Teach English in Fuxing Jiedao - Chongqing

Teaching one to oneThis report will discuss the various advantages and disadvantages of teaching one to one. It will also consider the teaching approach and the different types of one to one lessons.Teaching one to one can be arranged either privately or through a language school. In either case it is essential to establish why the student wants this type of lesson as oppose to a group lesson.The reasons may be personal e.g. shyness or linked to their job e.g. specific vocabulary. One to one teaching provides an intensive lesson with much more teacher time and the student has the complete attention of the teacher. The lessons can be more personal, targeting the student?s specific requirements, strengths and weaknesses. Progress is made at the student?s pace and is generally quicker than in group lessons as there is the potential to cover more material. For the teacher, giving a one to one lesson can be extremely interesting as it provides a chance to really get to know the student and develop a good working relationship. Also, there are fewer time constraints. However, one to one lessons require much concentration both by the teacher and the student and can result in exhaustion especially at lower levels. Often there is no time for the student to reflect and process the input information and no individual study time. The teacher focuses entirely on the student and this could be stressful. Also, without another person being present, the degree of interaction and the choice of activities can be limited.Another person introduces a whole new dimension to the lesson. By working so closely together there is a risk that the teacher becomes a counsellor which, in turn, can be stressful. When approaching a one to one course the teacher needs to discover the student?s specific requirements by conducting a needs analysis. This is best done by an open discussion with the student. It is important to establish whether there is a match between the student and the teacher?s skills. For example a student wanting medical vocabulary requires a teacher who has this knowledge already. Additionally, there needs to be a rapport between the two. They are going to work closely together and will need to get on or else it will be a trial for both. Once the needs have been discussed and agreed and rapport established the teacher needs to build a course targeting the key elements in a logical way but allowing for flexibility within the structure. The advantage of this type of course is the flexibility if offers both the student and teacher in that they can focus on something very specific or current which is of particular interest at that moment in time. The same basic principles for course structure and lesson plan that apply to group lessons can be used for one to one lessons but some modifications will be necessary. Generally, there is the chance to cover more work in a one to one lesson and the teacher must be well prepared, most probably over prepared. As the course is more intensive, it may be necessary to plan breaks or introduce quiet times when the student can work alone and absorb the new material without feeling pressurized. The teacher needs to take on the role of student B in exercises to allow for role play, games etc. Additionally, the teacher should provide a greater variety of material e.g. pictures, DVD in order to maintain interest. The student can be encouraged to supply some of their own material. One to one lessons are normally face to face but they can also be given via Skype or over the phone. In these cases the interaction is more limited and the teacher needs to plan well in advance to ensure that the student has received any necessary material. However, they do allow for busy professionals to have their lessons at home or in the office and the teacher can also work from home. Overall, one to one lessons provide the student with a very focused and personal approach to learning giving the opportunity to learn a language quickly and efficiently.