Page 29 - ELG2307 Jul Issue 485

RESOURCES

Alongside your work, you teach one- I started English Toolbox because I knew willingness on the creator’s part to risk funds
Q to-one online, which must mean you that hundreds of new teachers were being in order to, hopefully, get a good return on
need to attract potential students. What is it, recruited every year, and I knew that almost the investment.
specifically, you teach and who is your course none of them had any training beyond a I became a teacherpreneur because I was
catered for? CELTA certificate. I also knew they were lucky enough to be employed over the years
I started teaching online in 2009 probably spending countless hours after work by language training companies that paid
BC when I was living in Ireland and trying to create materials. So, I gave them a higher salary than most. Nonetheless,
started working with a Hong Kong company, a resource for worksheets they could print, that salary was only about 20% of what
which I still work with today, that matches or computer exercises they could e-mail, they were collecting from the clients for my
teachers with students. My courses are very at a low cost. services. Comparatively, when I worked for
skills-oriented, and I cater to businesspeople other companies as a freelance trainer, the
who have to give presentations, or have to It is inspiring to see how you have portion I received of the client’s payment
write and speak with customers and colleagues Q grown as a “teacherpreneur.” How was around 32%; however, I now had to pay
in English. I also work on pronunciation and would a potential teacherpreneur take those for insurance and taxes, and I didn’t get paid
intonation, and grammar if they are having first steps to building a career? for days off for sickness, national holidays
specific problems in those areas. I think you need to do a professional or vacation.
I may not teach the same students for BC self-inventory to see what you This same model is being replicated
extended periods of time, but they leave know well enough to teach, and then think now in the online teaching realm, where
reviews that say, “Brad really helped me with about reaching customers – who could I see ads searching for teachers who will
x,” which attracts new students. Nearly all be other teachers, students, or both – in be paid $9-$12 per hour with no benefits
of my private students come from referrals non-traditional ways. You see this with whatsoever! Therefore, I saw becoming
and word-of-mouth. When I was teaching the hundreds of EFL teaching videos on an independent, initiative-taking English
in companies, I would often be asked to also YouTube: some of those trainers have teacher as the only way to stop being
begin training a different department from the amassed huge numbers of followers, and exploited by the profession. Teachers of all
one I started training; sometimes I’ve taught generate income both from YouTube and subjects are shamefully undervalued, and
employees of the same company who work in from selling packages of pre-recorded receive appalling and insulting remuneration
different locations, either entirely online or lessons. for what they contribute to improving their
while teaching their co-workers face-to-face Due to the inequities of the EFL profession, students’ lives.
while they join us online from a different city. most teachers don’t realize how good they
are and how valuable their knowledge and
You used to run an online business skills are. There are many ways to monetize Brad Carty has been
Q called “English Toolbox.” Can you these skills, but it requires a determination teaching Business English
tell us more about that? to step outside the lines. That means lots for over 20 years at major
I started English Toolbox in 2007 of extra work during leisure hours, and corporations in South
BC to sell the EFL training materials then a commitment to marketing the Korea, law firms within
I had developed over the previous years for results forever! There are lots of marketing Germany, at the University
teachers. It had a database that teachers channels today, such as social media, but of Pittsburgh and also online.
could use to select speaking level, general they need to be understood and mastered Brad has a master’s degree in teaching English
or business English, grammar topics, and to break through the clutter. There are as a Second Language, and writes, narrates,
soft skills like presentations and meetings also advertising opportunities with Google, and produces EFL books.
language. Twitter, Facebook, etc., but those require a
editorial@elgazette.com 29