Whether you are a language learner seeking a personalised and goal-oriented approach or an
educator interested in understanding a wider scope of strategies available, it may be worthwhile to
check out these key ideas, to help you make informed decisions about your language learning path or
instructional practices.
A discipline that has gained recognition in recent years for approaching language learning is language
coaching. While both teaching and coaching share the goal of enhancing language skills, they
approach the process from different angles, emphasising unique aspects of learning and
development.
∙ Coaching focuses on goals set by the language learner, as long as they are realistic
and achievable within a given timeframe.
∙ A collaborative relationship is formed between the coach and the learner, helping to
identify strengths and weaknesses, set goals, and develop strategies.
∙ Language coaching often emphasises real-life communication skills (general language
coaching) or the cultural and/or workplace aspects of language use
(corporate/business language coaching).
∙ Coaching is personalised, focusing on individual learner needs and goals, emphasizing
self-discovery and reflection, while teaching is structured and delivers general
language knowledge and skills through strong knowledge transfer.
∙ Language coaching is generally recommended for learners who already have a
certain level of language proficiency and seek to develop specific skills or areas, while
teaching is more suitable for beginners or those in need of structured instruction.
∙ Whereas teaching will spend more time around the first few areas of the roadmap,
coaching will strive to provide support in the second half. The two complement each
other to ensure a seamless language-learning journey for the learner.
Gabriella Kovács MA, PCC
