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Christine Holley's Honest Experience Product Masterclass review

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Christine Holley

"Teaching has been my profession for over 40 years. In retirement, I have been teaching a class in English for non-native speakers as a volunteer, most of them from Asian countries. Even though I was teaching at Level 4 and my students had the basics down and could understand most of what I said, I noticed that some of them were guessing at words while reading instead of sounding them out. I realized that those students that come from countries whose language is not based on the alphabet but rather a type of picture or symbol for a word or idea, did not understand how to sound out English words; and that in English, they could “read” any word, even if they did not understand the meaning. Many of them complained that they could not remember words they hear because they didn’t know how to write them down.

As a result, I started a class on English phonics and pronunciation. My first class was attended by over 40 people so I knew there was a lot of interest. I began researching how to present reading and spelling and pronunciation to Adult English Language Learners. I found lots of isolated tidbits on Youtube and online, but all were advertising for their class.

When Covid hit, and simultaneously my supplemental retirement income was no longer viable, I decided to try to take the course online. I did a lot of research but I never found what I felt was a really comprehensive, organized approach so I set out to create one. I had the created the content, but did not understand anything about how to market it and found YouTube videos online not helpful enough, although I tried Thinkific, but it just wasn’t enough.

I had seen Marisa somehow years before, but was not ready to create a course at the time and I’m not sure she was doing the Xperiencify then. When I saw her presentation this year, I signed up because of the promise of success in how to actually doing the business side and because of the concept of Xperiencification which I felt would be a unique way to approach the subject which can be a bit dry if just approached in the typical way.

I really wanted to finish this project and had made many promises to others about it. I put in almost a year on this project. However, I did not reach Mission Accomplished because the complexities of putting all the marketing information and marketing it to a non-English audience whose language and culture are so different and who uses different social media was just overwhelming. I should have just done a 1:1 from the start but my concept had always been an 1:Many online course someone could complete on their own. But it has been daunting in every way. The marketing to a non-native speaking audience was one area in which it seemed no one could help me. I plugged along and really worked hard, but even after all the training, I am still feeling overwhelmed with all that needs to be done to make this project successful to an audience with limited English skills.

I am still struggling with the desire to complete this project and yet it just was not possible in the 12 weeks, especially with all the extra webinars (which were great, but which limited my time to actually create my course with all its unique complexities. Maybe there are others who have a better understanding of the subject and of business than I have been, but it has just ended up being too much for me. (I had some experience with ESL but it was not what my degrees and training are in). I am not sure at this time if I will continue this project, at least to sell it because of all those difficulties. I still believe there is a lot of potential for the content, but marketing it is just too overwhelming for me at this time. I am teaching the content in my volunteer position, but those contacts are used to getting things free which makes marketing to those contacts I have even more daunting. I hate admitting defeat, but I guess I have learned what not to do.

I completed the trainings, but I am very disappointed I couldn’t complete all I really needed to do to make it successful. I just bit off too much. I am very appreciative of the content I have received and at least I have a roadmap to possibly create some other courses I am interested in and market to an English speaking audience. I would have changed my subject earlier on, but just did not have ideas for another course that I wanted to teach at the time.
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What is your biggest takeaway from EPM?
How Xperiencification can help learning and keep students motivated to finish

How did EPM help you become successful?
I have only succeeded in learning what I need to do to be successful

How has EPM and your success impacted your life?
I've learned a lot about business I did not know before

What has been the biggest change in your business?
Just learning how much more I need to learn and do to be successful

What is now possible for you because of your Experience Product?
I may create a different product that is easier to market since mine had so many difficulties associated with marketing to a non-native speaking audience