Teachers often ask me about my experience teaching without coursebooks while practising language coaching. So I thought I would share why I am such a big fan of language coaching and why it’s something everyone should try.
To me, language coaching is like a breath of fresh air compared to the usual teaching methods. It puts the power back in the learner’s hands, making the whole process way more personal and engaging. And less stressful for the teacher. A win win.
It is a perfect fit for today’s world. Learners are surrounded by hundreds of resources, can travel easily and all the necessary information is at their fingertips, on their smartphones. What they need is guidance on how to effectively navigate the information and progress.
One thing I love about language coaching is that it recognizes how unique each learner is. Everyone’s got their own goals, strengths, and quirks, and coaching adapts to all that.
And finally, language coaching is there to support you throughout the whole process with a well-structured system and a supportive, motivating coach.
Here are a few of my core beliefs after teaching English for 20 years:
From my talk at the 4th Language Teachers Festival “20 Lessons from 20 years in ELT”.
In 2009, five years into my teaching career, I decided to ditch coursebooks and take a more personalized approach with my adult students. Inspired by Scott Thornbury’s Dogme ELT approach, Sugata Mitra’s educational innovations, and Gary Vaynerchuk’s business strategies, I developed courses centered around learners’ specific language goals. I combined this with experiential and connected learning.
The results were incredible.
My students made huge progress in a short amount of time and genuinely enjoyed the learning process. Beyond language skills, they gained so much more: they developed metacognitive skills, learned to identify their strengths and weaknesses, and took ownership of their progress. They became passionate learners — curious, eager to explore, and deeply engaged with the language.
It has been a profoundly rewarding journey for me as a coach, not only in witnessing my students’ language growth but also in seeing how coaching transformed their personal lives. Once you accept coaching as part of your life, you embrace self-reflection, accept failure as part of growth, and improve communication. I feel extremely lucky to experience this transformation unfold with hundreds of students.
I now consult other teachers how to use language coaching in their courses, I run webinars and workshops on language coaching and with the help of my esteemed colleagues, I promote language coaching in my Club For Successful ELT Entrepreneurs and at the yearly Language Teachers Festival. In 2023, I had the honor of sharing my journey at the 2nd International Language Coaching Conference in Paris, where I spoke to aspiring language coaches about my experiential courses with elements of coaching.
Language coaching is a bit of a complex mix, but here are the key ingredients that make it really effective:
Autonomy
We give our learners the reins to control their own learning. They get to explore the resources that excite them, dive into authentic materials, and find their own learning rhythm. It’s like unleashing the power of freedom, creativity, and self-expression. No more dull coursebooks, our learners become the masters of their own linguistic destiny.
Goals
Language coaching is all about setting exciting, tangible goals with our students. Together we work on figuring out exactly what they want to achieve, whether it’s having smooth conversations, nailing a presentation, or unlocking the mysteries of grammar. Then we break those big goals down into smaller, doable steps, turning what might seem overwhelming into a fun challenge.
Powerful questions
This is the true secret of language coaching — asking the right questions. It is like waving a magic wand because these aren’t your everyday questions. They’re the kind that make learners stop and really think. By getting them to dig deep and reflect, we help them break down some walls and discover their hidden potential. Magic happens ;).
Active Listening
Active listening is at the heart of language coaching. Unlike traditional teaching, where the teacher does most of the talking, coaching is all about the learner. The coach listens way more than they speak, really tuning in to what the learner is saying (and even what they’re not saying). This kind of listening helps the coach guide the learner to their own insights and discoveries. It’s a skill that turns simple conversations into powerful explorations, where the learner feels seen, heard, and supported on their journey.
Reflection and growth
We help learners take a step back and think about how they’re learning. This kind of reflection is like a secret superpower — it helps them see what’s working, what’s not, and how to keep improving. It’s like looking in a mirror and realizing just how far you’ve come, which gives you that extra push to keep going.
Reviews and check-ins
In language coaching, it’s all about continuous growth. We make sure to regularly check in and review how things are going. We celebrate wins, tweak what needs tweaking, and make sure our learners stay on track. Think of it like having a GPS for language learning, always keeping you headed toward your destination.
With some of my language coaching clients (2024)
As language coaches, we create a space where curiosity, exploration and self-discovery thrive.
We encourage our learners to take risks, make mistakes, and really dive into the adventure of learning a language.
It’s like being the captain of a ship, leading our crew through new and exciting linguistic territories.
We’re partners in this journey, helping our clients unlock their potential by asking the right questions and guiding them through the process.
Language coaching is all about setting goals, reflecting on your progress, embracing autonomy, and mastering the art of listening. It’s about turning learning into an exciting adventure, where you get to be the hero of your own language story.
So, are you ready to jump into the world of language coaching and see where it takes you?
Remember, the magic is in your hands!
If you ever need a bit of guidance on your journey, I’m here to help. Whether you’re a language teacher looking for a consultation or a learner of English aiming to improve, I’ve got you covered!
Best of luck with language coaching!
Nina 