I only thought that if I teach well, that would be enough, but now I realize that I am an educator. Once you become a director, this is an educational space, but since it involves educational business operators, you cannot ignore the business aspect. Even amidst that, if you only think of yourself as an educator, it definitely won't work out. When I first heard someone say this, I wondered why they were telling me that since all I needed to do was teach the kids well. Of course, I went through a similar sequence of thoughts. However, I found out that it’s not just about that. Without a business mindset, you will eventually fall behind and disappear. I can say this with certainty.

Hello, nice to meet you. You’ve been waiting for the alley academy, right? I’m here with the director. So, what are the essential questions to ask when interviewing instructors? First of all, in class...

First of all, the decision on whether to be eliminated is made. When you look at the candidates during the trial class, you can see if they have teaching experience or potential for development. If not, their teaching skills might be somewhat lacking, but I tend to engage in a lot of personal conversations. During the interview, I usually ask what kinds of questions. These seem to be more individual questions, such as how they have lived their lives and whether they have any goals. I throw in these questions to see if the teacher genuinely wants to immerse themselves in this field or if they are just passing through. Of course, it's impossible to know someone's true intentions; they might seem committed but could change their minds later. Still, I feel like this helps to filter the candidates further. It's not just an interview; I aim to have a sincere conversation to understand their personality and other aspects. I mentioned that I select teachers who can stay for a longer period.

If that's the case, among the instructors, there are truly amazing people, and I feel so proud to call them my own. I want to brag about them. Are there any characteristics of instructors who excel? If there's ever an opportunity, I would love to showcase them. Truly, every teacher treats their job as their own. There’s a teacher responsible for first-year middle school students, and seeing how they take responsibility in their work, I think those teachers are really exceptional. I believe that skill is fundamental. I don’t know who the director is, but I am really envious. I think instilling that mindset is the hardest part. 

Now, I’m also curious: if all the teachers conduct counseling, when do they schedule counseling sessions? Do they set aside time outside of class hours? Ah, since the onset of COVID, we decided not to have face-to-face counseling anymore. Yes, we don't do that, but unfortunately, if parents come without an appointment, we can accommodate them for face-to-face meetings if possible.

I can assist you for a short time, but first, let's schedule a level test and have the students come in. After that, we can proceed with phone consultations. For most middle and high school students, I think this will be quite feasible. However, we also have elementary school students. From which grade can they start attending classes here? It's from the third grade, right? So, we will also conduct all consultations over the phone. This is a new system as well. I realize that for the upper grades, we will need to have phone consultations. Occasionally, upper-grade students do have phone consultations, but I find that about 90% of the admissions consultations happen over the phone. This is more efficient in terms of time and energy. I think it would be beneficial for the directors to utilize this approach. There might be some limitations for the elementary level, but for middle and high school, I believe this method would work well. For now, we are initially...

Where I started walking was regarding the level test I mentioned earlier. Until I came here, there was no cost for the level test; I would just make a reservation for you, and you could cancel on the day itself. This happened so frequently that I decided that once you come here, I would definitely charge a fee for the level test. This way, I can filter out those who are not serious about it. The fee of 20,000 won will only be processed when the payment is made, and we will proceed only then. Many people just call in, but this is my initial filter. At first, it might be difficult, but once it becomes a principle and a rule, people tend to accept it naturally. I think this method could work well for academies of a certain scale because there are so many cases of people just dropping by and wasting time and energy. Even if refunds are given upon registration, the level test fee should be somewhat fixed.

I think it's a good approach. One person has the ability and sense, but they only do the bare minimum, just what is required. Then there's another person who is very passionate and works hard, but lacks a bit of sense. So, if they were the director, the kids might not like them very much. Which type of teacher would you prefer to work with? It's really tough, isn't it? It’s genuinely difficult. For me, I usually lean towards the second type, but from the perspective of running an academy, I think the first type is more suitable. This is because the kids need to like the teacher. When I first started at the academy and went for an interview, the director didn’t even look at my schedule. Oh really? They just hired you? While we were talking, they said to try being a teacher for three months. After all, the students will evaluate the teacher anyway. I didn’t understand what that meant at the time, but after running the academy, I think that’s the truth. I like what I do.

It's not about being chosen, but rather that we are the ones who are chosen by the students. I think their perspective is the most accurate, so I believe option one is correct. Option one is indeed right. I think the first thing is that the children need to like it, and the second is that the director can tolerate a bit. However, when it starts to affect others, that's something I can't tolerate. One of the downsides of some teachers is that it can diminish the capabilities of other teachers. This often leads to a lot of contemplation. Also, I think this can vary somewhat depending on the teaching method. I believe that the skills of the instructor are necessary for lecture-based classes, while self-directed learning is somewhat different. In any case, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so it's hard to pinpoint exactly who is the best. And now, since the director is also functioning as an instructor, you mentioned that the director is running things, right? But usually...

The directors really have a great mindset as instructors. It’s truly a shame to change the educational space according to the mindset of a business person. For those with a business mindset, how can we grow such businesses and communities? Or could you at least give me some advice? When I first came to the academy, I was an instructor, and then suddenly became a director. As an instructor, I only thought that I had to take responsibility for the students in my class and teach them well. That’s the mindset of an educator. However, once you become a director, even though it’s an educational space, you are also an educational entrepreneur, so you cannot disregard the business aspect. Yet, if you only hold onto the idea that you are an educator, it definitely won't work. Initially, when I heard someone say this, I thought, “Why are they saying that to me? You just need to teach the kids well.” Of course, I also went through the same sequential process.

Because of that, I realized that if you don't have a business mindset, you will eventually fall behind and disappear. I can confidently say that. There are many directors who neglect these aspects, but I think it's only possible if we do everything well. Also, I wonder if you have been curious about the academy for quite some time now. Looking back on your experience, are there any aspects you regret not knowing? 

First, we had an episode where we were fined. Why? Because we were ignorant. We set up the academy, worked hard on the classes, and prepared to help students with consulting. However, it turns out you can't do consulting without registration. Consulting is separate.

At first, something came up in an unlimited state, and it was said that we made a mistake. So, I was wondering what exactly went wrong, and I didn't even know what we had done wrong. I think when the directors start, they are probably very motivated and have a lot they want to do. However, the first thing they must do is report to the education office and handle any necessary notifications. If you miss that, you end up in a situation like mine, where you're asked to explain yourself. They even want excuses from you. What kind of excuse can I give? I didn't know, and I didn't do it with bad intentions. I had nothing to say other than to apologize and promise not to do it again. Honestly, when I spoke about it, I felt that my ignorance was the biggest regret I have now. But after that, it became a valuable experience for me.

So, I think we were able to prevent major issues, and since we had never encountered problems with paperwork or anything like that, it's important for you, as the director, to thoroughly check the necessary documents like instructor registrations and non-essential business paperwork. These should definitely be reviewed regularly. Additionally, how can you maintain the interest of students who have been attending for a longer time? Lately, the dropout rate seems to be quite high, and it's becoming rare to see students who stay for a long time. Is there a method to keep students enrolled for the long term? In my opinion, the first priority should be the system in place at the academy. One of our greatest strengths, as I mentioned before, is the management of our KakaoTalk group chat.

I was shocked to find that the first teacher's message was on KakaoTalk. I think it could only lead to perfect management. I tried to implement that system, but it was difficult. Even now, I am consistently utilizing it well. Since I am also conducting classes, I am providing regular feedback, which has led to a high level of satisfaction. I teach high school students, and this is a period of significant change for them. There is a lot of pressure around them. Just attending classes does not necessarily make them my students; I always conduct one-on-one counseling sessions. I go into the counseling room once in a while, and I can see what the students are struggling with, even if they can't express it. From that point, when I reach out, the students also start to...

I wanted to say something to someone, but I couldn't because I had nothing to say. At that time, my friends would cry and share what was on their minds, and I would also share my thoughts. I’m not someone who has gone through an elite course; I haven't studied much and have played around a lot. But now that I’ve experienced life, I’ve found that living in a way that is more fun and happy is important. When I share this with my friends, they seem to appreciate it. It's not just about preventing something in the academy; it’s really about my friends’ futures. I think it’s essential to have in-depth counseling at least once. Usually, advice is given on how to study better, but the director would say that living happily is what matters. This is a completely different direction, and I feel that the children resonate more with this perspective.

But to talk like that, I have to prepare the class thoroughly. Because if there are no issues in the class, then I can make such statements. It's not right to say those things without properly conducting the class. As I mentioned earlier, I need to have a solid foundation first. What I can offer on the left side is to help the students with their psychological aspects. That's truly wonderful. So, the academic part is fundamental, but beyond that, I need to provide more. Right? And is there a scholarship or any system here? Yes, there is. I would like to give it, but when I was in Dong-sandong, we gave a lot. We provided 200,000 won from our tuition for top students in regular classes and first place in subjects like math and religion, along with cultural gift certificates. We are still providing those, and I think they will start being offered this year since our high school department is starting this year.

As we transitioned here, we have lost many friends, and I believe we started to establish ourselves in this area from 2023. So, starting this year, there will be more friends who receive scholarships. I heard recently that you registered for the special registration at Dongguk University, and it took quite a long time. What was the intention behind your registration, and what procedures did you go through?

As our academy continues to expand, many people in the vicinity are noticing us, including those in advertising. They advised me that since things seem to be going well, I should prioritize the registration process. When I asked why, they mentioned that if something goes wrong later, I might face penalties because of it. I found out that since I do not hold any patent rights, if someone registers this specially, it could mean that I am operating under that registration.

I heard it takes at least a year and at most over two years. So, just a week or two ago, after one year and nine months, it finally happened. Congratulations! If someone else uses it, then we can take legal action. The name is really good, in fact. Are you considering further business development in the future? I believe that for our long-standing teachers, if there’s no vision, there’s no reason to stay at the academy for a long time. I genuinely hope that the teachers succeed and that the name of the academy spreads across various regions, so that when you search for Dae-se Academy on Naver, it appears prominently. I think it won't take long; within ten years, the teachers will truly need a vision. No matter how...

Even if I am enjoying my work here, if there is no vision for the future, there will be no reason to work harder. I think the director has really prepared well for that aspect. The director asked me, What does the academy mean to you? It's like two halves coming together. Honestly, I spend much more time here than at home. For example, today, I will be here for more than half of the 24 hours. This is a place that cannot disappear; it’s essential. It feels like the director embodies that essence. I also saw the director last time, but I was curious about how well the director is managing things this time as well. I wanted to learn more about the director's relationships with the teachers, so today was truly a valuable time for me. I was able to reflect on myself, and I also learned a lot from the directors present here about who I am.

I think the principal could have thought about it again. I would like to ask for some encouraging words for our alley academy viewers as a final message. In 2023, my goal is to endure. I believe that if the principals do not give up and endure well in 2023, there will definitely be good results. Fighting! This year, just enduring is already a great achievement. We will support the alley academy together, invite good people, and convey good messages. Thank you.

사업가 마인드가 없는 학원은 도태되고 결국 사라집니다, 선생님 면접 방법과 좋은 선생님의 조건, 고등학생 상담법, 대세학원 2부 - 100% 무료 공부방, 학원 컨설팅 골목학원

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