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Try to connect with your students by showing interest in their work, learning experiences, private lives etc.
Show
group that
course will help them advance their careers. Staff should know that if their current employer doesn't let them apply their new skills, there are many other companies that will.
Be clear about what you are actually teaching—if you don't know, how will
trainees know?
Carry out a placement test so you know
level of
students (notice how this suggestion lies near
bottom of this list). Insist that
class members have similar English levels. This will make both your life and
students' lives much easier once
class starts.
Carry out a needs analysis so that you have a clear idea of what
company hopes to achieve. Be specific about
objectives of
course: "We want
group to just practice conversation" is too vague an objective, and is a complete waste of time. An objective such as: "We want to be able to describe
features of our products in correct English" is much better because it is specific, relevant to
job and achievable.
Appoint a class representative who can communicate directly with you in an open and frank way. Listen to feedback, and act on it—even if it may seem ridiculous to you.
Make sure you negotiate a clear cancellation policy. If you don't establish this at
start,
company will be cancelling on you whenever they feel like it.
We hope you found these useful, and don't forget that
success of a class is dependent on active involvement from you,
trainees and management.

Gordon Graham is a site developer at Orxil.com, an online classified ads site for businesses and trainers in Asia. Gordon has spent 10 years training in the Middle East, Asia and Australia. He has post graduate qualifications in TESOL and is currently completing an MSc in International Marketing at Strathclyde University, Glasgow, United Kingdom.