Do they have language cafes in Poland?

Marynka11Threads: 8 Posts: 1,447 Joined: Nov 3, 10 ♀	Nov 7, 10, 21:22 #1
I've read about one in Hamburg, Germany. It's basically a place where you can walk in, practice language and socialize.

convexThreads: 46 Posts: 7,185 Joined: Nov 25, 09 ♂	Nov 7, 10, 21:31 #2
I know there are meetup groups like that in Poland, but a place dedicated to it....interesting idea :)

Marynka11Threads: 8 Posts: 1,447 Joined: Nov 3, 10 ♀	Edited by: Marynka11 Nov 7, 10, 21:38 #3
Do you want to start one with me? I think I still have PESEL.

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Nov 7, 10, 21:46 #4

convex:

I know there are meetup groups like that in Poland, but a place dedicated to it....interesting idea :)

It's an interesting idea, but it would probably be best to use the concept in an existing location that's doing well as opposed to trying to get it off the ground from scratch. The problem is that you'll get plenty of people who will only come to socialise and not spend anything. I know the Language Exchange Clubs have had huge problems with this - thankfully in Poznan, our one is fine because we only have one meeting a week in a place owned by someone who likes the idea.

Marynka11Threads: 8 Posts: 1,447 Joined: Nov 3, 10 ♀	Nov 7, 10, 22:08 #5
So is the Language Exchange Clubs commercial, or it's just a hobby group?

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Nov 7, 10, 23:26 #6

Marynka11:

So is the Language Exchange Clubs commercial, or it's just a hobby group?

Hobby group, there's really not much scope to commercialise them. Of course, a dedicated place for such groups could work - I know in virtually every city, they have problems finding a stable venue - all because they tend to take up a lot of space without much in return. A lot of people don't drink or eat anything at such events - so it doesn't really work economically.

For such a dedicated venue to work, the trick would be to make the place stand on its own for lunches and early dinners - then for it to be turned over into "language exchange" in the evening from say 8pm onwards. That could work nicely - but still, I don't think it would work economically.

convexThreads: 46 Posts: 7,185 Joined: Nov 25, 09 ♂	Nov 7, 10, 23:30 #7
The idea would be to teach your bartenders and waitstaff how to work them...

Once

Nov 7, 10, 23:57 #8

I know 2 or 3 people who have tried to do it in Warsaw with limited success it seems, perhaps Poland isn't the right place, local folk are not curious enough maybe, or outgoing enough for that market? I remember there were lots of them in Tokyo when I worked there in the late 90s, the idea suited the Japnese mentality down to the ground and they were really popular. The Internet has muted the concept a bit I think.

Now what might be a nice idea -'summer open-air language meet ups'. Maybe in Lazenki park or something, you'd just need a sign, a sunny day, a few blankets, a piece of grass, a native speaker or two and some web-marketing. Reckon that might work. 15zl per person per hour - try to get 20 participants.

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Nov 8, 10, 00:36 #9

Thank you for he info. I'm dreaming (for now) about coming back to Poland, but if I do it I would like to have my own business. So I thought about the café, but I see it might not work.

All I know about is teaching languages.

I was thinking about some sort of Starbucks kind of place with language meetings. Once, did the people who tried to open those places have just the language classes, or had they more ways of making money?

Is the market for language schools oversaturated? When I left in the 90ties there were plenty.

'summer open-air language meet ups' probably could not feed a family, though it's a great idea.

Once

Nov 8, 10, 10:32 #10

Yes, I think to say the English language market is over-saturated is a vast understatement..

There is a school in Warsaw which has somekind of deal with Starbucks and has informal language practice in a cafe setting - it's called Academy of New York, don't know how successful it is.

I am a highly motivated kind of chap, and I came back to Poland with quite a few business ideas, but I have now moved out of language teaching as any mind of business prospect because of the over saturation in Warsaw. Not that it cannot be done.

If you want to make money in the service industry here maybe the tourism market for the new upper-middle classes has not yet been fully exploited. For example, 'golfing holidays to UK' or 'hunting trips to Scotland'. If I was still looking for a business in Poland idea - I'd go into that area. There are alot of people who have suddenly come into money and want to behave like Western Europeans.

TrevekThreads: 33 Posts: 2,155 Joined: May 21, 08 ♂	Nov 8, 10, 11:40 #11
There used to be such a place in a pub in Olsztyn. Not sure how well it went. I heard the English Native Speakers got free beer... not sure how much it helped the listeners!

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Jan 14, 11, 02:10 #12

Marynka11:

Thank you for he info. I'm dreaming (for now) about coming back to Poland, but if I do it I would like to have my own business. So I thought about the café, but I see it might not work.All I know about is teaching languages.

There is so much available in Poland now. There are also many coffee house chains.

Just expanding on your idea, I think the theme of Supper clubs in tandem with a language/cultural evening could work in Poland. This way the person has an opportunity to eat drink and socialize in the language they are learning. The supper club does not need a fixed premises as it moves location. here is a link http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_fo od/article6714421.ece

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