Languages with Reka

❗️A little reminder for us, language educators: Today, I came across a beautiful quote that deeply resonates with my approach to language learning and teaching:

„Teachers open the door🚪, but you must enter by yourself.” (Chinese proverbe)

This weekend, I participated in a Rachel Paling's webinar on integrating coaching into language teaching. Right at the beginning, we revisited one of the most important cornerstones of efficient language learning, which cannot be overemphasized: the significant role of ownership in the learning process. 👩🏼‍💻
It's a proven fact that taking responsibility and ownership in language learning leads to greater success. 🏆 When students autonomously self-regulate, they are more likely to achieve their goals and progress faster. 🎯As language educators, we must accept that our role is to open the door and present inspiring opportunities in the language learning journey. The learner, however, is the one who must step through that door and choose their own path and goals. This self-regulating process motivates learners, helps them tackle difficulties🤹🏼‍♂️, and encourages them to seek new opportunities. This brings me back to another favorite quote:

“The one who does the work is the one who does the learning.” - T. Doyle 🌱💛👩🏼‍💻

When I attended the Neurolanguage Coaching® course three and a half years ago, I had no idea it will transform not only my professional life but also my personal life. My understanding of successful and effective language learning shifted significantly. My own journey to learning French changed for the better. I couldn't be more grateful to Rachel Paling for providing such valuable insights. She showed me how we, as language educators, can enhance our learners' language processes, regardless of their linguistic backgrounds. 😊

By taking part in the advanced Neurolanguage Coaching® course, my goal was to enhance my skills how to facilitate language learning through neuroscience principles. This course provided me with new techniques and methodologies to support my learners more effectively, and with the ability to boost their confidence. I am excited about the opportunity to integrate these new methods into my coaching practice, and to create a more personalized and impactful learning experience for my clients.⚖️🚀🏆🌱😊

Let me share with you the 10 most important insights that Neurolanguage Coaching® has brought into my life:

💡 A completely new and effective approach to language teaching and learning
💡 A wonderful community of incredibly inspiring, like-minded people who share my passion for language coaching
💡 The ability to transfer language skills more effectively
💡 Insights into how emotional triggers impact learning outcomes
💡 Understanding how our brains work to foster a more effective learning process
💡 Tailored coaching techniques that suit individual learning styles
💡 Techniques how to reduce language learning anxiety
💡 Opportunities for continuous development and personal growth
💡 Wonderful, motivated, and ambitious clients who are willing to leave their comfort zones to explore new ways of language learning with me
💡 The opportunity to go beyond my own limiting beliefs and shift my perception of what is possible in language learning — the sky is the limit when we have the right tools in our hands.✍🏻💛

Why is positive feedback so essential in the language learning process? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Giving positive feedback stimulates the production of dopamine, which plays an essential role in effective and enjoyable learning. 💪🏻🏆 As educators, we need to understand that our emotions and our attitude, such as positivity, comprehension, empathy, care, attention and tolerance towards our learners, create neurochemicals that can improve their memory, creativity and also enhance their performance. To provoke this brain state where the limbic system is calm, the continuous feedback is indispensable. 🗣As a teacher or coach, we need to take the opportunity whenever we can and recognize our students’ performance and comment on it with positive feedback. Our positive statements will enhance their learning process, increase their motivation, which will help them achieve their goals faster. 🏆

Whenever possible, acknowledge and reinforce their actions such as completion of the consolidation work (homework), doing extra work, trying something new, discovering a new grammar rule, correctly applying a new grammar, or engaging in a new learning method/strategy. 🥳👏🏻

In summary, positive feedback:

💛boosts the learners’ motivation and confidence.
💛reinforces the correct language usage.
💛encourages the learners to continue practicing.
💛creates a supportive learning environment.
💛reduces the fear of making mistakes.
💛improves the learners’ communication skills.
💛enhances the relationship between teacher and students.

Reminder for all of us language learners: It is perfectly fine to start speaking a language imperfectly, because "language is the only thing worth knowing even poorly," (by Kató Lomb) and "failure is the only way to grow." (by Lewis Howes) 💪🏻🏆

As you've probably noticed, I'm a big fan of quotes. 🗣 I've been collecting them in a notebook for years and reading them every single day to boost my motivation and find inspiration. Do you have a favorite quote that inspires you? 💫🌈✨☺️