I think it's high time to write such a text. A text that will deal with us - language schools - that do not use the broadly understood franchise - either in methodology or in the organization of the school.
We live in very specific times today, times that we can boldly call a festival of hypocrisy. I'll give you some examples, namely we are bombarded from all sides with information that healthy eating is entering the mainstream, but somehow no one has noted a drop in sales of dark, bubbly drinks, chips of all brands or fast food of all kinds. Additionally, it is the heroes of today's world - athletes, celebrities (broadly understood) who drill into our heads that they also eat, drink, do this and that's great.
Another example is chain stores, which have huge material resources. How often – especially now – when walking along sunny sidewalks, do we see advertisements for “craft” or “artisan” ice cream – these adjectives evoke positive associations in us, because after all, something made in a small craft workshop, i.e. without the use of a production line, is – in the opinion of society – better than what the chain produced.
So why do so many schools decide to go franchising? Why are so many language schools afraid of chain competition? Something that is bigger or has a wider reach is not always better – perhaps it simply has more funds for advertising and promoting a given element. I ask all of you who run small language schools not to give in to chains – it sounds a bit like an appeal to a small grocery store, next to which a large supermarket is opening – but the situation is very similar. Yes, what is local can survive, you just have to want it.
Thank you The Key 2 English for contacting me, talking to you was largely the catalyst for this text. We too can stick together – craft and craft language schools, let’s support each other.