Foreign Language Education Industry 外語文教事業心得

96/10/18

I have been working in foreign language education industry for a long time, and I am pretty interested in this topic. I think I benefit a lot from those two guest speakers as well as Professor Liang’s well-organized concepts about the frame of the industry, business and management.

The first guest speaker introduced himself in a very humorous way which impressed me a lot. 一成can be comprehended as “一事無成 accomplishing nothing” or “一試就成 succeeding at the first shot”.   From my perspective, accomplishing nothing” or “succeeding at the first shot” depends on the attitude one holds. He shared with us his experience of running a “Whole Language” cram school which respects children’s learning process, allows children to make mistakes and learn from them, focuses on hand-on activities, encourages children to learn actively and develops children’s habits of cooperating in a group, creates a happy learning environment (learning corners, multimedia, computers, English storybooks , situational settings) to let children explore the wonderful world by experiencing(filed trips on the fruit farms, community service programs). I think there is also a wonderful concept which is viewed a language as a tool for communication instead of a school subject. A language is for used, not for learned. The slogan of the cram school which indicates the smart parents will make a right decision to send their children to enjoy the learning in the right place with right teachers.

The speaker also pointed out that a successful management lies on the team work. Besides, a good teacher should have the professional knowledge, be familiar with the teaching materials, be flexible to adjust the teaching strategies, be patient and be good at encouraging and motivating children to learn actively. Moreover, the positive attitude is a must.

The process of the management seems to be very simple and easy when we focus on the four traditional but critical steps—Plan, Do, Check, Action. If a cram school wants to survive in this competitive foreign language education industry and achieve the objectives, the cram school has to ensure the current state and future vision by using PDCA and SWOT to construct the continuous improvement structure. I think it is better to be flexible and have moving alternatives all the time in order to maintain the strength and improve the weakness to achieve the attainable goals.  

Advantage (positive points)	Disadvantage(to be improved)
Action plan (Action Plan)
Strength	Opportunities
Weakness	Treats

Although Mr. Lin lost more than 1 million dollars from this unique management experience, he’s never felt regretful. On the contrary, he’s learned an unforgettable management experience. He suggested us take every decision bravely, value and cherish every chance to experience something different as well as something unique in order to come out with creative ideas to live up every single day to its fullest.

Thanks Professor Liang’s for the brilliant formula which well describes the management and administration intelligence. Knowledge + practice + feedback =Skill( Wisdom) And the whole concept of the management, industry, business and other awesome overviews.

The second guest speaker who is the founder of the Boston Kindergarten touched me in a very sentimental way by using poetry like sentences, such as “A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, touches a heart, and shapes the future.” Besides, the meaning of the Boston (Boston Kindergarten Best of Service, Top of Nanny) interests me as well.

Moreover, she shared a great idea of linking one and another’s dreams by sharing picture books. I like the story of the grandma who has tried her best to make the world become more beautiful by planting lots of flowers. In the meanwhile, she tries to instill this nice concept into the next generation which is about doing something to beautify the world. I think being a teacher has the same mission ---share the better world with those young minds and guide them to pay forward to next generation.

I used to read a book “Lessons from the Sandbox: Using the 13 Gifts of Childhood to Rediscover the Keys to Business Success” written by Dr. Alan Gregerman. In the book, he shares the readers “The 13 Gifts of Childhood” which impress me a lot.

1.    The gift of PLAY

2.    The gift of ENTHUSIASM & ENERGY

3.    The gift of FOCUS

4.    The gift of URGENCY

5.    The gift of LEADERSHIP

6.    The gift of WONDER

7.    The gift of CURIOSITY

8.    The gift of "WHAT?" & "WHY?"

9.    The gift of TRYING

10.  The gift of CREATIVITY

11.  The gift of PARTICIPATION

12.  The gift of COZY PLACES

13.  The gift of ACCOMPLISHMENT

All in all, no matter which industry a person works in, the positive attitude always makes a person unique and welcome. That is because the attitude is not determined by circumstances, but by how a person responds to the circumstances.

I want to sum up with a small but creative truth to make life 100%. I believe the correct attitude will determine the brighter and better future.

A SMALL TRUTH TO MAKE LIFE 100%

Hard Work

H+A+R+D+W+O+R+K

8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 = 98%

Knowledge

K+N+O+W+L+E+D+G+E

11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%

Love

L+O+V+E

12+15+22+5 = 54%

Luck

L+U+C+K

12+21+3+11 = 47%

( don't most of us think this is the most important ??? )

Then what makes 100% ?

Is it Money ? ... NO ! ! !

M+O+N+E+Y

13+15+14+5+25 = 72%

Leadership ? ... NO ! ! !

L+E+A+D+E+R+S+H+I+P

12+5+1+4+5+18+19+9+16 = 89%

ATTITUDE

A+T+T+I+T+U+D+E 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100%

It is OUR ATTITUDE towards Life and Work that makes OUR Life 100% ! ! !

Change Your Attitude …And You Change Your Life ! ! !