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The difference between teaching one-to-one and groups As a teacher, there will be points in your teaching career which will require you to teach different students not only from different backgrounds and levels of language but also in different settings. A classroom may comprise of a group of students and it might only have one pupil. There are differences between teaching students one-to-one versus teaching a group. Let’s start by discussing resources. There is typically a lack of resource material that is targeted for one-to-one learning. Most of the material is designed for group learning. As a result, if a teacher is using the same material for a private lesson, it would require manipulation to be suited for the individual student’s needs. There is also a wider range of ways to organise activities when you are teaching a group of students. For example, you can do pair work, smaller groups in the class and even individual tasks. However, with one-to-one teaching, there are no other students for the student to collaborate with, which can be beneficial at times. Student Talk Time vs. Teacher Talk Time With one-to-one private tutoring, the student has a greater opportunity to talk than compared to a group setting. In a larger group, the teacher needs to manage the classroom and give direction (sometimes multiple times). This results in a more teacher talk time in a group setting. In contrast, one-to-one teaching is only the student and the teacher. By default, the student talk time will increase. Also, this can create a comfortable environment for students who are particularly shy. In a one-to-one setting, the intimidation factor decreases and they may be more likely to speak more confidently. Lesson planning and engagement Lesson plans for one-to-one classrooms can be tailored to the specific needs, interests and capability of the student. This does not happen in a group classroom as the lesson will usually follow the standards of the school. In addition, the student can get involved in the planning of the lesson. This will allow the lesson to be more focused and targeted to the students interests and what they determine to be areas of weakness. There is more time spent planning a group lesson because of not only the number of students the lesson must cater to. But also, because there are a number of different tasks and achievements that need to be covered. Similar to the lesson planning, students can work at their own pace in a one-to-one lesson. Whereas, in a group, students have different speeds at which they work because of many factors such as understanding, communication ability, personal interest. In a one-to-one lesson, the student's needs to be addressed more deeply and fully. There is the time to go in-depth and the structure of the lesson is more flexible. There are more opportunities to foster real interactions between the students and teachers and deeper engagements in a one-to-one setting. However, on the flip side, there are benefits to learning a new language in group dynamics. Students have an opportunity to interact with other learners and receive support. There is also an opportunity to keep the lesson interesting with a variety of activities and different personalities. Regardless of the number of students you are teaching at any time, it is important to make the students learning the priority and try to engage with them as much as possible. Make the lessons fun and educational at all times.
