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I was a government primary school Chinese language teacher for 12 years before making the switch to an international school last year. During the period when I was teaching in the government primary school, I spent approximately six hours weekly teaching Chinese language one-to-one tuition to three other students. The Chinese language is a second language in Singapore’s bilingual education system and is akin to the teaching of English language as a Foreign Language (TEFL). Therefore, I am applying the principles I learnt in my teaching of the Chinese language in Singapore to the context of TEFL. Having taught different group sizes of students throughout the span of my teaching career, I believe the difference in class size makes an impact on the students’ learning. In this essay, I shall highlight the key advantages and disadvantages of teaching language learners in one-to-one settings and group settings. Thereafter, I shall conclude with my recommendation of the class size for learning a new language. The key advantage of one-to-one teaching is that it is highly customizable. The lessons can be adjusted to suit the needs, pace and level of the learner. The learning needs of the learner can be discussed before the lessons are planned; and learning objectives can be decided prior to each lesson in order to ensure key performance indicators are achieved. Even though there is a structure to every lesson, the lesson can still be flexible at every point of the lesson according to the pace of the learner, in order to ensure the learner is comprehending the lesson before advancing to the next level. Due to the undivided attention that the learner receives from the teacher during such lessons, the learner is more able to leverage on the knowledge of the teacher to seek clarification on difficulties encountered during the lessons. The timely intervention and feedback from the teacher on learner’s difficulties and mistakes made during the lessons will also impact the learner’s pace in learning the language. However, one-to-one teaching has its disadvantages as well. One of which is that the undivided attention given to the learner by the teacher, can be physically and mentally exhausting for both. Therefore, there must be sensitivity during the lesson to give timely breaks to ensure that engaged and productive learning can continue throughout the lesson. The other disadvantage is that the absence of other students in one-to-one teaching restricts the teaching methodologies that the teacher may engage to elicit learning from the learner. Group work and pair work which are beneficial for language learners cannot be used in one-to-one teaching. As such, there are no opportunities during the lessons for the learner to interact and practice the new language skills with another person other than the teacher, resulting in a lack of exposure to communicate with others. The key advantage of teaching groups is that the group dynamics within the class of learners provide the language environment and support a new language learner requires to practice and assimilate the new language skills. However, the learner in such settings will receive only a fraction of the teacher’s time and that may impede his learning as timely intervention and correction may not be given as regularly. Due to the number of other learners in the group, more interactive and active methodologies can be engaged to create interest and relevance in the learning, resulting in motivated learners. Teaching one-to-one provides flexibility and customizability due to the personalized attention given to the learner. Hence, this may be suited to learners who are beginning language learners. Teaching groups provides a vibrant language environment for language learners to practice and enhance their language skills for application in their personal or professional lives. Hence, this may be more suited to intermediate learners. In conclusion, the suitability of class size for language learners depends on their needs and aims in learning the new language, and thus, may choose to have one-to-one lessons or group lessons depending on the stage and level of their language abilities.
