Have you trained someone who’s native language is not English?

Hi Denise,
Funny question to me as I’ve taught group fitness to people who can’t speak English and it certainly is educational! Here’s my best tips:

1. Know what their back ground in fitness and athletics is so you can use exercises that they may be a little more familiar with.
2. DEMONSTRATE EVERYTHING over and over again.
3. KISS principle: keep it simple. Regardless of if they know any English, this will make both your lives easier and keep the focus on persons goal.
4. Same goes for cuing: less is more. Simple~ up, down, in, out. Less words.
5. Be very visual. If they are ok with being touched I would definitely do so: for instance~if you want them to bend their knees, touch the back of them and then demonstrate the move again. Point 2 fingers to your eyes, at your knees, then back to their knees. Think of it as if they couldn’t speak at all 🙂 or hear.

Translators are nice, but rarely available and if so, I reserve those for the start of the lesson or end, to either summarize what I’d like for next time, or what we’ll be doing in the lesson.

Best,
Kimber