Learning English is just like the gym, for most people it’s one of the things you know you should be doing, but… it’s always just too much hassle.

Too much computer work this month meant I had to join the gym. But one great idea they have is a “Buying Fat” campaign. After three months they give you back 1,000 yen for every kg of fat you’ve lost! What a great idea, I’m going to make a fortune, and it takes away the guilt side of things and let’s you justify the time by saying you’re getting paid.

If you run an English school, do the same thing. Put your adult students in for an English test, then give them a cash back for however much they improve after a few months. Make it nice and generous and you’d have a great incentive plan. Plus it wouldn’t cost you anything. Instead of the “keep ’em dumb so they’ll pay forever” schools, you’d be able to advertise saying “Just look at these people, look how well they did! And they got all this money back!”. What a fantastic way to get new students.