How Rachel Paling created Neurolanguage Coaching®

From Curiosity to Global Impact: The Birth of Neurolanguage Coaching®

It all began in January 2000.

Rachel Paling had just arrived in Germany to begin her MA in Human Rights at Rühr Universität Bochum and at the same time had been accepted as a full time Business English trainer at a prominent Business English School. When she got to the school, the owner (a great big Scottish Guy called Jim), said he wanted to develop “language coaching” as well as language training. Intrigued, she asked Jim what exactly he meant. The response?

“Follow the client, adapt yourself, and see what the client needs.”

And that was it—no framework, no structure, just a vague invitation to explore.

This sparked a fire of curiosity in Rachel. What did “language coaching” truly mean? Could it really be so simple—or was there something deeper waiting to be discovered?
Rachel worked with Jim while doing her MA and then returned to the UK to finish off her studies as a qualified UK lawyer. But then in September 2003 she returned to Germany to work with Jim again and to develop the concept of Language Coaching.

A Life Split Between Two Worlds

At the same time in 2003, Rachel was offered a visiting lecturer position teaching Legal English at the Law Faculty of the University of Verona. So began a unique seven-year journey—half her time spent in Germany working one-to-one with business professionals through “language coaching,” and the other half in Italy teaching large groups of university students (sometimes lecturing 200 at a time).

Yet, the questions continued to grow. What was the real difference between teaching and coaching? Could language learning be transformed through a new kind of process?

Discovering the Power of Coaching and the Brain

Determined to find answers, Rachel turned to coaching itself—undertaking rigorous training with Results Coaching Systems, a brain-based approach to coaching developed by Dr. David Rock. This was her turning point. She began to understand that coaching wasn’t just about adapting; it was about structure, science, and strategy.

And after years training as a professional Life and Business Coach – that’s when everything began to crystallize.

Rachel started weaving together what she’d learned from language teaching, coaching, and the neuroscience. Slowly, a new approach/method took shape—one that would revolutionize the way languages are taught and learned.

March 2012. This was the date of birth of Neurolanguage Coaching®.

A Framework Rooted in Neuro research and findings (neuroscience, neuropsychology, emotional intelligence) and Coaching Principles

Neurolanguage Coaching® is not just a method—it’s a mindset.

It blends the ethics, principles, tools, and structure of professional coaching with the science of how the brain learns. Certified Neurolanguage Coaches don’t just teach—they guide, facilitate, and inspire, using a framework that adjusts to the individual learner and taps directly into the brain’s most effective learning states.

It’s an approach that doesn’t belong to just one language—it works with any language, anywhere in the world.

A Global Network of Neuroeducators

Today, Neurolanguage Coaching® is a growing global movement. To date (July 2025), we have just passed the 2000th Certified Neurolanguage Coach—each one a trained educator who has embraced coaching and neuroscience to become a 21st century neuroeducator.

These coaches:

✅ Hold teaching qualifications or have over two years of experience

✅ Are professionally trained in coaching competencies and ethics

✅ Understand how neuroscience applies to language acquisition

✅ Deliver learning that is tailored, structured, and brain-friendly

✅ Empower learners to take ownership and accelerate their own progress

They recognise that every brain is unique, and they honour that individuality with empathy, presence, and precision.

Why This Works—and Why It could work faster

Traditional teaching often keeps learners in their “thinking brain”—analysing, over-processing, and second-guessing. Neurolanguage Coaches, however, know how to activate the “performing brain”—the part that enables confidence, flow, and lasting learning.

We bring back to joy to learning and moreover, it’s potentially more efficient and cost-effective too.

Because Neurolanguage Coaching® helps learners understand how to create their own personalised language learning journey, progress often happens faster. Learning spirals upwards, connections deepen, and knowledge sticks. This not only shortens the learning journey—it makes it more sustainable.