Idea to set up French tuition business - what do you think?

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I'm currently working as a tutor, and I've been doing it for quite a few years now - both on my own as a private tutor and with agencies.

I've had an idea for a couple of months now about setting up a French tuition business online. I have a Cambridge degree in French, and have spent a lot of time in France. Also write a blog all about France and French-speaking countries.

I've seen over the last few years especially that much fewer students at school are continuing with languages at GCSE and A Level - French, in particular.

I really love tutoring French, and would really love to set up a French tuition business where I could cater for anyone (from fairly young children to adult learners) and offer tailored courses depending on people's needs.

The aim would be to help people to really enjoy learning and using French, and to helpful them not feel 'scared' of it or daunted by it anymore - a bit like what businesses like Kumon maths and Khan Academy do for maths.

I'd plan to offer tuition for children aged about 5 or so right up to GCSE and A Level French, as well as assisting students with applying for Languages university courses and whilst they're at university. I'd also like to offer bespoke learning courses tailored to individuals' needs (e.g. French food course), as well as put resources on the website such as worksheets, videos, tutorials and PowerPoint presentations that could be bought and downloaded.

What do you all think? Would be really interested to hear your thoughts - is it a silly idea or potentially a good idea? (please be nice! )

Sorry about the typos!

I love it. I have been looking for something similar in my area. My I suggest teaming up with experts in other languages too. Do look out for other companies and see whether what you’re offering has been done already.

Aw thanks Buck3t :) that's a really good idea as well about seeing if anyone's offering anything similar - I'll definitely have a look out.

Hopefully the fact that it would be an online business (a website where I would offer face-to-face sessions as well as Skype and other online sessions) would also make it accessible for people living rurally or abroad who may not otherwise be able to access similar tuition that easily.

Do it! Sounds like a fab plan.

I have a friend who did this but a bit more too, I'll pm you when I get a bit more time.
Nothing grand but not fair to post on here without her permission.

There's lots of competition out there on the web already like italki.

Don't underestimate how hard it will be to get potential students to your site.

The cost of creating and marketing the website could be more than you could hope to earn as a tutor.

Why not just advertise lessons via Skype?

Thanks so much everyone for your ideas and input :)

pombal that's a really good point about competition from sites like Italki.

I think that because the site I'm hoping to make would focus on one thing only (French) at lots of different levels and in lots of different ways, it wouldn't face direct competition from companies like Italki (for instance).

I also think that, because my site would offer a personalised service that's completely tailored to the needs and objectives of each client, there's not much out there (actually nothing that I've found so far, but please correct me if I'm wrong) that directly competes with this service.

For example, mentoring students with their personal statements and university applications for French is quite different to what other tuition agencies offer, especially because, on the whole, not that many students actually go on to study French at university.

I do completely realise though that I need to research which companies would be my closest competitors and then find out how I can improve on what they already offer.

I have an English teaching business here in Madrid, where I live, although I teach adults Business English. I offer face-to-face and online courses. My website just displays my services, testimonials, etc. but some of my friends offer online content. Here are a few things to think about:

1. People are unlikely to pay for online courses and material when there is so much out there for free. If you want to succeed at getting people to buy it, you'll have to offer a LOT of valuable, free online content to suck them in before they'll purchase anything. They need to see how indispensible you are to their learning before investing.

1. What you offer in terms of tailored courses sounds great but just bear in mind that getting traffic to your website is much harder than you might think. You are likely to appear on page 10 on Google (if you're lucky) so look into ways to drive traffic to your site like commenting on forums (i.e offering advice and answering questions), getting interviewed by online newspapers, etc - just any way to boost your online presence.

1. Online classes are getting more and more popular but just bear in mind that what works with an adult might not work with a child. Explaining things to children without being able to point things out, underline concepts and use props could be tricky and it might be harder to keep their attention.

1. Are you planning on creating your own class platform? If not and you find Skype limited in its functionality, try WebEx which is free and has a white board, screen share, and you can upload files really easily. I find it much more professional than Skype.

1. Most of your customers will probably come from word of mouth from existing students (and parents). If you're good, you'll soon build up a client base in your area.

Good luck!

As an adult learner, for me convenience is key. I’m quite happy to learn French via Duo Lingo or Rosetta (where you can now practice conversation too) and then read newspapers/watch tv shows etc. Suggest you focus only on students studying for specific exams.

For example, mentoring students with their personal statements and university applications for French is quite different to what other tuition agencies offer, especially because, on the whole, not that many students actually go on to study French at university

Why do you think you would be better at this than schools/6th forms/colleges?

I get inundated every year from about February onwards with exam tutoring requests. Many parents say they specifically choose me over others locally because I am a qualified teacher with in- school experience. At the very least you need to market success in exams if you consider that to be a major part of what you are doing.

You may well be able to make a living but do look around the internet at those who are already doing it. They are not in short supply.

How about after school (in school) classes?

If you're keen to start kids young - most state primarys don't have dedicated language teachers and kids don't start until yr7.

Or after school secondary age - lots of conversation classes.

Help for non-speaking parents, to help their kids.

All of my dc have been tutored via Skype in MFL, mostly because I want a native speaker, but also because the tutor tailors the lesson to the child (one of mine has SEN) and obviously online in cheaper than face to face (and more convenient for me) I found our tutors via friends, they are SAHM's who want a bit of 'pocket money' so not a business as such and this is reflected in their prices. The last one charged £10 per hour and she had no free slots as she was excellent and very affordable. The ones charging £20+ are not in such demand IME. I am a ESL teacher and know that it is hard to make good money online; it is a race to the bottom in terms of money.

Just to add our latest french tutor offers whatever the parents want. She starts at a very basic level for young children, provides work sheets etc and has knowledge of the GSCE/A level content so focuses on specific learning areas. She also told me that one Mum she knows wants to read story books to her baby in French so she is teaching her the correct pronunciation.