Redefining what a lesson is

At this point of the 21st Century I think it’s necessary to acknowledge how language learning has changed compared to relative recent times.

I feel that until today when people hear the word ‘lesson’ they go straight to this image of someone-who-knows transmitting (or better still, transferring) what they know to the learner, who doesn’t know.

That might be a possible format, but it’s definitely not the format. Of course everyone is different and has personal preferences which in turn influence their choices, and it’s not rare to find students who adapt to the role of the-one-who-learns-from-someone-who-teaches-them.

Some time ago I wrote an article (The role of grammar, your tutor and input) where I tried to establish a common ground, making the point that a tutor is not all you need to succeed in learning.

Now, more than ever before, we have access to thousands of resources, both online and offline, that should be part of our learning journey.

So, what’s a lesson at this point of the 21st Century?

Basically, a lesson is a period of time where we meet to actively engage with your target language and improve your skills through feedback and modelling. There are explanations, there’s guidance, of course, but there’s a shift in the focus.

A lesson today is about collaboration. It’s a dynamic space where both tutor and student play active roles. The focus is no longer on passive reception of knowledge but on interaction, practice, and discovery.

In this setting, there are explanations and guidance, but they serve as tools to allow learners to engage more deeply with their target language.

Ultimately, what makes a lesson effective isn’t just the transfer of knowledge, but the opportunity it provides to practice, reflect, and refine through meaningful feedback.

Fluency isn’t built on theory alone; it’s built on action. And lessons, at their best, are moments of action—where learning becomes real, relevant, and personal.

If you resonate with this, I hope to meet you soon.

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