If the new Chinese regulations have pushed you to go independent, this video is my clear, no-fluff plan to help you find your first ESL students. I’m sharing seven practical steps based on my own experience setting up and running an ESL school in France, plus what I’ve learned from chatting to other independent teachers who’ve actually made it work. The whole point is to get you out of “planning mode” and into consistent action. I start with the basics that make you look legitimate—having a simple website where people can understand who you teach, what you offer, and how to contact you. Then I move into the part most teachers avoid: spreading the word. I talk about using social media (without turning into someone you don’t recognise), networking in the right places, and giving people an easy way to try you out—like a first class free or a referral/affiliate setup—so you’re not relying on luck. I also cover local/community promotion, because you’d be surprised how many students come from the “real world” even when you teach online. Along the way, I mention a few curriculum and resource sites I like, plus tutoring platforms that can help you get your first enquiries coming in.