Expert Talks

Language coaching places strong emphasis on learner agency, ownership, and growth. Yet behind every client-centred session, another dynamic is at work: the coach’s role in holding structure, responsibility, and emotional space. In this talk, Ana Jereb explores the tension between supporting learner autonomy and over-functioning as a coach. Why do many coaches carry more responsibility than they realise? How do blurred boundaries and invisible emotional labour contribute to depletion over time? Drawing on her work in teacher wellbeing and professional sustainability, Ana will offer practical frameworks for creating clearer roles, healthier expectations, and coaching practices that are both impactful and sustainable. This session is for language coaches who want to deepen their work without sacrificing themselves in the process.

Ana Jereb is a teacher trainer and wellbeing coach who works with language professionals seeking more sustainable and meaningful careers. Drawing on her experience in teacher training and reflective practice, she explores how emotional labour, boundaries, and regulation shape the quality and longevity of our work. She believes that sustainable practice is not about doing less, but about working with greater clarity and coherence.