One-To-One: An Updated and Practical Guide to Teaching

Introduction

Introduction

One-to-one, 1-to-1, 1-2-1, one-on-one—all of these refer to a particular teaching situation where there is one learner and one teacher. In the area of teaching foreign languages, it may well be the oldest mode of teaching. Indeed, one-to-one has always been very popular; some learners would not dream of learning in a group, company executives being a good example. Yet, if you look at the resources available covering the methodologies of foreign language teaching, you find that most of it is about teaching groups, and surprisingly little has been published on one-to-one.

So many factors have changed in the world recently: more demand for English proficiency worldwide, the downward economic impact on in-company classes, language courses struggling to stay afloat, the increase in online teaching, the growth in English teaching by both qualified and unqualified persons, and so on. This has had a significant effect on class structure, and more learners are turning towards alternative solutions like private classes. This has caused more educators, whether teacher, trainer, tutor, or coach, to go freelance or work for a platformed course online as an independent. But what options are available to train teachers for this?

There are multiple ways to learn. To say there is only one way to teach is blatantly irresponsible, completely misguided, and outrageously nearsighted. Just as we all have different tastes, styles, and goals in life, we are all different as learners and as teachers. In our years of teaching, we have both learned that there is no one way, best way, or right way. There is, however, a framework for the better way, which we will present here based on our experience.

All of this has determined the character of our book – rather than being an academic title, this book offers a practical view of what is involved in teaching and working with individual learners. We have described our personal perspectives here, providing you, the reader, with a variety of ideas, tips, and solutions to try out, take on board, and use, change, modify, or adapt as you see fit.

For the novice teacher, this book might serve as a guide around a whole new world. For the experienced teacher, it should serve as a useful compilation of best practices: a confirmation of what you already know or ideas you have already used in your own teaching.

Before you start reading the chapters that follow, we would like to say a few words about the rationale behind this book. Firstly, we are both qualified practitioners with extensive experience of teaching English as a foreign language. Secondly, we are very different from each other—we come from totally different backgrounds, and our professional careers have followed very different paths. Yet we have both found ourselves in the same place: teaching one-to-one. We also happen to share certain views and principles, which we are sharing here with you in the pages to follow.

1

The Pros and Cons of Teaching One-to-One

When one thinks about one-to-one teaching versus working with groups, the first thing one might equate it to is having private therapy versus group therapy sessions. Number one, in a group therapy session, you are dealing with a myriad of problems from all different people. Everybody present is trying to resolve their own specific problem. It is very helpful to work with the group, to get support from others and be able to communicate their thoughts and feelings aloud amongst a community and hearing other people's stories. Yet. Everybody has their own specific problem or cause for bringing them to the group. Let us take the case of marriage counseling. One couple could have a problem with marrying outside their race, another outside their religion, others with in-law trouble, kid trouble, or even how work is affecting their marriage. The common thread is dealing with the problem, yet each couple’s solution may be different and require specific counseling.

There is a direct correlation to language learning. In lower levels, from A1 to B2, and maybe even up to C1 and C2, in some cases, having the support of a group, hearing other people's discussions, and working together with other people to improve through support, is extremely important. Yet once a couple or person realizes that they are having specific problems, whether it be learning disabilities, mental blocks, or something as simple as the need for specific language for their job or lifestyle, it is time for one-to-one therapy. In this case, therapy means a teacher or coach who will specifically evaluate the learner’s needs and the problems that the learner is encountering, and find specific solutions to help that learner, based upon the learner themselves and not based upon a coursebook, a syllabus, or a curriculum designed for a general group of learners.

Over the years, helping mostly advanced learners, we have had to work on a wide variety of topics such as confidence building, presentation skills, pronunciation and accent reduction, interviewing, emailing, report writing, sales and marketing materials, contracts, negotiation skills, conflict management skills, empathizing, intercultural competence, customer service, agile project management, scrum meetings, and much more. We’ve worked with doctors, lawyers, accountants, economists, financial planners, salespeople, project managers, product managers, sales executives and managers, IT professionals, purchasing agents, naval officers, journalists, singers, actors, sportsman, college bound students, materials writers, people taking TOEFL or IELTS, CEOs, CTOs, and CFOs, and more.

Imagine trying to meet everyone’s needs and requirements in one classroom. It just would not work. Yes, some might benefit from some of the activities, but all of our students have achieved their goals through one-to-one classes dealing directly with their individual needs and solutions.

Of course, working in an in-company situation where employees share their own community of practice (CoP), job description, or a similar level of language is a different story, but this can prove challenging in smaller businesses and may bring in more complexities due to differing cultures, corporate cultures, and hierarchies. But that is another book.

We also feel that with the necessity for many to move online, the skills for one-to-one teaching need to be honed even further. Combining these two abilities that, to some, may be foreign and challenging, deserves looking at more profoundly to help practitioners succeed.

Advantages to teaching English one-to-one

Customized lesson plans: In a one-to-one session, the instructor can design a lesson plan that is especially suited to the requirements and objectives of the student. This can be more effective than a one-size-fits-all approach used in group classes.

Flexibility: One-to-one lessons offer greater scheduling flexibility and can be arranged at a time that works for the teacher and the student.

Individual attention: In a one-to-one setting, the teacher may give the student their undivided attention while also attending to the concerns or questions the student may have. Students who might have trouble in a group situation may find this extremely beneficial.

Faster progress: In a one-to-one scenario, the student may be able to advance more quickly because the class is tailored to their needs, and there are no interruptions from other students.

Greater focus: In a one-to-one setting, the student may be more motivated and focused because they are the sole focus of the lesson.

More personal connection: One-to-one lessons can create a more personal connection between the teacher and the student, which can be helpful in building rapport and trust. This can make the learning experience more enjoyable and effective.

Disadvantages to teaching English one-to-one

Higher cost: One-to-one lessons might be more expensive than group classes, as the student is paying for individualized instruction.

Limited social interaction: In a one-to-one setting, the student may miss out on interacting with other students while practicing their English skills in a social setting.

Less structure: One-to-one lessons may be less structured than group classes, which can be a disadvantage for some students who prefer a more structured learning environment.

Limited availability: It may be more difficult to find a teacher who is available for one-to-one lessons, as they may have a full schedule or may not offer this type of instruction.

This why we have put together a collection of our own wisdom, experience, and sometimes accidental discoveries to help you devise, develop, and deliver your own successful classes, and to go from one-to-one to one-to-won!

2

Basic Terminology and Concepts

Before diving into the details, let’s get on the same page with some terms used to describe teaching and learning today, as well as the people who carry out this transmission of skills and knowledge and the tools they use.

Methodologist vs. Practitioner

A methodologist is a researcher or academic who studies educational methods and approaches. They usually conduct research on different teaching methodologies, evaluate their effectiveness, and may develop new teaching methods or approaches. A methodologist is typically more focused on the theoretical aspects of education and may not be directly involved in teaching or classroom instruction.

On the other hand, a practitioner is someone who is actively involved in implementing and using a particular method or approach in their work. In education, a practitioner might be a teacher or other education professional who uses specific methods and approaches in their day-to-day work. Practitioners are generally more focused on the practical application of theories and methods and may not be as involved in the research or development of new approaches.

Although we have great respect for methodologists, researchers, and academics, we do find at times that those who no longer practice have lost sight of what really works in the classroom these days. The needs of the learner have changed; the outcomes of learning have changed; even the learners themselves have changed.

You will find as you gain more and more experience as a one-to-one specialist that being a practitioner, following the needs and learning outcomes of each individual learner, will certainly overtake conventional methodologies. Of course, some standards or rules will usually creep into your own methods, but your style will differ from learner to learner, and being open to this flexibility is what will make you a valuable asset to your students’ learning outcomes.

Pedagogy, Andragogy, and Heutagogy

Pedagogy, andragogy, and heutagogy are different approaches to teaching and learning.

The term pedagogy refers to the conventional method of instruction, in which the teacher serves as the main knowledge source and the students act just as passive recipients of that knowledge. The main focus is on the teacher-led transmission to the student.

In a more contemporary technique called andragogy, the adult learner is the main focus. Here, the focus is mainly on independent learning, with the teacher acting more as a guide than as a source of information. Courses tend to be structured and sequential in nature, and knowledge is facilitated rather than presented.

Heutagogy is a relatively contemporary method that stresses independent learning. It is centered on giving students the tools they need to take charge of their own learning and decide for themselves what, how, and when to learn. It is predicated on the notion that the learner is the key player in their own learning, and that learning is a non-linear process.

Here is a handy chart that outlines some of the key differences among these approaches.

As you can see from the graphic below, the lower the teacher control and course structure, the higher the level of autonomy and learner maturity.

In summary, pedagogy is teacher-centered, andragogy is learner-centered, and heutagogy is self-directed learning.

In the one-to-one setting that we discuss throughout the book, high learner autonomy and low teacher control is what we profess.

Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the art and study of effective communication, particularly the use of language to persuade and influence an audience. To elicit a desired response from the audience, it makes use of strategies like logic, storytelling, and emotional appeals. There are several situations where rhetoric can be used, such as public speaking, political speeches, advertising,