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Read full storyEntrepreneurial ESL Teacher Story No. 3
Welcome to the third instalment of our Entrepreneurial ESL Teacher Story series. This is the place where we like to highlight ESL teachers that are using Off2Class to build their own Entrepreneurial ESL Teacher success stories.
This week we’ll be hearing from entrepreneurial ESL teacher, Tanya Hoover and her company: Midwest Language Services LLC. This post follows on from our last instalment where we heard from Przemysław Jankowski. I’m especially impressed by Tanya’s ability to build a brand, take on employees and go after a lucrative niche – in-house corporate training. Take it away Tanya!
‘I decided to become a teacher to make a positive difference in the lives of as many people as possible in the shortest amount of time possible. My first teaching job was in Guam. I had a two-year contract to teach elementary school in the Guam Public School System. Some of my students were from other islands in the Pacific and did not speak English as their first language.
Later, after my two-year contract in Guam was over, I returned to the United States mainland and eventually started teaching at a parochial school in an urban setting. A few years later, I moved to Lexington, Kentucky. I had a part-time job teaching ESL to adults who worked for Toyota in Georgetown, Kentucky and its affiliated companies. It was then that I realized that I particularly enjoyed teaching ESL to adults, and I decided that I wanted to continue doing so after I returned to Indiana three years later. I was also keen on working as an entrepreneurial ESL teacher.
When I returned to Indiana I started tutoring a couple of adult students and as word-of-mouth spread, and I marketed my skills, I was able to secure enough hours per week to make a living. Now, I have another employee I work with and a few contractors. My company, Midwest Language Services LLC specializes in working with the international business community on short-term assignments at companies in Indiana. We provide corporate classes, private lessons, and online lessons, too. In addition, we provide translating and interpreting services for corporate, medical, and legal, and not-for-profit clients.
My team and I started using Off2Class for several months ago. I particularly like the Placement Test, and my students really like doing homework and having me give them feedback online. I feel like my lessons are more targeted toward their specific language needs than ever before. I also enjoy using Off2Class during online lessons through screen-sharing on Skype. I would recommend Off2Class to busy teachers who want to enhance their teaching by incorporating technology. It is easy to use and offers such a wide-range of lessons and the variety continues to grow all the time. The developers are very open to receiving feedback on how to improve their product. I’m so glad that I found Off2Class!
Our goals for 2016 include helping more individuals and corporate clients with their intercultural communication
using our language services.
Thanks Tanya! It’s extremely motivating for me (and I’m sure for other ESL teachers) to hear from a successful entrepreneurial ESL teacher. Please leave some encouraging comments for Tanya and the Midwest Language Services LLC team!
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9 Comments
Katie says:
April 4, 2016 at 11:13 pm
Cool, great job Tanya! I love hearing success stories, thanks for sharing 🙂
Tanya says:
April 5, 2016 at 10:50 pm
Thanks, Katie!
Cleona Patterson says:
April 5, 2016 at 7:43 am
Tanya, thank you for sharing your story. E-fluentenglish, which is based in Spain, offers ESL services to individual and corporate learners throughout Europe. I am currently trying out off2class, so your recommendation has been noted. All the best!
Tanya says:
April 5, 2016 at 10:53 pm
Cleona,
The business English lessons have been a good supplement to other material I have been using. Do you teach mostly group lessons or private lessons? I would be interested contacting you to discuss more.
Thank you!
Tanya
Cleona Patterson says:
April 6, 2016 at 8:12 am
We cater for adult learners – IELTS Preparation, EAP and Business English, individuals mainly but some groups too. We also offer support and guidance for 3 video pack courses as per website.
María del Carmen says:
April 10, 2016 at 7:59 pm
Tanya,
you encorage others to go on despite the dfficulties. The sentence when you say that you had decided to become a teacher to change other people lives in the shortest time” is a brief of what you really wanted and what you did.
Please don´t stop. You are so perseverant. and positive.
what you did is really motivating. and an example for those who doubt by the time of taking risks.
Thank you for sharing that moment of your life, It help me to much.!
Tanya says:
April 13, 2016 at 9:55 pm
Dear María,
Thank you so much for sharing such kind words. You made my day! I’m glad I could help.
Best wishes,
Tanya
Esli Ligays says:
April 14, 2016 at 5:37 am
Tanya, you and your team offer a lot of professional services. I like it! Keep it up!
Tanya Hoover says:
April 16, 2016 at 10:52 am
Thank you, Esli!