Neurolanguage Coaching®: Why the “Neuro” Truly Matters

You may have seen my previous post about the Navy SEALs and their impressive language-training programme—one that allows some agents to reach fluency in just six weeks. If not, and if the topic intrigues you, you can explore the article here.

Revisiting this topic recently, after sharing it with one of my French learners, prompted two key reflections.

1. Teachers know their subject… but not always how the brain learns.

During teacher training, the emphasis is placed on mastering subject knowledge and learning how to deliver it effectively. But until I trained as a Neurolanguage Coach®, I knew almost nothing about how my own brain learns—let alone how my students’ brains learn. Yet this understanding is essential for creating the ideal conditions for learning. Without it, we are teaching somewhat in the dark.

2. You wouldn’t let someone fix your car without understanding how it works. So why your brain?

I’d never take my car to a mechanic who doesn’t understand its internal mechanics. So why would anyone choose to learn a language with someone who doesn’t understand how the brain acquires, processes and stores new information?A teacher may know their grammar, vocabulary and pedagogy—but if they cannot help you identify how your brain prefers to learn, progress is inevitably slower.

The “neuro” in Neurolanguage Coaching® is not branding. It’s science.

The “neuro” is not a trend or a marketing tactic. It reflects a genuine commitment to understanding how the brain takes in information, processes it, and transfers it into long-term memory. Because ultimately, helping someone learn any skill—especially a language—means following the right steps to ensure that what they learn sticks.

This is why I am deeply grateful to Rachel Paling for the continuous professional development opportunities she offers to the Neurolanguage Coaching® community. These workshops and trainings help us stay up to date with the latest neuroscience research and reflect on how best to apply it to serve our clients’ language-learning goals.

Brain-friendly learning is not a luxury. It’s the foundation of real, lasting progress.