Does it strike you as strange that, as language teachers, we teach something many of us have never done? I’m talking about learning a second language to a high level.

For those of us that have learned or are learning a language to a reasonable level, we can empathise with our students and help them to a greater degree.

Many schools give language learning support to their teachers, with a complimentary lesson or two a week, but that’s not enough. To reach C1 level (or even B2) on the Common European Framework, it’s going to take a long time.

For those of us that haven’t started, is it worth it?

The Benefits of Being a Language Student

For Teaching:

• You have more empathy with students — you know the long learning process they’re going through.

• You have an improved practical knowledge of grammar and pronunciation.

• You have another perspective to gauge your activities and lessons. Often you can discard low-worth activities because you know from your experience that they’re a waste of time.

• I’ve found that older students respect you more if they know you speak another language (especially theirs!).

• You can communicate with students’ parents more easily. This may not sound like much, but it can be helpful.

For Yourself:

If you’re teaching in the same country as the language you’re learning:

• You get a far richer experience of living abroad by interacting more deeply.

• Plus, it’s just fantastic to speak another language!

So if you haven’t already, give some thought to starting to learn (or re-starting!).

See you again in two weeks.

Whenever you're ready, there are three ways I can help you:

1. Learn how to plan better, faster and stress-free with my book Lesson Planning for Language Teachers (90 ratings, 4.5⭐ on Amazon).

2. Develop calm students, a relaxed mind and a classroom full of learning with my book Essential Classroom Management (16 ratings, 4.5⭐ on Amazon).

3. Improve your teaching in five minutes daily with my Reflective Teaching Practice Journal (4 ratings, 4.5⭐ on Amazon).