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I’ve been teaching English as a second language for years, and the number of students in the class vary from one to thirty. I find that there are a great number of differences between teaching one to one and teaching a group of students. Teaching one to one can be challenging and rewarding, with unique possibilities and problems as well as benefits for both student and teacher. There are various differences between one to one teaching and group teaching. Firstly, the class management can be quite different, for there is little or no classroom management required in a one to one class. This may save the teacher the effort and time of setting the class. Secondly, teaching one to one requires the teacher to adapt existing materials extensively to suit a one to one class. The teacher has may reduce the materials if the student has a hard time learning the knowledge, while on the contrary, if the student fit quite well, the teacher could add more extensive knowledge to the material, such as vocabulary related to the lesson, and more background information, even more activities to practice the target language. Thirdly, the timing and structure of the class is often decided by the learner and their needs rather than the course structure, whereas in a group, the teacher seldom alter the content according to one single student. Teaching one to one can be challenging for several reasons. First of all, Many learners feel more comfortable practising new language - and making mistakes - in a group dynamic rather than in front of a teacher. I found that the class can be hard to process when teaching a shy student, or when the student is young and reluctant to study English, but this can be solve by putting more patience and passion in it. The teacher needs to encourage the student to speak out and give positive feedback, also be patient when the student makes mistake. Moreover, Classes can be physically and mentally exhausting for learner and teacher. For a one hour class, for example, there are no opportunities to interact with other learners, develop a group dynamic and to receive support. This means that the class may become boring if the teacher does not find new approaches or the learner does not respond to the class. This problem, however, can be avoided if the teacher plan the lesson well and try to build a positive relationship with the student. However, teaching one to one can also be extremely beneficial for the student as well as the teacher. Most importantly, the learner has the undivided attention of the teacher. To be specific, the teacher can get the feedback from the student more clearly, which is easier to check the student’s understanding of the course and adjust the lesson plan according to the student’s needs. It’s also easier to check the homework and test the student’s learning process. Moreover, the learner has more opportunities to use the teacher as a resource to ask questions, to see models of language, and to practise skills. This also means that the teacher can build a closer relationship with the student both on the class and off the class. In conclusion, although teaching individuals can be challenging for a teacher and need more attention, it is a great opportunity to hone our teaching skill because we are exposed to different kinds of students who come from diverse cultures. This may improve our understanding of each student’s needs and make the class process more smoothly.
