This dad makes $40k/month teaching Spanish on Skool

How Robert Earns Over $40,000 a Month Teaching Spanish

Introduction to Robert's Success

• Robert reveals he earns over $40,000 monthly teaching Spanish, a surprising figure for a language teacher.

• The conversation shifts to how Robert decided to create an online community for Spanish learners.

Background and Language Learning Journey

• Robert has been passionate about languages for 25 years, claiming to have learned six but only proficient in five.

• He studied linguistics at university but initially viewed language learning as a hobby while pursuing other business ventures.

Realization of Efficient Learning Methods

• After realizing the lengthy time required to learn multiple languages, he sought faster methods.

• Moving to Spain with his family was motivated by the desire to improve his Spanish and provide his children with bilingual skills.

Observations on Language Learning Challenges

• In Spain, he noticed many expats struggled with Spanish despite living there for years.

• Initially assuming lack of interest from these individuals, he discovered they were actively trying but faced challenges with traditional learning methods.

Development of His Teaching Methodology

• Robert began testing his own method by offering free lessons to seven expats who expressed frustration with their progress.

• The results were promising; students showed significant improvement in just four weeks, transforming from non-speakers to conversationalists.

Transitioning Passion into Profession

• Despite his passion and expertise in languages, Robert initially doubted the viability of making money as a Spanish teacher.

• He considered creating an online course but hesitated due to the saturation of existing courses in the market.

Insights on Course Creation and Market Needs

• Reflecting on past frustrations with language courses led him to believe there was still room for effective teaching methods that focus on practical usage rather than theoretical knowledge.

• After attempting to sell his course without success initially, he recognized the need for innovative approaches in language education.

How to Transition from Selling Courses to Building a Community

Initial Attempts at Selling Online Courses

• The speaker initially created a landing page for a course, attempting to charge $200 but struggled with sales.

• Traffic was driven through TikTok videos where the speaker provided free content, leading to significant engagement but no conversions.

• Acknowledged the need for better marketing skills after realizing that despite traffic, there were zero sales.

Inspiration and Learning Journey

• The speaker credits Andrew Kirby's YouTube videos as pivotal in motivating them to monetize their knowledge.

• Kirby inspired the belief that one could turn expertise into income, emphasizing persistence through failures in online selling.

• The journey included learning copywriting and refining pitches, which led to discovering "school" as an alternative business model.

Shift from Traditional Business Models

• The speaker had previously attempted building Software as a Service (SaaS) businesses but found them challenging and ultimately unfulfilling.

• Emphasized the uniqueness of personal branding as a competitive advantage; "There's only one Robert."

• Transitioned from traditional methods like websites and funnels to creating a community-based platform called "school."

Setting Up the School Community

• Found setting up on the school platform straightforward compared to previous experiences with Shopify, which was cumbersome.

• Initially drove existing customers to sign up for the new community through word-of-mouth marketing.

Strategies for Customer Acquisition

• Faced challenges targeting older demographics who were unfamiliar with online communities; primarily focused on individuals aged 40–50 in Spain and America.

• After watching Dan Henry's video on selling techniques, decided to go live on TikTok, sharing valuable insights while promoting the school community.

Success Through Live Engagement

• First TikTok Live session resulted in seven new customers within an hour, showcasing effective engagement strategies.

• Over two months of consistent live sessions led to significant revenue growth from zero dollars initially to $6K per month.

How to Effectively Use Live Videos for Selling

The Importance of Live Videos in Sales

• Utilizing live videos can enhance your sales pitch and improve engagement with potential customers. The speaker emphasizes that refining the pitch through live interactions is crucial.

• Direct feedback during live sessions helps identify effective call-to-action phrases, which can significantly impact sales outcomes.

• The speaker compares live sessions to webinars, highlighting their convenience and immediate accessibility without extensive planning.

Strategies for Successful Live Selling

• While engaging in Q&A sessions can be manageable, planned lessons may lead to challenging interactions, especially when faced with skeptical viewers.

• Creating urgency through limited-time offers during live sessions has proven effective; the speaker shares a personal experience of successfully selling by offering a 7-day free trial that expires at the end of the session.

Learning from Feedback and Scaling Up

• Despite initial skepticism from peers regarding his strategies, the speaker achieved significant sales success by testing different approaches during live streams.

• Continuous testing of call-to-action phrases allows for real-time adjustments based on audience reactions, leading to improved sales performance over time.

Transitioning from Live Sales to Ads

• After reaching a monthly income of $6K through lives, the speaker recognized the need for alternative revenue streams beyond just live selling.

• Insights gained from successful live pitches informed ad creation; using tested phrases led to effective advertising campaigns with high conversion rates.

Achieving Profitability Through Strategic Advertising

• The first ad campaign was cost-effective, yielding profitable returns despite initial investment risks.

• By scaling up ad budgets strategically while maintaining profitability over time, the speaker grew monthly earnings from $6K to $20K while enjoying more leisure time.

Learning Spanish: Insights from a Language Expert

The Journey of Learning and Teaching Languages

• The speaker shares their experience of taking four weeks off to travel in South Africa, during which they did not work but saw significant growth in their language school app, increasing from 6 to 20,000 users.

• They emphasize the importance of hard work leading up to this success, highlighting that consistent effort over time made it easier to achieve results later on.

• The speaker discusses the foundational steps taken in teaching languages, including live sessions and testing messages with students for effective learning outcomes.

Understanding Language Learners' Challenges

• A key insight is that most learners struggle with traditional courses because they feel they are wasting time on irrelevant vocabulary rather than practical usage.

• The speaker reflects on personal experiences with language apps like Duolingo, criticizing their focus on obscure phrases instead of useful everyday language.

Effective Language Acquisition Strategies

• They reveal that while there are many words in Spanish (90,000), native speakers typically only use about 30,000 actively. This highlights the need for focused learning on frequently used vocabulary.

• The concept of focusing on mastering the top 300 words is introduced as essential for effective communication. This method prioritizes practical language use over exhaustive vocabulary lists.

Layers Method: A New Approach to Learning Languages

• The speaker introduces the "layers method," comparing language acquisition to peeling an onion—starting with essential words before expanding into more complex vocabulary.

• They critique existing resources for teaching Spanish that often include impractical vocabulary choices and advocate for a more targeted approach based on actual usage patterns.

Rethinking Traditional Language Learning Methods

• A discussion arises about how children learn languages versus adults; while children absorb languages over years without structured guidance, adults can leverage existing knowledge from their first language to accelerate learning.

• The speaker argues against conventional wisdom suggesting adults should learn like children. Instead, they propose using prior linguistic frameworks to facilitate quicker mastery of new languages.

Understanding the Layers Method in Community Building

The Concept of the Layers Method

• The layers method, likened to an onion, can be applied to any community or niche, allowing for a structured approach to teaching and learning.

• This method emphasizes starting small within a specific niche (e.g., sports or games) rather than overwhelming learners with extensive information from the outset.

• It is highlighted as a valuable concept for community owners to effectively teach their subjects by gradually expanding knowledge.

Evolving Methods and Freedom in Work

• The speaker discusses transitioning through various methods over time, emphasizing that it's acceptable not to stick with one approach indefinitely.

• A focus on YouTube content creation is identified as a promising avenue for future growth and income generation.

• Freedom is underscored as a significant motivator for creators, enabling them to work flexibly without being tied down by traditional constraints.

Personal Reflections on Career Changes

• The speaker shares personal experiences of prioritizing health after years of neglecting it due to work commitments.

• Family reactions are discussed, particularly how supportive the spouse has been regarding the shift from traditional employment to pursuing passion projects full-time.

Transitioning from Corporate Life

• The speaker reflects on past corporate experiences that were unfulfilling and how they ignited a desire to pursue more meaningful work aligned with personal passions.

• Emphasizes the relief felt by family members witnessing this transition towards entrepreneurship without partners or employees initially.

Community Structure and Offerings

• Details about community membership pricing ($29/month), including what new members receive upon signing up (e.g., access to educational resources).

• Introduction of the layers method in language learning: starting with foundational goals instead of attempting comprehensive mastery immediately.

Teaching Methods and Community Engagement

The Applicability of Teaching Methods

• The speaker emphasizes that the teaching methods discussed can be applied across various subjects, not just Spanish. This includes topics like video games, dating, or crocheting.

Definable Learning Goals

• A key insight is the importance of having definable learning goals, such as achieving a 5 to 10-minute conversation in a new language. This makes the learning process feel tangible and achievable.

Layered Learning Approach

• The concept of layered learning is introduced, where each layer builds upon the previous one. For example, starting with basic greetings and progressing to longer conversations.

• Each layer has specific goals; for instance, reaching layer seven allows for a 10-minute conversation. This structured approach helps learners understand their progress.

Continuous Improvement and Feedback

• The speaker discusses the ongoing development of new layers based on user feedback. They note a correlation between releasing new content and changes in user engagement metrics.

Flashcard Methodology

• An innovative flashcard system is mentioned that improves upon traditional methods like Anki by incorporating AI technology to enhance vocabulary retention.

• Users are encouraged to achieve at least 90% accuracy in their current layer before moving on to ensure mastery of material through spaced repetition techniques.

Community Interaction and Support

Transition from Structured Calls to Community Meetings

• Initially, regular calls were held for community interaction but were discontinued due to low attendance. Instead, members began organizing their own meetings independently.

Value of Peer Interaction

• While peer-to-peer practice is available within the community, there’s an acknowledgment that learning from experienced teachers may provide better value than practicing with fellow learners.

Community Self-Organization

• Members have created posts to facilitate regular meeting times among themselves, demonstrating self-sufficiency within the community structure despite the absence of formal calls organized by leadership.

How to Achieve a 10-Minute Conversation in Seven Weeks?

Overview of the Program

• The speaker discusses the importance of clarity in communication and offers a program aimed at achieving conversational fluency.

• A hands-on version of the program is introduced, which spans seven weeks and focuses on transforming beginners into conversationalists through structured practice.

• The cost for this intensive course is approximately $2,900, emphasizing that it provides more than just support; it's about direct teaching.

Structure of the Course

• Classes are scheduled three times a week, with each session building upon previous lessons. Students must prepare homework to ensure they are ready for each class.

• The teaching method involves practical exercises using Google Docs to illustrate language transformations, reinforcing learning through hands-on experience.

Value Proposition

• The speaker emphasizes that the goal is not hourly rates but rather delivering a life-changing transformation from beginner to conversationalist within seven weeks.

• This approach significantly reduces the time typically required for language acquisition compared to traditional methods, which can take years.

Community Engagement and Future Plans

• There’s interest from participants in organizing an immersive retreat experience where learners can practice speaking in real-life situations.

• The speaker shares personal experiences from meeting like-minded individuals during events, highlighting the value of community and idea exchange among peers.

Reflections on Event Organization

• Concerns about profitability and effort involved in organizing events are discussed. While profitable events exist, cultural benefits also play a significant role in community engagement.

• The conversation reflects on whether such gatherings contribute positively to community culture despite potential financial drawbacks.

Exploring the Journey to Financial Success

Initial Inspiration and Goals

• The speaker expresses excitement about potentially enjoying the journey towards making $100,000 a month, inspired by another individual's success in teaching Spanish.

• The realization of having a small market share (less than 1,000 members) compared to the 34 million people learning Spanish in America highlights the potential for growth.

• The speaker's ambition is clear as they aim to capture more market share despite recognizing existing competition.

Personal Transformation Through Learning

• Reflecting on their past, the speaker recalls listening to Andrew Kirby discussing "school games," which sparked their interest in creating a school community.

• A pivotal moment occurred while walking in Amsterdam, where they decided they needed to change their life after being inspired by YouTube content.

Advice for Newcomers

• When asked what advice they'd give their past self upon joining school, the speaker notes that everything went well from the start and emphasizes consistency in their approach.

• They recount initial struggles with attracting customers but found success through TikTok shortly after starting.

Business Philosophy and Consistency

• Despite external pressures to alter pricing strategies or business practices for short-term gains, the speaker remains committed to maintaining long-term stability.

• They emphasize that consistent daily customer acquisition (15 to 20 new customers each day) contributes significantly to their satisfaction and motivation.

Conclusion and Gratitude

• The conversation concludes with mutual appreciation for shared experiences and insights within the community of learners.