Here are potential matches between the solutions and problems:
- Do a thorough needs analysis. Discuss your learner’s needs and get agreement. → Course Design: Timing and Structure
- Set clear goals. It is important to set long and short term objectives which include types of activities such as reading, role-plays, watching videos as well as language points. Also do feedback regularly to check if these goals have been met. → Course Design: Timing and Structure
- Go and get a coffee or have a walk for a few minutes while your student reads or does some other individual activity → Interaction: Roles and Relationship
- Take part in pair work activities - be student B. This can be a great listening exercise
1. In pairs, discuss for a few minutes which teaching/
learning situation you would prefer and why.
2. Now, as one group, share your opinions and decide
how one-to-one teaching is different in terms of:
● Where ● When ● Why
● How ● Who
3. Group Teaching One-to-one teaching
Where Classroom / seminar room
School / company
When Fixed timetabled classes
Young learners, exam students,
Who adults, businessmen
Learners learn from each other as
How well as from teacher
Group dynamics very important
- English one of the school subjects
Why - Classroom teaching is the norm in
that culture/ context / in preparing
for this exam
4. Group Teaching One-to-one teaching
Classroom / seminar room Classroom / seminar room
Where School / company School / company
Online Teacher’s / Learner’s home
Online more often
Timetabled classes, sometimes at
When Fixed timetabled classes unusual times / days
But changes / cancellations must be
factored in
Who Young learners, exam students, All types but quite often, adult
adults, businessmen professionals
Learners learn from each other as Only Teacher-Student interaction - can
How well as from teacher limit type of activities
Group dynamics very important Materials designed specifically for one-
to-one classes may be more difficult to
get
- English one of the school subjects - Student has very specific needs
Why - Classroom teaching is the norm in - Student has limited time
that culture/ context / in preparing - Student can afford to have more
personalized tuition and has high
for this exam
expectations
5. Advantages and Problems in one-to-one teaching
Discuss in pairs the following areas:
+ -
Course Design:
Timing and
Structure
Materials and
Resources
Activities and
Techniques
Interaction:
Roles and
Relationship
Motivation and
Pressure
6. Advantages and Problems in one-to-one teaching
Discuss in pairs the following areas:
-
+
Teacher can tailor instruction to Often schools don’t give a syllabus
learner’s needs, learning style, for one-to-one classes so it is more
pace, level, etc. difficult to record and show
progress to the student.
The learner’s strengths and
Course Design: weaknesses are addressed more It can be difficult to measure
Timing and consistently and fully. progress without the framework of
a syllabus or other students to
Structure
There are fewer time constraints. compare with.
This means we can spend as long
as necessary to address our
student’s needs, and explore
areas of personal interest
Teacher and learner can negotiate
course content, which fosters
learner autonomy
7. Advantages and Problems in one-to-one teaching
+ -
Learner can be involved in Difficult to plan lessons around
Materials and choosing course content, and a coursebook, which tends to
Resources providing materials of their be written for groups
interest
A lot of adaptation is needed.
Teachers can select materials
which are bound to motivate T may have to create materials
the student. from scratch.
8. Advantages and Problems in one-to-one teaching
+ -
No mixed abilities – no fast The teacher has to be very
finishers to deal with. careful when acting as parner
Activities and in pair work: grade language,
Techniques Personalized activities. avoid dominating the activity
More opportunity for learner Teachers might feel bad about
training activities. doing reading and writing.
They worry that students will
see it as a “waste of time”.
Teachers find it difficult to take
notes for correction without
distracting the student.
9. Advantages and Problems in one-to-one teaching
+ -
Learner’s practice Only interaction is with teacher – no
pair/group work with other learners,
opportunities are maximized
which can be a bit monotonous for
both the teacher and the learner.
Interaction: Learner gets the teacher’s
Roles and undivided attention and can The learner doesn’t have much time to
Relationship reflect and process input as in a class
use teacher as a resource
where the teacher might be more
comfortable with silent periods.
We as teachers can learn
something too. Students can The role of counsellor can be stressful.
Teachers might feel uncomfortable
teach us about their interests,
listening to personal problems of their
work and experiences. students / lesson becomes a chat
10. Advantages and Problems in one-to-one teaching
+ -
Student/ teacher personality
Likely to be much more differences or opposing opinions
motivating for the learner due can demotivate both the teacher
to level of involvement. and the learner.
Motivation and Some learners find lack of Monotonous setting and
Pressure interaction.
peer pressure liberating.
Both teacher and learner always
“on” - can be stressful and
physically and mentally exhausting
for both
Some learners feel uncomfortable
or “ put on the spot” when no
other Ss.
The teacher may feel pressurised
to achieve results because of a
greater degree of responsibility
11. - Individually, take 2 minutes to come up with a solution for 3 of the
problems mentioned above.
- Write each solution on a separate piece of paper but do NOT mention
which problems it addresses.
- Give the pieces of paper to another trainee. Can they guess which
problem the solution addresses?
Example:
Try changing the pace of the lesson as often as possible.
Can you guess what this is a remedy for?
12. Now try and match the following tips to the problem areas
mentioned above
● Do a thorough needs analysis. Discuss your ● Explain what you are doing and why
learner’s needs and get agreement. ● Be very flexible
● Set clear goals. It is important to set long and
short term objectives which include types of
● Try a range of methods and techniques
activities such as reading, role-plays, watching ● Find a range of methods for giving
videos as well as language points. Also do
feedback regularly to check if these goals have feedback to your learner.
been met. ● Use homework to support learning
● Go and get a coffee or have a walk for a
few minutes while your student reads or ● Don’t be afraid of silence.
does some other individual activity ● Use the internet for resources, authentic
● Take part in pair work activities - be materials and inspiration
student B. This can be a great listening ● Move around the classroom furniture or
exercise for the student as well as a
change sitting positions quite often.
speaking activity.
● Take notes openly. Explain why you are
doing it.