Hard-core Foreign Run Buxibans

**Posted:** Mon, 17 Oct 2005 16:50

Just noticed this blog earlier today. The author had some interesting (and accurate, IMHO) observations on foreign-run buxibans. As someone who has recently taken over one of these schools, along with its "hard-ass" programme, I was very interested to read his take on things:

Quote:

These schools have a simple no non-sense curriculum structured around sentence patterns, core-vocabulary, and constant pronunciation coaching...

Unlike the big chains, these schools require correct pronunciation and have teachers who can tell the children how to correct their pronunciation. Also, unlike the big chains KK isn't taught at HFRBs. Instead phonics is taught the way we learned it back home: i.e. They learn about long and short vowels, basic phonics rules like "when two vowels go walking the first one does the talking", and so forth.

One other major difference between HFRBs and other schools is that at HFRBs, the kids have to do their homework. If they don't do it, they fail. Yes, kids actually can fail at these schools. Also, the teacher has to grade books and listen to tapes after class to ensure that the students are doing their work correctly. All of this work is unpaid.

**Posted:** Mon, 17 Oct 2005 16:54

Welcome to the Jungle.

**Joined:** Tue, 05 Nov 2002 19:59 **Posts:** 4272

Is there really any other way?

**Posted:** Mon, 17 Oct 2005 17:01

Durins Bane wrote:

Is there really any other way?

Good question.

**Joined:** Tue, 05 Nov 2002 19:59 **Posts:** 4272

jdsmith wrote:

Durins Bane wrote:

Is there really any other way?

Good question.

It wasn't really a question. It was more of a statement saying, "There is no other way".

**Posted:** Mon, 17 Oct 2005 18:51

I think this easily applies to any language school where learning is taken seriously.

That homework isn't merely what my 8th grade grammar teacher so succinctly called "shut up and color work"...aka busy work, but a way to see how students apply and practice the skills on their own. Given only when it's necessary, but absolutely necessary when it's given.

**Posted:** Mon, 17 Oct 2005 23:19

Durins Bane wrote:

jdsmith wrote:

Durins Bane wrote:

Is there really any other way?

Good question.

It wasn't really a question. It was more of a statement saying, "There is no other way".

Well, there is the chabuduo way....Sells pretty well it seems. I'd be curious to know if the right way sells better than the standard usual way the market is familiar with? :eh:

**Posted:** Mon, 17 Oct 2005 23:29

I found the most important part of his post, for me at any rate, was finding another foreigner willing to stay put for 2-3 years. Said teacher being able to communicate in Chinese is also a big big plus.

It is NOT easier to get hooked int the easy come easy go teachers. It's stressful to get stuck without teachers, and more stressful to explain to the parents why Jimmy has yet another new teacher.

We've been fortunate to NOT have these problems to any great extent, yet we still are tentative and very VERY picky about who we choose to hire.

**Posted:** Mon, 17 Oct 2005 23:52

concur with what's been said here! this way sells itself by word of mouth but it's very dependent on having the right teacher. it's not for everybody so you lose a fair amount of potential customers off the bat but those you do get will be very loyal, and in the end there will be enough of them if you are doing things right.

Quote:

"Every time you see an 'r', you have to curl your tongue."

ummm, don't know about that one

some factual errors in the history there as well. but accurate in its gist.

**Posted:** Tue, 18 Oct 2005 2:58

Quote:

While training you can expect to put in a significant amount of time, and only make $65,000 to 70,000 per month.

Yeah, wonder how much time that is? Sounds like 24/7 to me. :raspberry:

Quote:

Once you have a full schedule you'll make $100,000 per month

Quote:

and once you're receiving the bonus you'll likely make over $150,000 per month

Well, I should hope so! 30 students! Good times. :wink:

Quote:

and once you're receiving the bonus you'll likely make over $150,000 per month

Yeah, right.

No thanks. I'd rather teach 2 to 9 kids per class, 29 hours/week with basically no prep time for 100,000/month, than teach 30 unhappy kids for the same money with a loud-mouthed, know-it-all, nitpicky foreigner on my back all the time. :roll:

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Hard-core Foreign Run Buxibans

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