Two days ago, I talked about how important it is for students to feel heard during their trial (and all throughout their learning journey).
Here are a few questions I keep up my sleeve for first-time students, divided by category. Feel free to take inspiration.
Understanding and managing expectations:
1️⃣ Why do you want to learn [language]?
2️⃣ Why now?
3️⃣ Is it for professional or personal reasons?
4️⃣ Is there a specific skill you need to master [e.g. hold business meetings in French]?
5️⃣ Where do you see yourself in [3 months, 6 months, 1 year] when it comes to [language]?
Human connection:
1️⃣ What other languages do you speak?
2️⃣ What do you do for a living?
3️⃣ How do you spend your free time?
4️⃣Can you recommend a [book, movie, sport, anything they take an interest in]?
Past learning experiences and feel for the language:
1️⃣ Is this the first language you want to learn from scratch as an adult?
2️⃣ Do you like [language]?
3️⃣ Have you studied [language] before?
4️⃣ How was that experience?
5️⃣ What worked and what didn’t?
Linguistics and approach:
1️⃣ What does a good teacher do?
2️⃣ How do you think people become proficient in a foreign language as adults?
3️⃣ What skill do you think is easier to master [reading, listening, speaking, writing]?
4️⃣ How would you go about learning new words in [language]?
5️⃣ What role do you think grammar plays in reaching proficiency?
Final questions:
1️⃣ How do you feel about everything we’ve said so far?
2️⃣ Do you have any questions, concerns, or curiosities?
3️⃣How much time do you realistically think you can dedicate to learning [language] in and outside of our lessons?
4️⃣ Can I give you homework?
Of course, I don’t ask all the questions at once: a trial should not feel like a job interview either 😅. You’ll know you have aced it when your students start leaving reviews like this one:
What questions do you like to ask your students the first time you meet?