Free Spreadsheets to Help You Manage Your Language Program

February 14, 2011

Spreadsheets are an easy way to keep track of information. For smaller language schools and literacy programs that do not have access to the sophisticated information management systems or learning management systems (LMS), spreadsheets are a useful way to organize, update and archive all kinds of data, such as administrative, financial, class and student information.

Here’s a free, downloadable resource that I developed to help language school administrators develop their own spreadsheets. It’s a set of sample spreadsheets, that you can use as a template to develop your own spreadsheets.

There are four spreadsheets in this series:

  • Class and administrative information
  • Student progress spreadsheet
  • Class schedule
  • Cost breakdown and course costs

Language school spreadsheets

I prepared these spreadsheets on a Mac and so I’ve saved them in .pdf format so that anyone can have a look at them. If you’re a Mac user and you’d like the original Numbers file, send me an e-mail at sarahelaineeaton (at) gmail.com and I’ll forward the file. If you work in Excel or with Google Docs, you can create your own spreadsheets using these criteria or others that make sense for your program.

Related posts:

Free Webinar – How to Use Google Forms

Language School Application and Photo Release

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

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Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

10 Tips for Talking with Colleagues Whose First Language is Not English (poster)

February 2, 2011

The Prairie Metropolis Centre offers a free, downloadable poster called “10 Tips for Talking with Colleagues Whose First Language is Not English”.

The PMC, established in 1996, is one of five Canadian research centres involved in immigration and integration research.

This poster is an excellent resource to promote diversity, multiculturalism and understanding.

The poster is available in full color or in black-and-white.

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

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Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

Free Resources Every Language Program Administrator Needs to Know About

January 30, 2011

Language program administration and management is not new in terms of the work we do, but it is starting to emerge as a “profession”. Training programs have popped up here and there that focus specifically on how to train language program directors to do their job better

Here are some free resources you’ll want to know about if you manage or direct a language program. Don’t worry if they are language-specific. There’s some good stuff in these manuals and papers that every LPA (language program administrator) can benefit from.

If you know of more free resources, let me know and I’ll add them to the list.

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

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Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

How a Video Yearbook Creates Great Memories & Promotes an ESL Program

January 29, 2011

My friend, Felix Wöhler, Director of English Encounters recently shared his school’s 2010 video yearbook with me. It’s an amazing example of:

  • How to capture excellent memories for your students
  • How to promote a language school with the use of video (without any hint of a hard sales approach)
  • How to use digital media to showcase your work.

Check it out. It’s worth watching. English Encounters 2010 Video Yearbook.

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

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Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

Be positive in all your marketing materials – avoid negative words

January 24, 2011

There’s a theory that says if you project negativity, you will get negativity in return. So if you fill your marketing materials with rules and regulations about what students must not do and what the program will not provide, chances are you will not attract very many students.

Review your marketing materials looking for negative words – “no”, “not”, “never”, “can’t”, “won’t”, “shouldn’t”, “don’t”, etc. Then, change the sentences to give them a positive spin. For example, “Classes are no larger than 15 students” can be changed to, “Your class will have a maximum of 15 students.”

Another classic example: “Don’t hesitate to contact us” can be changed to a positive statement, starting with a strong action verb: “Contact us today to reserve your place in our course!”

Precisely because our schools often have strict policies and procedures, we find ourselves mentioning what can’t be done and what is not allowed. We need to remember that marketing materials are not the same as application and registration forms, policies, procedures or waivers. It’s important that every document serve its purpose. Marketing materials are meant to generate interest and make students want to take part in your courses. Tell your students what you will provide, what they will experience and what they can expect. Focus on a having a positive, simple, upbeat tone, filled with action verbs.

Fill your marketing material with positive, energetic words and you are likely to generate positive feelings in your prospects. That could lead to an energetic, “Yes, sign me up!”

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This post is adapted from “Idea # 12: Be positive in all your marketing materials – avoid negative words” in 101 Ways to Market Your Language Program

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Update – January 2018 – This blog has had over 1.8 million views thanks to readers like you. If you enjoyed this post, please “like” it or share it on social media. Thanks!

Sarah Elaine Eaton is a faculty member in the Werklund School of Education, University of Calgary, Canada.

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Posted by Sarah Elaine Eaton, Ph.D.

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