Hi guys,

I deliver sports coaching to groups of kids, for many within the group English is not their first language. When I deliver instructions on a one to one basis I am flexible enough to effectively deliver the instructional.

I would like to make the effectiveness of how I deliver instructions when addressing the group as a whole even better.

I am curious to find out if anyone has experience of delivering instructions to a 'mixed' group. All tips are appreciated.

Thank you for your time in advance.

Cheers

Enzo

I can easily empathize with you on this, Enzo. I like talking in English while the majority of the participants coming for my trainings do not have English as their first language. Well, sometimes I unknowingly slip into my easy tongue and I get that confused I-don't-understand-a-thing-what-you-said look from some of them, which lets me know I have gone off track. It's all about flexibility and being sensitive to feedbacks.

One suggestion is that if you are proficient enough with their first language, you can reiterate what you have said in that language. I assume sports coaching is mostly about doing it rather than lecturing. So, may be this suggestion would be more than enough for you, I guess.

Vivek.

I'm not sure if the contexts map across, but we often have non-native English speakers on our Clean Language trainings. On the advanced Modules in a couple of weeks, for example, we have five other countries represented - including a Russian-speaker from Bulgaria.

When we're giving instructions for an activity, we always aim to have them in two visual forms to complement the spoken instructions - a written version in a handout, and a written or drawn verison on a flip chart. It's not foolproof, but it helps.

Could that work for you?

Thanks for this - I think this will work, I will give even more emphasis on the physical demonstration of the technique, and ensure I provide additional 'physical' visual aids for no technical instructions that relate to the logistics.

Thanks again