It is super common for
online language learners
to believe
that they cannot stay consistent
unless they have a language teacher.
Thing is, though, that finding an online
teacher is a lot easier said than done.
A lot of
language learners jump into working
one on one
with a language teacher online,
and then something just doesn't click.
They still can't stay consistent.
They still don't enjoy the process.
Something is just not working.
If you have experienced this
and you still want to work
with a one on one teacher,
this video is for you.
I'm going to talk about six
different signs
that you may need
a different language teacher,
which is great
because that means that your approach
to learn your language isn't wrong,
you just need to shift a little bit,
and this video is going
to give you everything
that you need to know
about how to find
a better teacher for you.
If you're new here. Hi, my name is Jamie.
I am a language coach
and my job is helping
online language learners
find an approach that works for them
and makes them happy
so they can stay consistent
in their language learning long term.
So if that sounds good to you,
make sure to subscribe
and hit the bell to be notified
when I post a new video every Wednesday.
The first sign
that you need a different language
teacher is that you're not comfortable.
A lot of people won't talk about this,
but language
learning is a really vulnerable thing,
it's really really scary.
And if you don't have support systems
to help you move
through that vulnerable place
and help you feel comfortable
and confident
trying to learn a language,
then that language teacher isn't for you.
In fact,
that's like a huge part of their job,
is to make you feel uncomfortable
and recognize those feelings
that you may be having.
This is why
non-native speakers
can sometimes
make better language teachers,
because they understand
exactly what you're going through
and they can help you
to feel more confident and comfortable.
Of course,
if the teacher that you're working
with doesn't help you feel comfortable,
that doesn't mean
that they're a bad teacher.
It doesn't mean
necessarily that
they can't make anybody feel comfortable.
You have different needs than that
particular teacher can support,
and that's okay.
Just means that you need
a different teacher
and you have a better idea
of what to look for now.
The second sign
that you need a different language
teacher is that not only
are you not learning
what you want to learn,
but if you've expressed
that to your teacher
and they haven't really been able
to shift their approach
to something that's more reflective
of what you're asking for.
The thing
with professional language teachers
is that they have a general curriculum
that they apply to every student.
Now, if they're a good teacher
they can be flexible
in their curriculum and flexible
in their approach
and respond to your needs
and what you're asking for.
And if that means that they have
to completely
toss their curriculum to the side,
they'll be willing to it
and they're able to
if it's something
that you specifically need or request.
However, a lot of the time
a teacher won't budge
for whatever reason.
Maybe they're just not very flexible
as a person
and maybe they're not understanding
what you need.
Maybe they don't believe that
what you're asking for
is going to be beneficial to you.
It could be any number of things.
Or it could also be
that that teacher
hasn't provided an environment
where you feel comfortable
asking for something different.
And again,
this goes back to the first point
where you need somebody who you feel
comfortable talking with.
You don't want to be paying for a tutor
once, twice, three times a week,
but you don't feel comfortable
saying that what you're doing isn't
actually benefiting you.
That's going to be a terrible experience
for both of you.
So if you've expressed that
what you want,
what you need, is
something different than
they're providing you with,
but they're just
not quite hitting the mark,
it might be time to find
a different language teacher.
Another really big feature
of a great language teacher for you
is that you're getting
effective feedback.
Now, the term "effective feedback"
could mean a whole bunch
of different things
depending on what you're looking for.
Every language
learner needs some sort of feedback,
and especially
if they're actively working
with private tutors,
they definitely need
some sort of feedback.
But the type of feedback
that they need will differ
from person to person.
For example,
a total beginner is not going to benefit
really well from getting feedback
for every single mistake that they make.
As a beginner is still trying
to figure out
how to express themselves
and find their words
and taking the time to let their brain
figure out the language.
If every time they tried
to express themselves,
a teacher is just constantly
pointing out
everything that they said wrong
or did wrong,
or accenting it
correctly or whatever
it is
it's going to be really, really hard
for that beginner language learner
to grow in a confident, comfortable way.
Or on the flip side,
if there's a more advanced language
learner
who is making the same repeated mistakes
over and over again,
but the teacher deems
that those mistakes aren't
worth pointing out,
depending on the language
learner,
that might be important information
for them to know.
A lot of times more advanced language
learners, they have specific patterns
in their speaking
that may be more reflective
of their native language
and not the target language
that they're trying to speak.
And some language learners care
and some don't.
It's totally up
to each individual language
learner and language teacher to assess
if that is important
for them to know and improve upon,
or if it's fine, it doesn't matter.
And at the end of the day, of course,
if you're paying for a private tutor,
the kind of feedback
that you're receiving
is totally up to you.
If it's a private tutor
that you're using, it is (a)
asking specifically
what kind of feedback you're looking for,
or (b) is open to hearing you express
that you need
a different kind of feedback.
And if they are not open to it,
or if you don't feel comfortable asking
or if you have asked
and they haven't changed
how they give you feedback,
then maybe it's time
for a different language teacher,
because if you can't get
the kind of feedback
that you're looking for,
that's really going to hold your language
learning back.
And that's a really important thing
for a language teacher to give you.
If you don't have the feedback
that you're looking for,
you can't improve
in the way that you're looking for.
How do you feel about working
with a language teacher?
Let me know in the comments
section below.
The fourth thing to look for
in a great language teacher for you
is that they're helping
you stay motivated.
Like I said, a lot of language learners
look to language teachers
to help
keep them motivated and consistent
in the long term.
And if your language teacher
isn't helping, keeping you
motivated and helping, keeping you...
you know what I mean,
then that's a huge red flag.
And again,
of course, just like every other thing
mentioned in this video,
it doesn't necessarily mean
that it's a bad teacher.
It just may not be a good fit for you,
and that's okay.
If you are meeting
with a language teacher
consistently, week after
week, day after day,
but you feel like you're
dragging your feet
and you're forcing yourself
to attend these sessions
and forcing yourself to stay engaged
as the session goes by,
and not because of any like
executive dysfunction issues
or like fatigue,
but because the classes themselves
aren't enriching to you,
then you might need a different
language teacher.
You do really need to be excited
to work with the language teacher
that you're meeting with,
or else there's really no point.
That negative cycle
that you find yourself
stuck in is going to end up
making you quit
and it's going to make you feel terrible
and you don't want to go down that route.
Number five
is that they're not supporting you
with independent study.
The thing about working with
a language teacher
that a lot of language learners
don't get
is that
if you are working with a teacher,
you need to be doing your own
independent study.
Now, what that study looks like
depends on you, depends on your goals,
depends on your teacher.
But you can't just show up to class,
or you shouldn't
just show up to class,
and expect the teacher
to do all of the teaching
and the learning for you.
That's not how this works.
Seriously,
homework can be a really effective way
to learn a language and a way to study
if you do it right
and there are tons of ways
to go about this
independent study,
this could mean finding articles
or movies
or TV shows
to discuss with your language teacher.
It could be them
providing you with notes.
It could be them
providing you with assignments and games.
It could be literally anything.
Remember that your teacher's job
is to guide you through, not
to just like,
try and force everything into you.
And if it doesn't stick, then
you find another teacher.
That's not what this is about.
You got to put the effort in yourself.
Even if you're only meeting
with your language teacher once a week,
it still doesn't make language
learning a once a week thing.
In literally no scenario is once a week
really beneficial
for you to have massive growth
in your language learning.
That is where independent study comes in.
And if you don't know how to study
independently, it's time
for you to ask your language teacher
what you can do, what they recommend.
If they can supply you
with independent study that you'll enjoy
and help you work towards your goals.
The sixth way to know
that you may need
a different language teacher
is that you're not encouraged
to actually use the language.
And this is an especially important point
for native English speakers
because so many foreign language teachers
can talk to us in our native language.
It's really easy to fall back
into just using our native language
and, you know,
hoping that they'll correct us
and just kind of go from there.
If you want to speak the language,
you need to speak the language
even when it's difficult,
which it will be, especially at first.
But if you can't rely
on your language teacher
to encourage you and
do the things that need to be done
in order
to get you
producing the language yourself,
then it might be time
for a different language teacher.
And of course, this depends
completely on your goals,
your personality, your needs,
the language teacher.
It all, there's a lot of factors
that go into this,
but the general idea is true.
Your language
teacher's job
is to support you
in your growth, in the growth
that you're looking for.
And if they are not effectively
doing that,
you may need a different language
teacher.
Now, one consistent thing in
all of these points
is the basic idea
that your language teacher
needs to help
you reach the goals
that you set out
for your language learning.
But what if you don't know
exactly what those goals are?
What if you can't communicate those goals
to your language teacher?
What are you supposed to do then?
And how do you know if what you're doing
with your language
teacher is actually being effective
for you in your language learning?
If you're asking yourself
these questions,
click
the link below in the description
to learn about my 90 day
coaching program, The Method.
You can learn all about how I help
language learners understand
exactly what they're looking for,
how to get it,
and how to stay consistent
in the long term, with
or without a language teacher.
And if you like this video,
check out these videos next.
Otherwise, have a wonderful day and I
will see you next time.