOIEC test and getting 700 for overseas internship.

a year before they tell me that the students are working towards passing that test.
no textbooks, no communication and high stress over the number of attending students.

fortunately now that i know this, there are textbooks and resources that are in the school.

the main point is, miscommunication has raised its head to increase stress.
don't let this happen to you and make sure you know what is going on. even if you have to ask MANY times.

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