International Coach Academy

Coach Training School

  • LANGUAGES
    • English
    • Chinese
    • Italian
  • COMMUNITY
    • Africa
    • Australia
    • Canada
    • Egypt
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Hong Kong
    • India
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Jordan
    • Lebanon
    • New Zealand
    • Singapore
    • Switzerland
    • Taiwan
    • Trinidad Tobago
    • UAE
    • UK
    • USA
  • Contact Us
  • OUR SCHOOL
    • Training Methodology
    • Coach Certification
    • Why Choose ICA?
    • Our Story
    • Our Team
    • Our Alumni
  • PROGRAMS
    • Become a Coach
    • Add Coach Skills
    • Advanced (ACP)
    • Professional (CPC)
    • Vocational (VCP)
    • Workplace (WCC)
    • Life Design
    • Bridging Pathways
    • Group Coach
  • STUDENT LIFE
    • Inside the Classroom
    • Study Schedule
    • Coaching Confidence
    • Your Niche and Model
    • Portfolio Creation
    • Unparallaled Support
  • COACH LIFE
    • ICA Coach Alumni
    • Get A Niche
      • Life Coaching
      • Health Wellness Coaching
      • Leadership Coaching
      • Business Coaching
    • Getting Clients
    • Coaching Demonstrations
    • Coaching Tips
    • Day in the Life of a Coach
    • Community Library
  • FLIPIT
    • A Framework for Change
    • Certified Group Coaching (CCE)
      • FlipIt Facilitation License
    • ICA Power Tools
      • Graduate Power Tools
  • BLOG
    • Graduation Yearbooks
    • Coach Portfolio
      • Power Tools
      • Resources
    • Articles
    • Podcasts
  • Join Login
You are here: Home » ARTICLES » Research Project: Language Diversity & the Coaching Process

Research Project: Language Diversity & the Coaching Process

2015/09/17

The Globalization of Coaching

When coaching first developed as an industry the majority of coaching happened between English speaking coaches and English speaking clients. The competencies of the peak body, The ICF, were also were written by English speaking coaches.

The ICF now has over 120-plus Chapters in more than 60 countries, and much of the coaching that happens in the world now occurs in multiple languages.

Our student community here at ICA is also increasingly global (coaches from over 90 countries around the world) and many of our coaches speak more than one language. As this trend has grown, so has our interest in the effect of language diversity on the coaching process. Earlier this year we began a 6 month long Research Project to explore the issues and challenges that arise when either the coach or the client speak English as a Second (or other) language. In October we will be presenting the results of the research as part of a presentation at the ICF Converge conference in Prague. 

 

The Importance of Language

In the same way that language can influence the parent/child relationship, or direct the success or failure of a legal case, it can be the making or breaking of a good coaching session. Language, or the choice of language is critical to coaching. The use of one word over another, or the delivery of an especially powerful phrase at just the right moment can create the environment for a client to make a significant shift, or experience a new awareness. Techniques such as ‘re-languaging’ the client’s experience can create a new, otherwise unseen perspective. Likewise the use of “mirroring’ the client’s language incredibly effective way of connecting and building rapport. When the coach ‘mirrors’ the clients language they make them feel secure, and understood. Language is used consciously and in various different ways by coaches all the time.

The importance of language can become even more apparent when the coach does not share the same first language as their clients. It becomes even more important to use techniques such as checking for meaning, rephrasing and mirroring.

The Research

At ICA we have a high proportion of coaches who speak English as a second (or additional )language, so we are perfectly placed to research the issues or challenges these coaches may have. Our survey explores things like:

  • How many coaches speak more than one language?
  • How many coaches live in a country other than the one they were born in?
  • What are the common issues coaches face when coaching clients who don’t speak English as a first language?

The results of the survey will form part of a conference paper to be delivered at the ICF Converge conference in Prague in October. We will also share the results with the wider coaching community, where they can be used as a resource to inform the continued growth and development of coaching as a global profession.

Related Posts

  • Power Tool: Fit vs. BelongPower Tool: Fit vs. Belong
  • 2014 Graduate Yearbook: Coach Certification Program (India) – January – July
  • Ann Herd Power Tool Balance vs ImbalancePower Tool: Balance vs. Imbalance
  • Steve-Correa-coaching-model-600x352Coaching Model: Steve: Addressing Development and Opportunities
  • Power Tool: I own it vs. I let itPower Tool: I own it vs. I let it
  • Power Tool: Conscious Choice vs. Automatic BehaviorPower Tool: Conscious Choice vs. Automatic Behavior

Filed Under: ARTICLES

 

International Coach Academy

Categories

International Office

PO Box 3190 Mentone East,
Melbourne AUSTRALIA, 3194

ABN: 83 094 039 577

Contact Us Online

Ask Us A Question

Click HERE

Terms

Terms and condition
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2021 · International Coach Academy ·

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

SAVE & ACCEPT