“We know that each brain is unique”
Coaching-methoden werden inzwischen auch erfolgreich zum Erlernen einer Fremdsprache eingesetzt. Lesen Sie hier, was es damit auf sich hat.
Coaching has also entered the world of language teaching. Some trainers have rebranded themselves as language coaches, while others talk about using a “coaching style of teaching”. We spoke to Rachel Paling, founder of Efficient Language Coaching (https://www.efficientlanguagecoaching.com), whose company provides accreditation in language coaching.
How did you come to language coaching?
I began teaching adults in Spain at 17. In 2003, I qualified as a UK lawyer and spent more than ten years as a business English trainer specializing in legal English. It was then that I began my personal journey towards becoming a life coach and brain-based coach, and crystallized the concept of “neurolanguage (NL) coaching”.
What is the definition of language coaching?
There is still no clear definition of language coaching, but trained language coaches do have a different approach — that of assisting the “learning, improving, developing” in a language using principles, models, tools and structures from professional coaching, and a predominantly coaching style. The language coach does not advise or tell the learner what to do. Nor does she act as a therapist, life coach or consultant. And what exactly is neurolanguage coaching?
Many language trainers already intuitively deliver in a coaching style, but with little awareness of how brain-friendly or cost-effective the process is. They may be falling short on coaching competences like active listening, asking powerful questions, creating coaching presence and really tailormaking the learning, based entirely on the client’s needs. Ultimately, the client should be setting quantifiable goals with actions within a given time period to achieve these, and they must “own the process” with periodic measurements of progress.
Neurolanguage coaching ensures that all of this takes place and adds the practical incorporation of neuroscientific principles into the learning process wherever possible. We know that each brain is unique, so we co-create the process with the client, so that both together discover the most efficient way for that person to learn, with great emphasis on learner autonomy. We coach around language blocks, negative mindsets and confidence issues relating to language. And whenever possible, we explain what is happening to the brain at any given time to bring more metacognition and self-awareness to the learner. A neurolanguage coaching engagement divides the learning goals into mechanical goals relating to grammar, structure and pronunciation, and “mastery” goals relating to the functional use and application of the language — and it strives for constant optimization of the learning process.
What evidence is there that clients learn in a more efficient way using this approach?
NL coaches worldwide are having amazing breakthroughs: one client advanced from English A2 to B2 in two months. Another achieved in three months what would normally have taken more than a year. We are currently working with Dimitris Zeppos, an academic researcher in Athens, who is studying the impact of this approach.
The coaching contract. If you start working with a professional coach, you will probably have an initial session before the coaching starts, during which the coach explains the coaching process, and finds out why you want to be coached. You then agree together on the scope of the coaching, the number and length of sessions, and the fees, so that the coach can draw up a contract for you both to sign before you start. Each individual session can also be seen in terms of a contract to achieve a certain outcome. “The difference between a good and a great coaching session is in the contract,” says Bernadette Cass of Heworth Associates (www.heworthassociates.co.uk).
Code of ethics. The major coaching organizations all have a code of ethics. The Association for Coaching and the European Mentoring & Coaching Council have agreed on a Global Code of Ethics that coaches and organizations can sign up to. Ask your prospective coach if she has done this.
Supervision. Good coaches have a supervisor for the regular monitoring of performance. Ask about this, too.
Professional indemnity insurance. Professional coaches should have this protection. Check that yours does.
8. Over to you
If you don’t have any experience of coaching, but are interested in the topic, why not try it out? Find a friend or colleague who you can co-coach: you coach her and she coaches you, maybe for 15 or 20 minutes each to begin with. Then give each other feedback. If there are three of you, you can form a triad and rotate roles, with one of you acting as an observer each time.
If you find you enjoy coaching and want to take it further and add value to your professional role, you could decide to get a professional qualification. You can contact any of the organizations listed in the “For more information” box on this page. You should also get advice from several qualified coaches.
Coaching creates evangelists, people who believe fervently in the power of coaching to unblock and unlock potential. I’m one of them. Some coaches see coaching as an essentially subversive activity because it challenges the status quo in individuals, in organizations and in the wider society. I’m one of those, too.
In her book The Art of Coaching, Elena Aguilar says that “coaching ... brings out the best in people”. In fact, coaching can be transformational for both coach and coachee. All coaches gain enormous satisfaction from supporting people on their journey towards greater confidence, self-understanding and autonomy in their lives. And coachees testify to the sometimes life-changing impact of a coach’s single powerful question.
Why not try coaching for yourself and see?