Doing What the Teacher Tells You to Do

When you work with a teacher or coach, there’s one simple truth that can make or break your progress: you need to do what they ask you to do.

This isn’t about obedience for the sake of it. It’s about trust, efficiency, and getting results. A good teacher isn’t giving you random tasks. They’re sharing wisdom based on years of experience, carefully choosing what will move you forward fastest. Every exercise, every activity, every piece of homework is designed to help you grow.

Think of it like a personal trainer at the gym. If they tell you to lift a certain weight or follow a particular routine, it’s because they know it will make you stronger. If you ignore their advice, you won’t just stay the same , you could actually hurt yourself.

Language learning works the same way.

When you don’t follow your teacher’s instructions, two things happen. First, progress slows down. Instead of moving on to new skills, you get stuck in a loop, covering the same ground again and again. Second, lessons become repetitive and frustrating. The teacher has to repeat the same explanations, and you have to face the same mistakes, which can be demoralising for both of you.

Imagine spending weeks talking about past tense forms simply because you didn’t do the practice tasks your teacher set. Every lesson, you hear the same explanations, have the same conversations, and go over the same examples. It’s like running on a treadmill - lots of effort, but no forward motion.

On the other hand, when you trust your teacher and follow through on their advice, everything changes. Lessons become dynamic and exciting. You cover more ground, your confidence grows, and you start to see real results. Each session builds on the last, like adding bricks to a solid, lasting structure.

A strong teacher–student partnership is a two-way street. The teacher brings expertise, planning, and guidance. The student brings effort, trust, and action. Together, they create momentum and that’s where the magic happens.

So, if you want faster, smoother progress, take this to heart: Listen carefully. Do the work. Trust the process.

Your teacher is on your side, and their instructions are the map that will get you where you want to go. Follow it, and you’ll be amazed at how far you can travel.

............

Hi, I'm John Freeman

I turn non-native speakers into powerful communicators

If you're a non-native speaker who's had enough of struggling to get your point across and are ready to have a giant impact on the world around you, you should message me today.

Eternal English: Everything you need - Nothing you don't!