Coaching Language Learners to Success with Kerstin Cable

Coaching Language Learners to Success with Kerstin Cable

Author: TESOL Pop May 8, 2024 Duration: 14:39

Founder of Fluent Language, Kerstin Cable, discusses the difference between teaching and coaching. Kerstin walks through key elements of her language habit system, which focuses on a cycle of planning, tracking, reviewing and goal setting to set learners up for success.


KEY TALKING POINTS


Defining Coaching

  • Coaching focuses on understanding the learner's goals and empowering them to find their own solutions.
  • Kerstin emphasises the importance of autonomy in the coaching process, allowing learners to make decisions and take ownership of their learning journey.


The Power of Habits

  • Kerstin discusses the significance of habits in language learning, drawing from Gretchen Rubin's framework.
  • She highlights the effectiveness of small, consistent actions over grand, unsustainable efforts.
  • Kerstin shares her experience developing a language habit system and its evolution.


Flexibility and Adaptability

  • The habit system allows for flexibility and adjustment based on individual needs and preferences.
  • Kerstin emphasises the importance of understanding one's motivations and adjusting habits accordingly.


Applicability Across Contexts

  • Laura reflects on her own language learning journey and the shift from traditional methods to a habit-based approach.
  • Kerstin explains how the habit system can be tailored to various goals and contexts, whether for citizenship exams or personal enjoyment.


ABOUT

Kerstin Cable is a language learning coach, speaker, and podcaster living in England. She is the woman behind Fluent Language.

Kerstin is the author of more than 15 books and courses for language learners, co-founder of AI Language Club and the Women in Language conference, and creator of the Fluent Show podcast.


She is a native German speaker who hails from the beautiful Moselle valley. Kerstin studied six languages in Germany and has added 4 more so far, including her language crush, Welsh. Kerstin is a popular speaker at universities and events, and has been featured on BBC World Service, in Süddeutsche Zeitung, Bloomberg Businessweek and The Cut.



REFERENCES

  1. Cable, K. (2021) Language Coaches: What they are and how to work with them
  2. The Fluent Show - a podcast about loving, living and learning languages
  3. Rubin, G. (2020). The Four Tendencies. Two Roads


TRANSCRIPT

Watch with closed captions.


SUPPORT

Say thanks by buying us a coffee here.


JOIN OUR EVENTS

Upcoming lives and workshops


PODCASTING TRAINING AND SERVICES

Visit Communicating for Impact here


CREDITS

Producer Laura Wilkes

Editor Haven Tsang

Thanks to our fab guest, Kerstin Cable.


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Ever feel like the best teaching ideas come from a quick chat in the staffroom, but your schedule never allows for it? TESOL Pop captures that spark. Designed for the busy English language teacher, this mini podcast delivers compact, meaningful conversations with TESOL, TEFL, and ESL educators globally. Each episode is a focused interview, kept under fifteen minutes, packed with practical ideas and personal insights that can genuinely shift your approach in the classroom. You’ll hear stories about career pivots, reflections on what actually works with students, and clever uses of technology, all shared in a casual, accessible tone. It’s the audio equivalent of a refreshing coffee break with a colleague who gets it. The podcast understands that profound professional development doesn’t always require a lengthy seminar; sometimes, a single, well-timed insight is enough to reinvigorate your teaching. By tuning in, you join a global conversation that feels both personal and immediately useful, making it easy to integrate new perspectives into your daily routine without overwhelming your calendar.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

TESOL Pop
Podcast Episodes
Tackling Self-Limiting Beliefs in Leadership with Shane Leaning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:39
Organisational Coach Shane Leaning dispels common self-limiting beliefs that often deter educators from pursuing leadership roles.In this episode, Shane talks about:✅ Leadership Realities: Shane challenges the misconcept…
Making Teaching Materials More Inclusive with Lottie Galpin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:50
Inclusive ELT Consultant Lottie Galpin talks about the importance of inclusive representation in teaching materials and suggests ways to make textbooks more inclusive.In this episode, Lottie talks about: ✅ The importance…
Language Games for Very Young Learners with Jema Perry [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:26
Founder of Mooncake English, Jema Perry, talks about stages of child development and shares three recyclable games that we can use with our very young (ages 2-4) language learners.In this episode, Jema talks about: ✅ Mot…
Taking a Career Break from Teaching with Sarah Omar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:09
Teacher Trainer and Educator Sarah Omar shares the story of her career in teaching so far and what motivated her to take a break. In this episode, Sarah talks about: ✅ How we can support our ongoing learning and build ou…
A Guide to Teaching One-to-One with Rob Howard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:37
Business owner Rob Howard shares his experience and tips on teaching one-to-one English language classes.In this episode, Rob talks about:1. Challenges we may encounter in moving from teaching groups to one-to-one2. The…
Activities for Raising Climate Awareness with Harry Waters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:59
Renewable English Founder Harry Waters shares three fun and simple activities we can use in our face-to-face classes to help raise students' awareness about Climate Change. In this episode, Harry talks about: How we can…
Stress Management Strategies for Teachers with Adrian Bethune [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:56
Author and teacher Adrian Bethune shares his experience with stress in his career and how this inspired him to find ways to support teacher self-care and wellbeing. In this episode, Adrian talks about:1. Normal versus ch…
Soundbites from the ETAS Professional Development Day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:05
This special episode features soundbites from the English Teachers Association Switzerland (ETAS) Professional Development (PD) Day in Bern on 2 September 2023. We interviewed attendees Elizabeth Hirst, Veronique Vouillo…