The Crucial First Lesson: What to Do In Class 1 As a Language Tutor

The first lesson with a new learner is pivotal. It’s the class that will make your learners decide if they want to continue or not. For adult learners, this decision is often accompanied by a mix of excitement and apprehension. Many come with insecurities, worried about their ability to succeed. Your role in this initial session is not just to teach but to reassure them that they can indeed achieve their goals.

In today’s blog, we’ll share 5 essential actions language tutors should take during their first class with adult learners.

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1. Find Out What Drives the Learner

Understanding your llearner’s motivations is fundamental. Every learner has a unique reason for studying a new language, and these reasons will shape your teaching approach and choice of materials.

Some learners might be learning for professional reasons, aiming to advance their careers or improve job prospects. Others may have personal motivations, such as preparing for travel, connecting with family members, or simply pursuing a lifelong interest. Knowing these motivations helps you tailor your lessons to be more relevant and engaging.

For instance, a learner learning for business purposes might benefit from industry-specific vocabulary and professional scenarios. In contrast, someone learning for travel might need practical conversation skills and cultural insights. By identifying what drives your learner, you can create a more personalized and effective learning experience.

2. Build Rapport with Your Learner

Building rapport with your learner is crucial in the first lesson. This means taking the time to learn about their history and interests, while also sharing a bit about yourself. This mutual exchange helps learners see you as a real person, not just a language tutor.

When learners perceive you as a relatable human being, their anxieties can diminish. Finding common interests or experiences can further ease their worries. For example, if you both enjoy a particular hobby or have traveled to the same places, mentioning these connections can create a sense of familiarity and comfort.

Establishing a personal connection is essential for a positive learning experience. When learners like and trust their tutor, they are more likely to engage fully in the learning process. This trust fosters an environment where they feel safe to make mistakes and ask questions, which is key to their growth and enjoyment in learning the language.

3. Assess Your Learner’s Current Level

Many learners come with some prior knowledge, often without realizing it or underestimating their abilities. Assessing their current level is essential to tailor your lessons effectively.

For instance, if your learner is learning French, you can start by listing all the French words they already know. Use categories like food (croissant, baguette), fashion (boutique, couture), and everyday terms (chauffeur, rendezvous). This activity not only boosts their confidence but also highlights their existing vocabulary.

Having a clear understanding of what your learner can and can’t do is crucial. It allows you to pinpoint areas that need more focus and select appropriate materials. For example, if your learner can understand basic vocabulary but struggles with sentence structure, you can prioritize grammar exercises. This targeted approach ensures that your lessons are efficient and effective, leading to quicker progress and higher learner satisfaction.

4. Find Out if the Learner Knows Any Other Language

Discovering whether your learner knows any other language can significantly aid your teaching process. If a learner already knows Portuguese and is now learning Spanish, they will find many familiar rules and vocabulary. For example, both languages share similar grammar structures and cognates such as “familia” (family) and “amigo” (friend). This familiarity can accelerate their learning process.

Additionally, understanding the languages they already know can help you identify effective study and memorizing techniques they’ve used before. For instance, if they found flashcards helpful while learning Portuguese, you might incorporate flashcards into your Spanish lessons. This approach leverages their existing strategies, making the learning process more efficient and personalized.

5. Help Your Learner Know Their Learning Style

Every learner has a unique language learning style, and understanding this can enhance their learning experience. There are three primary learning styles: visual, auditory, and kinesthetic.

• Visual learners benefit from seeing information. They prefer diagrams, charts, and written instructions. For example, using colorful flashcards or visual aids can help these learners grasp new concepts better.
• Auditory learners understand best through listening. They prefer discussions, podcasts, and verbal instructions. Playing audio clips or engaging in conversational practice can be particularly effective for these learners.
• Kinesthetic learners learn through movement and touch. They prefer hands-on activities and physical engagement. Role-playing or using physical objects to represent concepts can enhance their understanding.

To identify your learner’s learning style, you can observe their reactions to different activities or directly ask them about their preferences. Understanding how they learn best allows you to tailor your teaching methods accordingly, leading to a more effective and enjoyable learning experience for both of you.

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The first lesson with a new learner is critical in setting the stage for a successful learning journey. By understanding their motivations, building rapport, assessing their current level, recognizing their existing language skills, and identifying their language learning style, you can create a positive and effective learning environment. These steps not only help your learners feel more confident and engaged but also allow you to tailor your lessons to their unique needs.

If you’re a language tutor looking to connect with motivated learners, we invite you to join our platform. LovLan is a leading online global directory of professionally qualified and skilled language tutors for learnerlearners who want to learn any language. As a subsidiary of a major international language training organization, we have been providing tailor-made language courses to customers around the world for nearly 20 years. In 2020, we launched our online global directory to offer even more flexibility and affordability for language learners and tutors alike.

→Join the LovLan Community and Start Teaching Today←

At LovLan, you can easily create a profile, set your rates, and schedule lessons that fit your availability. Our mission is to make it as easy and inexpensive as possible for language learners and great tutors to find each other and connect around the world. Learners can choose the language they want to learn, browse language tutor profiles, select their preferred tutor, and book lessons directly through our platform. This streamlined process ensures that learners pay what they want to pay, and tutors earn what they want to earn.

Become a language tutor at LovLan today and become part of a global community dedicated to making language learning accessible, personalized, and enjoyable for everyone!