Marketing First, Teaching Second: When the Business Grows but the Skills Don’t
In the last ten years or so, the whole English-teaching world has flipped on its head. It used to be all about language schools and printed handouts; now it’s Zoom calls, Instagram, and teachers trying to juggle marketing, sales, and lesson prep all at once.
Novice teachers jump in, realize they’re not just teachers anymore—they’re running a business—and quickly figure out: "I have to find my own students."
And then? Bam. Their Instagram blows up with posts shouting:
"Make R$20k a month!"
After scrolling past enough screenshots—usually from just a handful of teachers who actually pulled it off—they start thinking, "Maybe I should give this a shot too."
Honestly, it’s hard not to get swept up in those promises. Before they know it, they’re wondering:
"Maybe it’s time to work on my marketing... you know."
And look, learning how to sell yourself? Super important. No shame there.
But if you’re spending more time learning hashtags than honing your teaching craft—or even brushing up your own English—you might be laying the groundwork for some hard lessons down the road.
So, let’s talk about what can happen when marketing gets all the love and the teaching part starts gathering dust.
When the Students (and Your Sanity) Pay the Price
1- Students Stop Growing: You might be a total star online, but if what happens in the classroom feels stale, students hit a ceiling quick. They get stuck, they get discouraged—and eventually, they look for someone else.
2- Your Reputation Takes a Hit: It’s not just about what you post—it's about what students say when you’re not in the room. If their takeaway is "looks great online, disappointing in class," it’s a reputation that's hard (and costly) to fix.
3- You Start Second-Guessing Yourself: It’s a hard pill to swallow when students ask basic questions—and you freeze more often than you’d like. Especially when you know your sales numbers by heart, but struggle with the very language you're teaching.
4- Burnout Moves In: Trying to juggle marketing, DMs, content calendars—and, oh yeah, teaching—means you’re probably working 12-14 hour days. Without a solid teaching foundation, preparing for class feels like starting from scratch every single time. And burnout hits way harder when you’re running on both creativity and pure survival mode.
Lasting Success? It Starts with the Classroom, Not the Clicks
Marketing might get people through the door, but it’s solid teaching that keeps them coming back. The teachers who build real, lasting careers? They’re not just chasing funnels—they’re carving out time to grow both their business and their skills.
Before you invest in another marketing course, maybe pause and ask yourself:
Have I spent at least as much time this month strengthening my English or my knowledge of teaching?
Will my students feel the impact of this new course—IN CLASS, not just in how I advertise?
At the end of the day, reels and stories are nice. But the thing that keeps you booked and respected is still your teaching expertise—and the ability to deliver it with confidence and clarity.
Keep learning, keep growing—and thanks for letting me be part of your journey!
Perfect! Well put