Bio:

Katarzyna Bieniecka‑Drzymała, PhD, ACC ICF, bridges the worlds of academia and coaching to support learners and professionals in building autonomy and confidence. As a senior lecturer and LSP instructor at Adam Mickiewicz University, she has shaped language education for over two decades. She founded KOUCZ Studio to bring individual coaching and workshops to students, and leads BIEN Language & Coaching, collaborating internationally with universities, companies, and private clients. Director of the ICF Chapter in Poznań, she is the author of From Self‑Reflection to Autonomy and an active contributor to international educational projects. Her work has been recognized by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science and the British Council.

Session synopsis:

Language Coaching: Evidence-Based Benefits for Academia

Despite decades of research and practice in foreign language education, persistent challenges such as speaking anxiety, lack of learner autonomy, and high dropout rates remain. Language coaching – a structured, non-directive dialogue that empowers learners to take ownership of their learning offers a promising solution. Drawing on over 25 years of experience in language teaching and a completed doctoral project, this presentation explores the effectiveness of language coaching as an intervention to enhance metacognitive awareness, self-regulation, and attitudes toward language learning. The longitudinal study of six linguistic majors confirmed the autonomising potential of coaching dialogue, highlighting the critical role of metacognitive development and the teacher/coach-student relationship. Beyond pedagogical benefits, the findings provide compelling arguments for institutional stakeholders: language coaching improves communicative competence and learner engagement.

Participants will gain research-based insights and practical strategies to advocate for integrating coaching into educational and corporate contexts.

Format and duration: ca. 40-45 minutes talk with interactive activities and Q&A session