Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Muller.
Julie, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was a teacher in the Houston public schools for more than ten years. Then I left to do something else for about 15 years and when I returned to teaching, I decided to teach ESL to adults. I spent 1 and 1/2 years in China and Africa teaching English and when I returned to Houston, I opened my own English language company at the end of 2011 and have been doing this ever since.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Everything was moving along swimmingly until the oil and gas industry took a nosedive a couple of years ago. Since then, there have been a lot of layoffs and company cutbacks, which has affected my business. So I’ve developed some sidelines, like interview coaching and also, I coach doctors on a test that is given in Houston and that all doctors who want to practice medicine in the US have to pass. That’s helped, and there has been some improvement in the petroleum industry. I also get a lot of clients coming back that I worked with before.
Worldwide English – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Worldwide English is a company that offers private English lessons to adults. Our main customers are in the oil and gas industry, but we go into other markets as well. A Worldwide English tutor goes to the home or office to give private lessons. What sets us apart is that we are locally owned and students can study at the times and on the days that are convenient for them. So they can set their own schedule for study. We also go into companies to teach groups. Right now, ExxonMobil is one of our clients. Because we are locally owned, we know the Houston area really well and we also help newcomers to Houston get settled in, answering questions and helping with insurance, things to do, local life as well as teaching English. Our students continue to stay in touch with us after they have learned English. We help students with Business English, but also with their driving tests, learning small talk and idioms as well as understanding a Texas accent.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
People call us for help with their English, but the truth is that they need help for all kinds of reasons. I go into each new situation understanding that teaching English is only part of what I do and I listen to the students as they talk about their fears and concerns of living and working in the US. I believe that if you have a higher purpose for conducting business, that it isn’t just about expansion and more money, that you will feel more passionate and fulfilled and you will “tap dance” to work every day, to borrow a phrase from Bill Gates.
Pricing:
- $60 per hour
- Also offer SKYPE lessons: $40 per hour
Contact Info:
- Address: 5161 San Felipe Rd.
Suite 320, Houston, TX 77056 - Website: http://englishlessons-houston.com
- Phone: 713-993-6511
- Email: julie.muller@att.net
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldwideenglishhouston/
Image Credit:
Teaching Chinese business people in Khartoum, Sudan
Getting in touch: VoyageHouston is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
