By Maiah Hollander
In education, more often than not, the student is there because they have to be. Even in the case of university education, students are taking “required" courses before they can even touch the topics they actively wish to learn.
As a teacher, this can be one of the toughest challenges to try to overcome. How do you teach someone something they have little or no interest in? How do you approach the student struggling through work that will have no application in their future? Or so they believe.
In my years of teaching, I’ve tried so many different things to answer these questions, from playing games and trying new technology to self-guided study. I’ve had different levels of success with each, but there always seemed to be a missing piece to the equation. Then, I stumbled across a coaching certification. I thought, why not? I’ve already been a “coach” in some regard when it came to students. This seemed like a natural progression.
I jumped into the course with an open mind, confident that many of the skills I have learned as a teacher would overlap. Needless to say, there were similar skills, but there was one thing I didn’t really take into account. Perspective.
Coaching has an element of guidance, but it came with a perspective that I didn’t get to indulge in much as a teacher. Contrary to many beliefs, coaching is not about telling someone the answer. In fact, it is discouraged for coaches to just “tell” their client what they “should” do. Instead the coach acts more like a mirror, asking questions about things the client has brought up. Pointing out patterns or contradictions using the client’s words instead of their own. It was humbling to take a step back and allow for exploration at the client’s pace and perspective, instead of rushing to follow a curriculum or my own views.
In coaching, one of the most important things for success is that the client wants to change. They have made the conscious decision that they want to work towards a goal and are ready to put in the work necessary to get there. The one receiving guidance exercises choice in their growth and path forward. In a world of standardized tests, required classes, and other obstacles, how often does the student get to exercise autonomy in their education?
I continued the coaching course and received my certification, but I can’t help but feel that I received so much more than that. With this new perspective of autonomy or choice, I was given an opportunity to connect with my students that I had only scratched the surface of. These students are human beings with their own autonomy and paths forward. I firmly believe it is my job as a teacher to connect this reality with the rigidity of our current education system.
This new perspective has forced me to acknowledge the fact that just because I enjoy, or even love, the subjects I am teaching, this is not necessarily true for my students, nor can I force it, or effortlessly inspire them to care. In my efforts to honor this, I have adjusted my teaching style to run a spectrum. For those students that just need to pass the class at a bare minimum, I work to provide them with opportunities at the level of their interest. For those that find excitement or eagerness in the subjects I’m teaching, I work to provide them the engagement and opportunity to really sink their teeth in. The challenge is understanding what each student needs.
I realize that there is no perfect solution, and I still struggle to find the balance for all these perspectives and desires. But I will never regret putting in the effort to meet these students as human beings in the pursuit of knowledge. At the end of the day, education is centered around humans and their perspectives. The challenge now is, how can we take this idea of meeting students as fellow human beings and adapt it to our teaching methods today?
If you find yourself wanting to discuss this topic further, I would love to hear your thoughts, possibly at the next KOTESOL event!
The Author
Maiah Hollander is an international educator and expat coach with over four years of experience teaching and living abroad. She holds a master’s degree in education and communication and has taught English and academic skills in several international contexts, including Spain, Taiwan, and now South Korea. Her teaching style emphasizes student-centered learning, cross-cultural communication, and preparing learners to succeed in global environments.
In her journey to connect and help others, Maiah founded DoU Coaching to support aspiring expats seeking sustainable, fulfilling lives overseas. Through one-on-one coaching and content creation, she helps clients navigate career changes, relocation logistics, and the mindset shifts required to thrive abroad. Passionate about education, technology, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in learning, Maiah works to empower others to take confident, informed steps toward international living, purposeful careers, and lifelong personal growth.
