A niche market is a part of a larger market that is defined by its unique identity, needs and preferences, which makes it different from the larger market. For example, age-defying creams are part of the skin care market. Some doctors have niches, such as geriatrics or pediatrics. Niche teaching is based on this premise. A niche is defined by the problems its students have. A niche teacher focuses on a very specific group of learners who have a very specific problem, for example, Arabic-speaking medical professionals who need to work on their pronunciation and presentation skills. A niche teacher offers their niche a very specific solution to their problem.
As a passionate teacher who has been travelling and living abroad for over 15 years, I believe that niche teaching is the future for several reasons. The most important reason is that the vast majority of English learners need to communicate well for a specific purpose. But it takes a certain kind of person to be a niche teacher.
- What qualities are necessary?
- How does a student know what they need?
- How can you find a niche teacher? What are the pros and cons of niche teaching for you as an English learner?
- What are the pros and cons of niche teaching? How does niche teaching encourage compassion, cultural understanding and tolerance?
These are the questions Shelley would like to answer during the webinar. Shelley would also love to hear from others what they think about this topic.
About Shelley Stark
Shelley was born and raised in Springfield, Missouri, USA. She has been travelling and living abroad off and on since April 2001. She has been teaching English as a second language intermittently since her first volunteer experience in Mexico in May 2001. She loves learning languages and has studied Spanish, French, Latin, Italian, Hindi and presently is trying to learn Arabic. Therefore she understands the difficulties and challenges her learners face when learning a new language and adapting to a new culture She has been to dozens of countries. She has lived and worked in Saudi Arabia for the past 4 years and 7 months. She is an accredited and experienced English Communication Specialist who helps medical professionals boost their level of fluency.
