Launching my school. The ways I may improve it.

[highfalutin]

Hello! I am in the process of establishing a private school in Russia, where, with the help of a dedicated team, we will focus on teaching English. At 22 years old and nearing the completion of my studies at a pedagogical university, I have spent considerable time reflecting on and exploring various approaches to language instruction. My aim has been to distill the most effective elements of these methodologies into a cohesive and practical strategy that we can apply in our teaching.

The school is designed for learners aged 16 and above, with a starting English proficiency of at least B1. I am genuinely seeking input and suggestions from this thoughtful and knowledgeable community. Your insights and perspectives would be immensely appreciated.

It often feels as though education is regarded as an immutable field, with little consideration given to alternative approaches or innovation. I have found inspiration in works such as Ivan Illich’s Deschooling Society, the lexical approach to language learning, and the DOGME framework. Rather than outlining my specific ideas at this stage, I wish to first hear your thoughts, which I hope to analyze and compare with my own plans to refine them further.

Additionally, I have explored Susanne Cook-Greuter’s research on ego development and drawn valuable lessons from Leo’s oeuvres. I try to remain deeply mindful of how much there is still to learn and how many perspectives could enrich this project.

Thank you for your time! It is an honor.

[Michael569]

I don't have any suggestion, sounds like you know what you're doing but i do wanna wish you all the best with this project! Sounds like something the country needs.

Hope it works well for you guys

Edited January 13 by Michael569

[Leo Gura]

I recommend you don't beat them with sticks.

Or maybe just a little.

[Candle]

@highfalutin Suggestions: 

1. Teach martial arts. 
2. Teach Yoga, meditation, etc. 
3. Teach entrepreneurship. 
4. Teach sexuality, male and female psychology. 
5. Teach how to behave in society and with others. 
6. Teach "presence". Invite Eckhart Tolle. 
7. Teach "aggression". Invite David Goggins. 
8. Introduce them to Leo Gura. And Actualized.org forum. 
9. Teach creativity and how to think. 
10. Teach basic psychology and neuroscience. 
11. Teach filmmaking and acting. 
12. Teach them how to deal with addictions and traps. 

Edited January 13 by Candle

[Davino]

@highfalutin Get experience teaching English individually. Build a solid group. Then rent an office and start doing lessons there. Marketing is important for the first months of the transition.

You can offer private lessons, group lessons, crush courses and preparation for exams (Cambridge, TOEFL, IELTS).

The rest comes from experience and optimization from season to season. The major customers inputs come in September and in new year.

[Jwayne]

On 1/12/2025 at 8:56 AM, highfalutin said:

Hello! I am in the process of establishing a private school in Russia, where, with the help of a dedicated team, we will focus on teaching English. At 22 years old and nearing the completion of my studies at a pedagogical university, I have spent considerable time reflecting on and exploring various approaches to language instruction. My aim has been to distill the most effective elements of these methodologies into a cohesive and practical strategy that we can apply in our teaching.

The school is designed for learners aged 16 and above, with a starting English proficiency of at least B1. I am genuinely seeking input and suggestions from this thoughtful and knowledgeable community. Your insights and perspectives would be immensely appreciated.

It often feels as though education is regarded as an immutable field, with little consideration given to alternative approaches or innovation. I have found inspiration in works such as Ivan Illich’s Deschooling Society, the lexical approach to language learning, and the DOGME framework. Rather than outlining my specific ideas at this stage, I wish to first hear your thoughts, which I hope to analyze and compare with my own plans to refine them further.

Additionally, I have explored Susanne Cook-Greuter’s research on ego development and drawn valuable lessons from Leo’s oeuvres. I try to remain deeply mindful of how much there is still to learn and how many perspectives could enrich this project.

Thank you for your time! It is an honor.

You remind me of me when I was 22 years old.

All of these theoretical ideas (Illich, Scott Thornbury, etc.) need to be tested against the fire of experience.

Many of the most important qualities are intangible and not written in the perfect lesson plan - like positivity, joy, patience, sense of humor and improvisation.

You might like to keep a notebook write down your ideas after each day or lesson, depending on how much time you have. If you are starting your own school, then collaboration with your colleagues is important for keeping a professional dialogue going about your shared experiences and how to improve things.

And lastly, don't be afraid of old school, traditional methodology, like listen and repeat. I am sure there was a time when you first learned English or another language. Listen and repeat is a fine and valid technique. Many aspiring teachers with big progressive dreams undervalue the need for students to make mistakes, feel free and to just speak the L2 (L3, etc.) whatsoever.

Overall you want to build up the students confidence. You are empowering them. So make it a happy moment. And respect them by doing the old school things, too. Their brains need repetition and practice.

Edited Monday at 05:02 PM by Jwayne

[Applegarden8]

On 1/12/2025 at 4:56 PM, highfalutin said:

Hello! I am in the process of establishing a private school in Russia, where, with the help of a dedicated team, we will focus on teaching English. At 22 years old and nearing the completion of my studies at a pedagogical university, I have spent considerable time reflecting on and exploring various approaches to language instruction. My aim has been to distill the most effective elements of these methodologies into a cohesive and practical strategy that we can apply in our teaching.

The school is designed for learners aged 16 and above, with a starting English proficiency of at least B1. I am genuinely seeking input and suggestions from this thoughtful and knowledgeable community. Your insights and perspectives would be immensely appreciated.

It often feels as though education is regarded as an immutable field, with little consideration given to alternative approaches or innovation. I have found inspiration in works such as Ivan Illich’s Deschooling Society, the lexical approach to language learning, and the DOGME framework. Rather than outlining my specific ideas at this stage, I wish to first hear your thoughts, which I hope to analyze and compare with my own plans to refine them further.

Additionally, I have explored Susanne Cook-Greuter’s research on ego development and drawn valuable lessons from Leo’s oeuvres. I try to remain deeply mindful of how much there is still to learn and how many perspectives could enrich this project.

Thank you for your time! It is an honor.

Just want to genuinely test your idea in the current political landscape in Russia. (applicable to Tier 2 thinking things and not english)

Will you not get penalized, detained for teaching such things as they are not the current narrative and it's actually diametrically opposite to that.

Will you have an audience for that? Who would be willing to pay, knowing that Russians will not be able to afford it in mass?

Will you not have to teach propaganda (whatever the government requires) also?

Will it be safe for you, now and in the long term as the government embraces the idea of "drop everything western" then why would they need English? I know they are two faced etc. and maybe they need it regardless of what they say.

Edited Monday at 05:55 PM by Applegarden8