Your Agora Blog | Retention

Dec 7, 2018 10:00:00 AM

How to Avoid Principal Burnout

By Elizaveta Shkurina

Burnout has become an epidemic among educators of all school levels. A school leader’s professional world consists of overwhelming responsibilities, information perplexities, and emotional anxiety. It’s no wonder that the issue of burnout has long been cited as the reason so many educators leave the profession. How can we combat the feelings of exhaustion, despair and a sense of helplessness that result in such high turnover rates in our schools?

Oct 22, 2018 10:15:00 AM

1 Billion Strong and Counting: Massive ESL Market Growth

By MK Argo

The education industry has always been continually evolving to meet the needs of the students, society, and overall global culture. Technology and economics have always been two of the driving forces behind changes in educational standards.

Oct 2, 2018 10:00:00 AM

Training New Teachers on ESL Best Practices - Part Two

By Bridget Manley

Training educators with little or no ESL experience can be a daunting process. But, it doesn’t have to be if you have a good roadmap. In the second part of this series, we continue our journey through a prospective ESL teacher training course.

Oct 1, 2018 10:00:00 AM

ESL Teacher Training Fundamentals - Part One

By Bridget Manley

In a perfect world, you could easily fill your staff roster with fully trained ESL teachers. But few things are perfect when you’re launching your own ESL school, or in school management in general. You may need to recruit teachers who have little or no training teaching English as a foreign language. As research has shown, ESL teachers need specialized training to do their jobs effectively. Simply practicing “good teaching” isn’t enough.

Sep 26, 2018 10:00:00 AM

How to Manage a Language School: Avoid Making These Detrimental Mistakes

By Elizaveta Shkurina

Mistake #1 Policy is Always the Answer

Sep 24, 2018 7:02:00 PM

How to Evaluate Teaching Effectiveness Like a Pro

By Bridget Manley

Ineffective teachers come with a hefty price tag. Research suggests that spending a single year with an egregiously underperforming teacher can cost a student as much as $1.4 million in lost lifetime earnings. They can also cause even the best-run ESL schools to lose valuable clients and credibility. A well-developed teacher evaluation plan, then, is essential for protecting both your students and your business.

Sep 16, 2018 7:39:39 PM

Guide to Understanding School Finances

By Elizaveta Shkurina

Starting, running and improving an ESL school cannot take place without proper financial and operations management. Clear policies and procedures in the areas of finance, operations and risk are critical for a financially-sustainable school. By consistently implementing these policies and procedures, schools ensure their ability to serve current and future generations of students.

Aug 27, 2018 6:51:00 PM

5 Things to Consider Before Starting an ESL School

By Elizaveta Shkurina

One road you can take as a seasoned ESL instructor (or even just an enthusiast!) is to open a language school. The rewards are immense if you are successful. But, what if you are not? How do you even open an ESL school? Are language schools profitable? The questions don’t end there. In fact, you will have many more along this journey.

Jul 25, 2018 8:00:00 AM

5 Common Classroom Challenges You Should Never Ignore

By Bridget Manley

The greatest threats to your ESL school's viability may be harder to spot than you think. That's because they're hiding in plain sight. Swelling class sizes, unmet student needs, disengaged management and out-of-pocket teacher spending are signs that your school could be in trouble. Like rainwater on rock, they gradually erode your foundations.