Listening our way to better learning: The power of coaching

Teacher Reflection

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Published on: February 19, 2026

5 min read

JENNIFER MURPHY, PROFESSIONAL TUTOR, NORTH LONDON COLLEGIATE SCHOOL, DUBAI If you look up the words “coach” or “coaching”, you will be none the wiser as to what these people are up to. The first definition usually mentions a bus for long journeys, a horse-drawn or train carriage, and traveling. Other definitions describe sports instruction, private tuition, and extra teaching. It might surprise you to learn that the first is more relevant. Coaching is all about a journey and nothing about instruction or teaching. Whitmore, 2022, p.11 What is coaching? In recent years, coaching has moved beyond the sports field into classrooms, staffrooms and boardrooms. Contrary to popular belief, coaching is not about instruction, nor does a coach provide ready-made solutions. Instead, coaching creates space for individuals to think, reflect and arrive at their own answers (Cox et al., 2018). From my perspective, coaching is about helping people to unlock their potential and empowering

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Listening our way to better learning: The power of coaching

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