The Role of the Second Language Teacher

No matter how you decide to go about learning a second language, it is likely that at some time you will need the help of a language teacher.

In this blog, I have been using the term “second language mentor” to describe this individual. I have chosen this phrase because it suggests to me a more advisory role than “teacher”, one that concerns itself with not just the linguistic product to be learnt, but also the language learning process that the learner might follow. A good mentor/teacher will be able to help you with both of these aspects and as a second language learner you need to realise that you are justified in asking for these two levels of help.

The Concise Macquarie Dictionary defines a “mentor” as “a wise and trusted counsellor”, emphasising a collaborative role and acknowledging that the second language learner brings their own unique contribution to the process. For example, you may have certain goals that you would hope to achieve in learning the language, certain things you want to do with the language. The mentor should be able to counsel you about what language you will need to achieve these ends based on the mentor’s understanding of your language background. They should also be able to counsel you, based on what they know about your learning style and strategy preferences, on how you should go about learning the language. In other words, the mentor should work with you to arrive at an accurate needs analysis at both the product and the process level.

The concept of “mentor” has within it the acknowledgement that ultimately you need to take responsibility for your own learning. By working collaboratively with a mentor, you will be moving towards autonomy, to the day when you will outlive the need for a mentor.

So, where do you find such mentors – these rare individuals who become successful by making themselves redundant? The answer to this question is complex and will be answered in future articles. But, I’ll leave you with a thought in which you might find the answer you are seeking: “when the pupil is ready, the master will appear.”  Sounds mystical? Not really, but I’ll leave it with you and feel free to share your thoughts in the “comments” box.