4751 Lexington Blvd.
Missouri City, TX 77459
ph: 281-261-2302
info
Meet The Press
New small businesses defy downturn
BY DAVID KAPLAN
Houston Chronicle
Sept. 26, 2009
NICK DE LA TORRE : CHRONICLE
Belinda Bentahar, owner of the Language Factory, has done well in her new business despite the recession.
Language Factory
When it opened: December 2007
What was done right:Flexibility in the schools hours, quality teachers.
How business can grow:Open a second location and offer more class options.
Language Factory: She knows what to say.
You have to believe in what you do and live it, observes Belinda Bentahar, owner of a Missouri City language school, the Language Factory.
She noted that her 7-year-old daughter, Lilly, and 11-year-old son, Billy, speak English, French and German and are now learning Spanish and Chinese.
She opened the Language Factory less than two years ago. Her family-owned school offers French, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, German and ESL.
She chose Missouri City partly because international companies such as Fluor and Schlumberger are nearby.
We could be doing better if the economy was stronger, Bentahar said. Some companies were planning to send their employees to us, but when the recession hit, they cut back.
All in all, though, the school is doing well, she said. We are growing. I'm hiring teachers.
Bentahar has seen other language schools shut down lately. Hers may still be around because she started small, she believes: Many businesses start out with a huge loan instead of growing with the business, which I did, she said. But Bentahar is willing to spend a little extra to hire the best teachers she can find. She said the Language Factory has five to seven teachers working on contract.
We are very flexible and get to know our clients and how to meet their needs, Bentahar said. For example, the Language Factory offers classes on Sundays for people who can't get there any other day.
Language schools are part of a growing industry, Bentahar said, because of the way the world is going global with more businesses locating in other countries.
Bentahar also has many high school students as clients, and the Fort Bend Independent School District has begun referring students to the Language Factory, she said.
She's taken the right steps, said James Evans, assistant region director of the
Small Business Development Center at the University of Houston
.
If she hires high-quality teachers, corporations will recognize that. When the economy comes back, she should be in a strong position, he said. Being flexible in teaching hours will help give her a better market share, and not all schools will do that, Evans said.
Bentahar said she is thinking of opening a second location near the
Texas Medical Center
.
Once every three months, the Language Factory hosts a multicultural party for its clients. The events include pot-luck dinners, films and once featured flamenco dancing.
The parties serve a purpose, Bentahar said. Many people who move here from other countries
July 2010
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40 UNDER 40: Our Top Entrepreneurs & Executives Nominees |
Were celebrating the Top 40 Entrepreneurs and Executives Under 40 in Fort Bend County. These fine men and women were nominated by their peers so we could discover who the movers and shakers are today. There are so many more of you out there and we hope to get to know everyone of you over the course of this next year. The nominations poured into our office. Among the nominees were doctors, bankers, exercise gurus, attorneys, marketing experts, Realtors, inventors, and entrepreneurs. As a result of these selections, Fort Bend County residents can be proud and encouraged to know there is so much top of the world talent, passion, and vitality available to us and the businesses that surround us. Congratulate them. Join us in supporting them. They have earned the recognition and because of their dedication rest assured our tomorrows will be even brighter. |
Belinda Bentahar
Belinda Bentahar opened the doors to her language school, The Language Factory, in October 2007. The school launched immediately as a result of the dedication and extensive experience of its president and founder. In September 2009 she was featured on the front page of The Houston Chronicle as an example for entrepreneurs defying the downfall.
Belinda, a French native, holds a Masters Degree in Linguistics. She spent many years traveling the world achieving fluency in five languages.
It should not only be the language that is of interest, Bentahar observes. In my opinion the ultimate goal should be to understand the cultural aspects enough to truly feel comfortable and confident when meeting with people of a region.
After having lived on four continents, Bentahar and her family are proud to name Fort Bend as their final destination. We do put a very important focus in our childrens lives on speaking foreign languages says Belinda, whos children Billy (12) and Lilly (7) are fluent in English, French and German and are on their way to learning Spanish and Chinese at her school. And we feel that this community that celebrates diversity is the perfect place for us to be!
Bentahars main ambition is to be able to offer a program to each individual or business. Now after only three short years The Language Factory has a wide variety of students who are always pleased with the diversity of courses, ranging from childrens classes to corporate packages.
I truly believe that The Language Factory is a great contribution to our community, says Bentahar. It is the connecting door to the world, and it starts right here in our neighborhood.
UpClose April 2009
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UpClose November 2008
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4751 Lexington Blvd.
Missouri City, TX 77459
ph: 281-261-2302
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