Have you ever thought about the difference between a coach and a teacher?
After learning about the difference in my course, I started to realize that I’ve been calling myself a coach because I didn’t feel like I was acting as a teacher toward my clients.
Instead of teaching, I was interacting and speaking to them - offering them opportunities to practice and improve both their speaking skills and confidence.
However, there are elements of teaching in what I do. For example, helping clients understand how English works by explaining concepts and rules.
Understanding the difference
Knowing the difference between the two can greatly benefit not only me, but also your language-learning journey.
While both roles aim to help you learn a language, they approach it in different ways.
A language teacher typically follows a structured curriculum and teaches the rules and grammar of the language.
On the other hand, a language coach provides personalized guidance and support to help you achieve your language learning goals.
Here are the benefits:
Benefits of working with a language coach:
Personalized feedback and support: A language coach works with you one-on-one and provides individualized feedback to help you improve your language skills.
Help with identifying your learning style and strategies that work best for you: A coach can help you identify the way you learn best and develop strategies tailored to your unique needs.
Accountability and motivation: A language coach can help you stay on track and motivated to reach your language learning goals.
Benefits of working with a language teacher:
Structured learning: A language teacher provides a structured learning experience with a set curriculum and clear learning objectives.
Access to resources: Teachers often have access to a wide range of resources such as textbooks, online materials, and language learning software.
Formalized learning environment: A classroom setting with a teacher can provide a more formalized learning environment that helps you stay focused and motivated.
For me, I realize that I am still less of a teacher than a coach. I am not very structured (yet) and I wouldn’t say I provide a formalised learning environment : )
But by understanding the difference between a language coach and a language teacher, I can provide clients with a mix of both that best suits your needs and learning style.