Sitting in a photo booth the other day, two things struck me:
1. It’s so nice not to have to kick stray dogs out before I can have my photo taken like I had to when I lived in Athens
2. A language version of this could definitely work
I am (as I said during an unsurprisingly unsuccessful job interview) the least entrepreneurial person alive, so I decided to blog about English booths rather than make them happen myself. Here is the idea:
It basically looks like a photo booth but is somewhat soundproofed so maybe more like one of those self-cleaning public toilets instead. People throw their money into the slot depending on the service they choose, being:
– Ten minute one point lessons, e.g. a pronunciation lesson that compares their mouth shape and recording of their voice to the original or practice understanding one particular accent
– Queries, e.g. grammar questions, answered
– Translation
– Feedback on written work, e.g. CV correction or comments on an IELTS essay
– Diagnostic testing to tell them what to work on with personal self-study tips
– Practice of speaking they must do soon, e.g. IELTS speaking practice, job interview practice, telephoning practice, or shopping roleplays just before they step into a shop on Oxford Street
As in the last example, I think London might actually be a good place to start them as people could practise and then use the language straight after.
Here are some of my other random TEFL ideas that you are totally free to steal:
The Association of CELTA qualified teachers
The Advanced Teaching Certificate
As always, you don’t let us down – thank you Alex for that bright mind of yours!