Below, we aim to help you decide whether individual lessons or group lessons are the right teaching method for you. Both approaches have their strengths and weaknesses. Individual lessons are very flexible but also intensive. Group lessons are motivating thanks to their social dimension, but it can be difficult to cater to individual needs and they require an enjoyment of group work and self-confidence.
When are group lessons a good idea?
Group lessons are the form of teaching we are all familiar with. And their strengths are obvious. Many of us find it easier to learn in a group, just as we find it easier to overcome obstacles together. You don't feel alone when faced with the challenges of the lesson material. In fact, students also learn from each other to some extent. They try together to break down what has been presented to them to their level of understanding and translate it into language they can understand.
This naturally requires that you get along with the group and trust them; that you are integrated and accepted by the group, with your own weaknesses and strengths. However, where there is a lack of willingness to work together in a group, or where one's own weaknesses are so serious that they would block the group process, integration is difficult. In these cases, group teaching can become destructive. Instead of being able to rely on one's peers and feeling a sense of solidarity in the shared challenge, complexes arise, such as feeling that one is stupider than the rest of the group or good for nothing.
To prevent group lessons from becoming destructive, the teacher must be able to clearly recognise these group processes and address them. The group process itself must therefore become part of the lesson content. Given all the potential for conflict, this is something that needs to be learned sooner or later, because group work is always part of any training programme.
When is one-to-one teaching useful?
One-to-one teaching can neutralise the potential for conflict within the group. If you are not getting on with your own group or are falling behind in the course material, one-to-one teaching may be the most suitable form of teaching. This is because it takes place in a relatively protected environment. You are not observed by an entire group when you make mistakes. Being exposed as ‘stupid’ in front of the group is one of the greatest fears of students. And learning processes and fear are mutually exclusive.
In one-to-one lessons, you are protected from the judgemental gaze of others. And if the tutor specifically addresses and defuses this fear of failure and integrates failure as a necessary part of all learning, this creates the basis for healthy self-esteem. This is partly based on actually being able to do something. And in one-to-one lessons, the progress you make can be shown much better than in group lessons, thanks to constant immediate feedback. You make mistakes in front of someone who is trained in teaching and knows how to deal with them.
In addition, the particular weaknesses and strengths of the learners can be addressed more specifically. Subjects such as mathematics, physics and foreign languages are cumulative. If certain basics are missing or not sufficiently consolidated, you will constantly be blocked on your path to learning. In one-to-one lessons, teachers can adapt the content and methodology to the individual, tailor their teaching methods to their learning type and specifically practise those basics that are missing.
Our conclusion:
To decide whether individual lessons or group lessons are more suitable for you, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do groups motivate me or do I feel inhibited in groups?
- Do I get on well with a particular group or teacher?
- Do I lack basic knowledge that can only be acquired through individual tuition?
- Can I keep up with the intensive pace of individual lessons?
- Do I find group lessons boring because they constantly take everyone into account?
If you feel that you have a lot of catching up to do and feel generally insecure about thinking and speaking in front of groups, we recommend regular individual lessons with a teacher who suits your learning style and personality type. Individual lessons can teach you the basics that are used in group lessons and make them effective.