If Your Student is Your Relative

It was my boyfriend who asked me the following puzzling question: if you are a teacher of English why haven’t you taught me some English so far? (we are both Russian). At first I wanted to say – “Simply because you are …”. But then I paused and, on second thoughts, exclaimed that I was ready to start immediately.

I realized perfectly well what psychological and pedagogic problems I was likely to come across from the very beginning. But at the same time that boosted my imagination as well as inspiration immensely and made me think out the curriculum thoroughly.

Here are the crucial points of my teaching plan which I will share with you with great pleasure.

1. Don’t impose any “special” teaching methods on your student and get him/her to understand that they can give up these classes any time they like. I’m sure that absolute freedom of choice is vital, for it gives all the rights and no duties, and what is more, develops your student’s confidence both in themselves and you.
2. Set particular goals and time limit for every stage of the learning process so that your student could feel responsible for its accomplishment. Otherwise, teaching by fits and starts will ruin all the motivation of your student (on the psychological level he will feel that if you let him miss classes, you yourself are either not sure of positive results or consider the studies absolutely unimportant).
3. Don’t forget about regular control of your student’s achievements emphasizing his progress (rather than pointing out his failures), which is highly important for fueling his interest and motivation and the feeling of competition with himself.
4. Make the best use of your common interests and things your are both very well familiar with. They will be a helpful aid in breaking the ice in the beginning and the basis for your fruitful dialogue in the future.
5. Develop your own skills while teaching and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. There is absolutely nothing shameful in admitting your blunder if you show that you are determined to do your best and correct it.
6.  Sense of humour – it’s power is obviously indisputable! I believe I don’t need to  prove it to you.

The information above concerns not only language-teaching, but also playing a musical instrument, drawing, writing stories, cooking and lots of other things you are so fond of!

Summing up – please, remember that your personal relations with you dear relatives are your top priority, no matter how high you put your purely educational aim. They are, without doubt, just invaluable.

So I wish you bright students and good luck! Please write back soon about your own experience!