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Language and educational coaches

Academic Coaching

A ‘coach’ usually refers to a sports coach who trains an athlete to improve their technique and performance, or aids and instructs people who want to exercise to become fit and lose weight. However there are coaches for all different fields, from speech coaches who train their pupils in public speaking and delivery, accent reduction and presentation skills, to acting coaches who train actors how to enhance their skills.  Basically a coach is someone who not only teaches skills and information, but also encourages, motivates, and helps their pupil to reach their full potential. This is especially important for ‘life coaches’. Another type of coach is a speech coach who provides training in presentation skills, public speaking and accent reduction.

Academic coaches mentor students to improve study and learning skills. While tutors teach students the course material, coaches show students how to be successful at learning, including study skills, time and stress management, effective reading and note-taking, how to approach exams, understanding the syllabus, effective essay and report writing to academic standards and presentation skills. Usually coaches meet with students once a week, giving tips and monitoring their learning efficiency, whether while they are already enrolled in a course or trying to pass entrance exams. One of the key aspects of academic coaches is trying to encourage and motivate students to excel, as well as giving them the tools to do so.

Language Coaches

Language coaches are similar to academic coaches in that they give the tools needed for success, as well as motivating the student. Language coaches may teach students the best way to approach language learning, help with pronunciation, give opportunities to practice conversing in the foreign language, provide materials to immerse the student in the language (books, journal articles, movies, tapes, music, websites with practice exercises). They can also go over students’ work to show where they can improve.