By Les Huysmans

Photo adapted from Pexels.com

Academic coaching is still in its infancy in Thailand, and when people hear about it, they often do not completely understand what it is about. Some think it is like English teaching, while others wonder if it is like counselling. In reality, it is neither and it is a bit of both. To clarify what it is, I thought it might help to have a brief overview of what a 6-month course could potentially look like. Bear in mind that academic coaching is NOT a traditional teaching session as it is commonly seen in Thailand. Coaching involves a lot of back and forth talk between the coach and the client/student. The coach also does not tell the client/student ALL of the solutions, but instead helps and guides the client/student towards the solution through the same process of communication. For more information, please see my other post where I explain more about academic coaching.

Here is a session-by-session description of a random 6-month coaching cycle with 1-2 one-hour sessions per month:

Session 1 (Kick-Off Session):

• Introduction and building rapport with the client, who tells me all about strengths, weaknesses, worries, successes, etc.
• Assessment of the client’s current situation, learning style, and areas for improvement
• Setting of SMART goals that align with the client’s needs and aspirations

Session 2-3 (Goal Setting and Action Planning):

• Refining the goals set in session 1
• Creation of an action plan that outlines specific steps the client will take to achieve their goals
• Review and refinement of the action plan as needed

Session 4-5 (Implementation and Progress Tracking):

• Implementation of the action plan and working towards the goals
• Review of the client’s progress and adjustment of the action plan as needed
• Feedback, guidance, and encouragement from the coach to help the client stay on track

Session 6-7 (Review and Reflection):

• Regular reflection on the progress made and identification of areas for improvement
• Overcoming of roadblocks and challenges with the help of the coach

Session 8-9 (Celebrating Successes and Wrapping Up):

• Celebration of the client’s successes and acknowledgement of progress
• Discussion of the coaching cycle and the progress made
• Recommendations for future growth and development
• Discussion of continuing the coaching relationship, if desired.

This is just a general outline, and the actual sessions will absolutely be different, depending on the client’s specific needs and progress. The coach will adapt and customize the coaching process to meet the unique needs of each client.

The one thing you can be sure about is that everything is 100% about you, so you are certain to make progress, no matter what your academic struggles are.

If you would like to get in touch over the content of this post, or to work together, you can find my contact details on the About Les-page