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.