Home
Blog

Clean Language: It Really Works!

10th Jan 2013 by Marian Way in Client Stories

A while ago I wrote about how I used Clean Language to help a client’s daughter with maths (see ‘Related Stories’ below), and now we have another maths story…

A participant on one of our recent trainings, Yuji Yamagami, has been testing Clean Language in various ways at work and with his family. His daughter Reina, 14, had been struggling with maths, so Yuji asked her some clean questions. It became clear that:

Reina understood what she needs to do in maths, but often makes simple calculation mistakes.
She knew that more practice would help her.
She knew that this meant she would have to plan her study.
Her maths test score for the first term was around 36 and she wanted to get to 60 or at least 50.
But she also wanted to have time to play games, watch movies, draw pictures and other fun things and felt frustrated.

So Yuji asked, “ When you want to improve your maths test score to a 60 or at least 50, and when you know that planning is the key to do so, and when you wish to watch movies, draw pictures, play games and do other fun things, what would you like to have happen?”

Reina thought for about 30 seconds, and said, ““Okay, I will make a study plan that includes time to have fun!”

So, she came up with a very detailed plan, and according to this plan, two days before the mid term exam for the second term, she was going to watch a new Batman movie. Since Reina had come up with this plan, Yuji agreed that she could go and watch the movie – which she did. She came back very happy, and got on with her study after that.

The results? Reina’s math score did improve to 57 for the second term, and her overall score (for all subjects) also improved significantly putting her in top 20 % level.

Yuji says, “Wow!! I have never seen this kind of thing before. Removing unnecessary presupposition really helps people. I and my wife are quite happy and grateful for being able to have this opportunity know and practice this wonderful tool called Clean Language. It really works.”

Here’s Reina’s scorecard:

About Marian Way

A highly skilled facilitator and trainer, Marian, who founded Clean Learning in 2001, has developed and delivered training across the world. She is the author of Clean Approaches for Coaches, co-author, with James Lawley, of Insights in Space and co-author, with Caitlin Walker, of So you want to be… #DramaFree.

Marian is an expert Clean facilitator, an adept modeller, a programme writer and an inspirational trainer. She has a natural ability to model existing structures, find the connections between them and design new ways for people to learn. Marian was a leading innovator within the Weight Watchers organisation, which included developing the “points” strategy, a local idea that went on to become a global innovation. She is a director of both Clean Learning and Training Attention CIC, world leaders in clean applications for corporate, educational and community development. She designs our programmes and workbooks, leads workshops and teaches on all our courses. She’s trained people in Great Britain, Russia, Sweden, Germany, Australia, Japan and the USA. Marian is also a recognised Clean Assessor.