Category Archives: a look back

Okamoto School Interim Report (6th year of operation)

August 22, 2010 – 5:33 am

This is an interim report on the Smith’s Okamoto school. I took over the Smith’s School of English in Okamoto in July 2006.  It had been in operation since September 2004  (6 years total so far) and it had only a tiny 15 active students at the time I took over.   This month [...]

By Al Bartle | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, SSE Okamoto Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, my passion: language, students keep coming, teaching: why i do it | Tagged , , | Comments (3)

At Smith’s “TEAM” Really Does Happen!

July 3, 2010 – 5:06 pm

This week, which was quite busy with a few trials, walk-in inquiries and the usual full load of lessons, I got a special surprise.  When I called in to ask about a student’s lesson, I was informed that a student who had taken a trial at Smith’s School of English -Fukushima (スミス英会話福島校）had decided to join [...]

By Al Bartle | Also posted in English School Articles, Fair to teachers, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, New start up or franchise?, SSE Okamoto Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot, my high level students, my passion: language, rewarding job change, students keep coming, teaching: why i do it | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (1)

Is Good English Communication Skill Getting More or Less Important for Japanese?

June 17, 2010 – 10:53 pm

Really, the answer to this question is quite obvious and the fact that students continue to sign up and make great strides is proof of it. The ability to communicate well in English will most certainly continue to grow in importance year by year and I think this trend is already accelerating with the current [...]

By Al Bartle | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Okamoto Corner, a reward in itself, my passion: language, students keep coming, teaching: why i do it | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

Time for a nice break!

June 4, 2010 – 8:53 pm

Last week, John of the Kawanishi School and I went to Ashiya to find a coffee shop and found a nice Italian style shop with outside seating.  With the nice weather these days and nice artistic cafe late (this one had the patter of a leaf in the froth), we could really enjoy a nice [...]

By Al Bartle | Also posted in English School Articles, Fair to teachers, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Okamoto Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, my high level students, my passion: language, rewarding job change, students keep coming, teaching: why i do it | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)

The Greatest Reward of All – 1 Year On

February 28, 2010 – 10:44 pm

I have been the franchisee and teacher of Smith’s School of English, Kawanishi スミス英会話川西校 for one year today!!!!!!!!
I have always loved languages, especially English, so it is really rewarding being able to earn my living teaching my favourite language at my own English conversation school. I always enjoy my lessons with my very special students, especially [...]

By John C | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Free Advice English Schools, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot, mine doesn't follow rules, my high level students, my passion: language, rewarding job change, teaching: why i do it | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (2)

TOEIC+ Listening Practice Videos

February 14, 2010 – 5:15 pm

I have been reading the posts here and I am so impressed with so many of them. We really have a great team at Smith’s School of English.
Recently John Coleman (See his post on the movie “Invictus“) and I are collaborating on some TOEIC listening practice videos for the Smithweb site. We have [...]

By Al Bartle | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, New start up or franchise?, SSE Kawanishi Corner, SSE Okamoto Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot, my passion: language, students keep coming, teaching: why i do it | Tagged , , , , , | Comments (1)

INVICTUS – A Journey to my Birthplace

February 12, 2010 – 10:15 pm

Recently, one of my students at my English conversation school 英会話, Smith’s School of English, Kawanishi スミス英会話川西校, mentioned to me that the movie Invictus had been released in Japan, and that she was keen to see it. She told me about this because I was born and brought up in South Africa, and Invictus is the [...]

By John C | Also posted in English Lesson Plans, English School Articles, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, enjoyed this a lot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments (2)

スミス英会話川西校 Lymington – My Old Home Town

February 2, 2010 – 6:33 pm

My wife, めぐみ, and I were lucky enough to spend our last 12 years in England, before moving to Japan, in the delightful small town of Lymington. I can think of few more fortunate towns to live in; with its beautiful coast to the south, giving views across the Solent to the Isle of Wight, and the [...]

By John C | Also posted in English Lesson Plans, English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, SSE Kawanishi Corner, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot, my high level students, my passion: language | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)

Power of the Franchise Revealed!

January 7, 2010 – 8:06 pm

This week I had two students start who transferred from other Smith’s School (Otsu and Kotoen). This really brought home the meaning and the power of the franchise to me and it is something anyone thinking about starting an English school in Japan should consider carefully.
If I were out there on my own, I [...]

By Al Bartle | Also posted in English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Investor or school owner?, Living in Japan, New start up or franchise?, SSE Okamoto Corner, Seek to understand, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot, my passion: language, students keep coming, teaching: why i do it | Tagged , , , , | Comments (1)

(スミス英会話) A Foreigner in Japan – with a camera

October 1, 2009 – 11:49 pm

I have had a great love for photography ever since the first time I saw an image appear on a piece of photographic paper (as if by magic), in a friend’s darkroom. For several years I produced monochrome photographs in my home darkroom, and had some success, exhibiting and winning awards in several countries. That [...]

By John C | Also posted in Choosing a location, English School Articles, Franchise Owners' Speak, Living in Japan, SSE Kawanishi Corner, a reward in itself, english in japan, enjoyed this a lot | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (3)

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