Why Learning Languages in Small Groups Is More Effective

The Science Behind It

Research from the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) and universities like Harvard shows that small group learning:

• improves academic performance,
  
• increases satisfaction,
  
• and enhances communication skills.
  
  

ScienceDirect (Russell & Curtis, 2013):

Groups of 25 students performed much better than groups of 125.

5 Key Benefits of Small Group Learning

1. More Speaking Time = Faster Progress

In groups of up to 6 children, each child gets to:

• speak more,
  
• listen actively,
  
• use the language in real-life situations.
  
  

💡 Did you know?
15 hours per week in a small group can equal the progress of 5 weeks in a traditional classroom!

2. Individual Attention & Targeted Feedback

Small groups allow teachers to:

• track individual progress,
  
• identify difficulties early,
  
• and adapt lessons to each child.
  
  

📖 Study by McEvoy (2024) confirms that personalized feedback greatly improves learning efficiency.

3. Less Fear, More Confidence

One of the biggest obstacles in language learning is fear of making mistakes.

In small groups, children feel:

• emotionally safe,
  
• more open to try new words,
  
• less afraid of failure.
  
  

“Children in small groups show lower language anxiety and greater willingness to take communication risks.”

4. Better Group Dynamics & Peer Learning

Small group settings foster:

• stronger bonds between peers,
  
• mutual encouragement,
  
• collaborative learning.
  

📈 Intercultural Communication Studies highlights that children in small groups enhance their expression skills by learning from one another.

5. More Use of the Target Language

ACTFL recommends 90%+ immersion in the target language.

Small groups make this easier:

• Teachers don’t need to switch to the native language,
• Visuals, context, and support keep the lesson flowing in the target language.

What Does This Mean for Your Child?

✔ Faster progress through speaking
✔ More self-confidence in communication
✔ Personalized support
✔ Interactive, joyful learning
✔ Long-term language motivation

The Filolo Approach: Max. 6 Children per Group

At Filolo Language Camps, we intentionally limit each course to just 6 children.
This is based on years of educational experience and solid scientific backing.

The result:

• More speaking practice
  
• Closer teacher-student relationships
  
• A natural, immersive language environment through play, sports, creativity, and daily life
  
  

“Children not only learn faster, but fall in love with language learning – for life.”

Learn More

🔗 https://filolo.ch/en/language-camps
📞 Or contact us directly 

Conclusion: Small Groups = Big Impact

Small groups offer the ideal setting for language acquisition:

• personalized
  
• safe
  
• interactive
  
• motivating
  
  

If you want your child to thrive, small group learning is the key.