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Both individual and group lessons demand a different set of materials and the mindset of both teacher and student. Considering pros and cons may help to decide which class type fits the teacher better and in the end influence the process of job searching. Individual lessons focus on only one specific level of the student, which is highly motivated as they usually sign in for the language course on their own will. Teacher and student relation is less formal and they usually go toward a common target, e.g. exam or certification. There is great flexibility in terms of the place, time and materials. The class can take place basically everywhere, be it teacher’s house, student’s house, coffee shop, library, park or workplace. Dates and times of the lesson can be easily set to fit the schedule of both participants. Choice of materials should be highly personalized according to the student’s interests and preferences. Role of the student is much more active and self-dependent which results in quick progress and satisfaction. They often ask questions that they would feel reluctant to ask in a group class. On the other hand, such lessons are much more intense and require more travelling from one lesson to another. In the case of home classes, the teacher needs to make sure that he or she is able to ensure quality and peaceful environment with access to training materials. Activities or games requiring group work are impossible to conduct which narrows the possibilities of lesson planning. As a result, the teacher must be highly involved in all activities often partnering in pair work, which is much more exhausting than in case of a group class. Usually, more materials have to be provided as the pace of the class if faster. Access to them is restricted as they are not provided by language school and need to be printed out or copied on the teacher’s expense. In addition, the risk of class cancellation or postponing is significantly higher. Group lesson gives a wide spectrum of interaction and activities that require more than two students to participate. As a result, the class if much more fun and active. It also encourages communication with classmates of the same age which may additionally open up the discussion and reduce stress. Students can even compete with each other to end up with a better result. The classes are rarely cancelled (if ever) due to a strict schedule of the school. Fewer activities are needed to fill the time as after introducing certain game or discussion, students very often run it themselves. With bigger groups, however, it’s much more difficult to manage the class. The level of students may not be the same and the role of the teacher is to evaluate the level first and then choosing and adjusting activities in such a way that all students are busy and have tasks that they are able to fulfil. Additionally, each of the students usually has less speaking time as it is in case of one to one classes. One-to-one is a rewarding but definitely challenging type of lesson. The ability to motivate the student and flexibility on focusing on weak points to fulfil their needs, rather than sticking to strict lesson schedule seems to be the most crucial in final success. Each teacher and student should consider their own needs, motivation and goals before choosing either one to one or group learning style.
