eCommerce As A Second Language

Tumu Learning is a virtual language learning platform that provides personalized learning plans, exercises, weekly live classes, and regular feedback. As a French Second Language Instructor and Ph.D. Candidate at Western University, Umut has been teaching the French language, literature, and culture courses to university students and adults for over five years. 

“I believe in personalized learning: an approach to education that focuses on each student’s needs, interests and objectives, because every student learns differently and is motivated differently.” 

Through the beginning of the COVID-19 lock-down, Umut attended a 6-week Virtual Masterclass, Master the Entrepreneur Skill Set. The program was hosted by Western University and organized by the Ivey Business School. It was there that Umut made a decision to follow his calling and passion. This entrepreneur’s unquenchable passion for language, culture, and travel, blended with his love of teaching, led to what is now Tumu Learning. Umut’s story and sentiment are summed up perfectly in a single sentence: 

“I think that my business story began years ago when I was excited to learn a second language and travelled abroad for the first time.” 

The last two months have induced mixed feelings of hesitation, enthusiasm, and hope for the aspiring online business owner. “When a friend of mine told me about the ShopHERE Program and that they help you create a website for your business, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity.” Umut remembers working with a supportive eCommerce coordinator who advised him through this journey. “She was very prompt in replying emails and was very supportive” comments the entrepreneur, who launched his website in the beginning of September.

Umut, who had expected great challenges in the digitization process, was surprised by the smoothness of the procedure of opening his own online store: “Once you have a clear idea of what you need to put on your website, it's pretty easy to set up an online store. Being creative and interesting is the difficult part.” His take-away from having faced his fears head-on is that an online store is simply convenient and manageable. 

“It is effortless to use! If you want to sell your products, but don't know where to start, ShopHERE is an excellent choice.” 

The next chapter for Umut’s journey, he says, involves learning about digital marketing. “You can reach many people from all around the world [through eCommerce], but there are lots to learn in marketing to reach these people.” Self-organization, hard work, time and energy management are things that Umut considers to be the predominant keys to an entrepreneurial journey. For him, his graduate studies have helped in preparing him for his. His two pieces of advice for entrepreneurs this year looking to enter the world of eCommerce as their second language is “keep working and stay positive.” His words for them are parallel to the words he freely gives to his language-learning students as their teacher and motivator: “You are not alone, and your hard work will pay off!” 

Looking to improve your French as a second language? Whatever your level, there is no better place to start immersing yourself in the French language and culture than at Tumu Learning. Looking to improve your eCommerce as a second language for free? We got your back at ShopHERE.