Finding an English tutor that is right for you can sometimes be challenging. Here are a few important things to look for:
Make sure they’re flexible
Ask yourself: Is the tutor flexible when it comes to rescheduling lessons? English lessons frequently have to be rescheduled due to work commitments. Some English tutors are more tolerant of schedule changes than others. You’ll want to make sure that the tutor you work with is highly flexible about changes to lesson times and dates. A lack of flexibility on the part of the English tutor may strain the working relationship you have with him or her. But keep in mind you still have to respect their schedule and time, so give them at least 24-hours’ notice if you have to reschedule.
The English tutor lets the student do most of the talking
An experienced tutor doesn’t talk excessively when explaining concepts. Rather, the tutor asks the student questions in order to elicit a response, thereby increasing student involvement and ‘talk time’. It’s vital that the student be given every opportunity to speak to communicate meaning in order to practice their skills. The student must be an active participant in the learning process because active learning has been shown to be more effective in the retention of knowledge.
The English tutor is fully qualified
Make sure your tutor is a certified Teacher of English as a Second Language. A certified ESL tutor has successfully completed the Teacher of English as a Second Language program and has logged numerous hours of practice teaching in order to hone their abilities.
Tutors should be able to adapt their techniques to meet the individual’s needs
A good tutor has the confidence and skill to alter his or her teaching techniques according to the needs of the student. For example, if the student prefers to see what he or she is learning, the English tutor has pictures, graphs, and written transcripts readily available for the student. If, on the other hand, the student prefers to hear what they are learning, the English tutor has an abundance of audio recordings available to use in order to facilitate retention of information. In addition, a good tutor has the pedagogical skills to monitor a lesson as it’s unfolding and can make effective alterations midway through the lesson, if necessary.
The English tutor provides optimal feedback
Feedback given to students must be oral as well as written. Visual learners must see the errors they are making when speaking or writing in order to repair the error by themselves or with the help of the English tutor. As well, the student’s ability to notice errors is enhanced when they are outlined in writing using a shared document. This allows the student to review errors independently.
Technical knowledge
A skillful tutor comprehensively understands the principles of language learning. They should have the ability to make learning meaningful by relating it to students’ interests and career goals, as well as an ability to relate new topics to something that students already know. In addition, the English tutor understands the four systems of language: vocabulary, phonology, grammar and discourse.
The English tutor reads regularly
A good tutor feels a persistent urge to upgrade themselves by reading regularly. Reading both fiction and non-fiction improves a tutor’s vocabulary by exposing them to new words and phrasing. It also increases knowledge of other cultures, countries, and lived experiences.
Now you have a better understanding of what to look for in an English tutor. Please contact us if you have anything else to add to this list.
