Almost 10 years ago, I began my career as a language instructor, and I have worked in a couple of language academies in El Salvador. All academies try to provide a “different approach” when learning a new language, and sometimes that makes it difficult for students to choose one. Based on that, all the information I am sharing in this post is from my vivid experience.
Methodology: The Core Difference
One of the main differences among all the academies is the methodology for their classes. It is true that most of them have a different approach, and you can see that in their onsite and online classes. Some of them focus on repetition, and teachers have to learn a set of steps to follow in class.
I had to do that, and it was a good experience because it was my first job as a language instructor. The steps were to have a lot of energy during the class and engage students by making them repeat verbs, nouns, and adjectives. This process is good for basic levels because it allows students to lose the fear of speaking another language.
Most of the students are afraid of speaking because they think people will laugh at them because of their accent and pronunciation. To avoid this problem, teachers keep a dynamic class environment where students interact with each other.
This kind of methodology is found in the majority of academies; of course, each of them applies it in different ways, but in the end, the foundation is the same: making students repeat.
Curriculum: In-House vs. Off-the-Shelf
Another difference is the fact that some academies have a syllabus already created based on their own plan, and some others use a language coursebook designed for both adults and young students.
This key difference is what makes the classes different or very similar, because some academies use similar books, the topics are almost the same, and the classes end up being quite similar. However, what makes the difference is the methodology the teacher uses.
Some academies maintain constant training for their academic department; others just hand the book to the teacher and ask them to create their own lesson plans, use their own style, and create their own classes following the topics of the book.
It all depends on how the Academic Department is structured because some Academic Supervisors are people who have no clue how to manage a team or any innovative ideas.
The Student Experience: Why Academies Can Feel Similar
When it comes to the learning experience, it is very unique and at some point tends to be kind of similar. Let me explain. The classes feel similar in some academies because some teachers have worked for several academies, and they implement the strategies they have learned in their previous job into the new one.
You can notice this if you have been studying in different academies too. To be honest, the majority of academies hire people who have worked in a call center because they are the ones with more experience in an English environment; if you have teaching experience, that’s a plus.
This is advertised on their social media with phrases like: “Number 1 in Teaching Languages,” “Unique Methodology,” and “Expert Teachers,” among other things. If a student has been in different academies, they know that most of the time the classes are kind of similar, especially in the most famous academies that have the same goal: to teach Call Center English.
Learning Styles and Awkward Methods
Of course, there are different learning styles, and for some students, it’s awkward when they have to almost scream a single word several times just because the methodology of the academy requires the teacher to ask a student to repeat loudly. Other students feel that it is a good way to learn; it may vary.
Now, from my experience, I can tell you that most of the students feel that kind of methodology is a bit awkward because I have talked with some of them and they shared that they don’t like it, don’t feel like doing it, and prefer a different activity to learn.
There was even one student who said: “When everyone starts speaking to each other, it sounds like I’m in a market where you hear a bunch of people screaming.”
It is understandable; this kind of teaching methodology works mostly for extroverted students and in small groups where everyone can participate and they don’t have to scream to be heard. However, if the group has almost 20 students or more and the classroom is not that big, then it fails.
An Inside Look: The Impact of Class Size and Costs
I have worked as an academic coordinator/supervisor in one academy, and it was a good experience because I had the power to change everything, so I implemented a new methodology without making teachers lose their freedom to implement their own class style. The majority of the students were happy that they could participate in class, and teachers were not tired after a long shift.
This was effective in both ways; however, it could still be improved. Teaching a group of 10 students is totally different from teaching a group of 20 students because the first one has more opportunities for everyone, while in the second group it is more difficult for the teacher to keep track of each student. I had the chance to teach groups of 40 students and believe me, it was the worst experience ever.
You cannot control everything; you basically just have to go there and expect students to learn what you “teach.” This happens a lot in universities, but in a language academy, it is not efficient. This is done due to cost-related matters because a single group has to cover the salary of the teacher for that group and also the expenses of the tools used in the classroom.
Some academies have a lower rate, and this makes them create groups of 15 to 25 students paying a very low amount per month. This makes classes more difficult for teachers because they have to keep track of the progress of each student because the academy requires them to do so. Again, it is understandable, and I don’t disagree with it because I know each academy targets different audiences.
You can see the difference in the group size when it comes to how renowned the academy is and what its target audience is. As mentioned, I worked for the most “expensive” academy in the country, and the groups are around 8 to 10 students, tops.
I have also worked for academies where their rate is very low because they target people who cannot afford to pay $50 per month for classes, and the groups can get to be up to 25 students.
Final words
As someone who has worked in different language academies in El Salvador, I can say that the learning experience can vary depending on the academy you go to. Some are really different, and some others are very similar.
Basically, it all depends on the price range because if you pay more, of course, the learning experience will be better, even though some people may differ because they say that they paid a lot of money and didn’t learn. I have developed that topic of why people feel that the classes don’t work for them.
Learning languages in El Salvador may be similar in some cases, but it doesn’t matter because the majority of teachers are very dynamic and easygoing, which makes the human interaction a thousand times better.
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