- Koala Bites
- Posts
- Issue 38
Issue 38
Tuesday Edition
David Skaife
September 17, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
In partnership with
Supporting Koala Bites with ads?
Starting with this issue I will be experimenting by placing some ads in the newsletter. If you click on the links you will be supporting the newsletter as I get paid for each unique click. Don’t feel obligated to click on the links or buy anything you don’t need. I will do my best to only place ads that I think might interest you or at least some of you. If you really hate ads, please just scroll past them. With the support from placing ads I will be able to spend more time making a better Koala Bites. Thanks for your support and understanding!!
In this issue
If you're frustrated by one-sided reporting, our 5-minute newsletter is the missing piece. We sift through 100+ sources to bring you comprehensive, unbiased news—free from political agendas. Stay informed with factual coverage on the topics that matter.
😑📘Koala Teachers Family recap
A slow week on the Facebook group
Playground
🛝🛠️Home Help - by Dawn
Dawn has been very busy turning out some very cool Playgrounds that she needed for her own students and now they are on the Marketplace. Her creations just keep getting better and better. Really polished and she has developed her own style, which really works, both visually and curriculum wise.
We had a nice chat about the Playgrounds and other topics and I stayed up way past my bedtime. There were a lot of Playgrounds so I’m just going to cover one in this issue. Stay tuned for the others.
Home Help - ages 6 to 8
This one has the student take on the roll of a home helper, who is tasked with doing various chores at different houses and apartments in a very nice neighborhood. They are required to find things, move things, remember things and follow directions. It was really cool and as a builder I was really enjoying the furniture layouts and window placements/views that she built.
There is a lot of content here, enough for many, many classes. Students will cover names of rooms, names of furniture, prepositions of place and more. There are many places to explore, different rooms to enjoy and naturally a hidden treasure at the end!
I only have one student this age, but I might get it anyway!
Preply
🧑🏽🏫🔮Preply update September 2024
After becoming overly busy I raised my rate on Preply, I did get a few students at the new rate; however, I am not getting enough new students to keep up with the natural attrition of students on this platform and in my niche of conversation for adults.
"I'm trying to crack this pricing code, but it's a bit of a maze." Image and caption by Gemini
I was hoping it would pick up, but after 2 very slow weeks in a row I was convinced to lower the rate back where it was.
Strangely the students I had trial lessons with at the higher rate universally said they were definitely going to subscribe but very few did. I find that the different price brackets have very different types of students with different personalities and needs. Maybe someday I will be able to write a book on the subject, lol.
I was told by an experienced tutor on the platform that my price is pretty much the cap for conversation classes. In addition, I didn’t get a single corporate student (students who have their classes paid for by their employer) at the higher rate, so that also says something.
I’m reasonably happy with this rate, but if I get really busy in the future, I might try bumping it again.
It was worth a try, and I will try it again🙃
Transform the way you run your business using AI (Extended Labour day Sale)💰
Imagine a future where your business runs like a well-oiled machine, effortlessly growing and thriving while you focus on what truly matters.
This isn't a dream—it's the power of AI, and it's within your reach.
Join this AI Business Growth & Strategy Masterclass and discover how to revolutionize your approach to business.
In just 4 hours, you’ll gain the tools, insights, and strategies to not just survive, but dominate your market.
What You’ll Experience:
🌟 Discover AI techniques that give you a competitive edge
💡 Learn how to pivot your business model for unstoppable growth
💼 Develop AI-driven strategies that turn challenges into opportunities
⏰ Free up your time and energy by automating the mundane, focusing on what you love
🗓️ Tomorrow | ⏱️ 10 AM EST
This is more than just a workshop—it's a turning point.
The first 100 to register get in for FREE. Don’t miss the chance to change your business trajectory forever.
Editorial
✍️🃏Editorial: US election interest abroad
As a tour guide, and in general, I was always warned not to speak about politics or religion. Naturally, since my “speaking filter” is a bit broken (I have been told) when somebody brings up the subject, I’ll discuss the undiscussable.
"I find you guilty... of not having enough opinions on the most important topics." Image and caption created by Gemini
I have a couple different sets of random conversation topics but often ask the student if they have any topics they would like to discuss for that part of our class. During the Olympics many students chose that subject. Now that the Olympics are finished our number one topic again is the US presidential election. There seems to be more people outside the US interested in the election results than inside the US.
Since our major news sources are biased one way or the other, my students rarely have a neutral view, and I usually assume the roll of Devil’s advocate to promote a good discussion. Some would probably say that I enjoy that roll too much, but I think it is still legal to enjoy your job, at least for now.
Is your filter broken too?
Links
🧐⛓️💥Interesting Links
These are links that I found interesting but haven’t written about, there is simply too much happening these days.
Reply