1. Does the teacher offer a trial lesson/language discovery call?
In my opinion, every good English teacher should offer this. The trail lesson/call is a perfect opportunity for you to get to know each other and see if you are a good student-teacher fit. You obviously want to feel good and comfortable with your teacher (and the teacher wants to feel the same with you). If you both feel good in each other's company, you're off to a great start!
Don't expect these trial lessons/language discovery calls to be free, but if the teacher charges for them, then the price should be lower than the price of their regular lessons (as they will probably not last as long as a regular lesson).
2. Message the teacher before booking a trial lesson/language discovery call/first lesson and see what they reply
In my opinion, a good teacher really wants to understand their students' problems and wants to look for solutions to try and help them. Message the teacher you're interested in having lessons with before booking your trial lesson/discovery call explaining what you're looking for, what your goals are and where you think you might need help. If they reply asking more about you, your problems etc. and are genuinely interested in you and your goals, then that's very promising! If they reply simply wanting to sell you something, then I would stay well clear from them :)
3. Do you accept the teacher's lessons Terms and Conditions?
Once you've found a teacher you're interested in having lessons with, make sure you're happy with their lessons Terms & Conditions (Ts & Cs). If you're not sure what they are, ask them. In particular, what is the lesson cancellation and rescheduling policy? For example, my private English lessons cancellation policy for both the IELTS Accelerator programme and General English lessons is that lessons can be rescheduled no problem within 24 hours of the scheduled lesson start time. After that, no rescheduling or cancellation is possible.
Make sure you're really clear and happy with the Ts & Cs to avoid any unpleasant situations in the future.
4. Do you like the teacher's vibes and energy?
This is super important. You want your teacher to motivate you to keep going, to create a safe learning environment, to keep you engaged during and after every lesson. If you don't like how the teacher speaks, the energy he/she transmits, then they may not be right for you. Ask yourself: are they too loud or too quiet for me? Too energetic or too hmmm... boring? Too bubbly or too bland? You'll probably be spending 1-2 hours a week with them (or more!), so you want to leave every lesson feeling empowered and ready for action!
5. Do they talk more than you?
Every English teacher should maximise the student talking time. So basically, you (the student) should speak during most of the lesson. This is to keep you engaged, active and to give you maximum opportunity to practise the language.
Does the teacher ask you lots of questions AND follow-up questions to encourage you to give details, to use grammar structures/vocabulary you've been practising (by the way... this is one of my favourite parts of teaching private English lessons!)? If yes, GREAT!
If the teacher spends too much time talking, for example explaining grammar, talking about their personal life (yes... I once had a private language teacher that used to give me a 10-15 update about their personal life at the start of every lesson...), then in my opinion, it's time to find another teacher.
6. Is the teacher open to feedback/lesson suggestions?
Every good teacher will be open to feedback - positive as well as constructive criticism. Do they ask for feedback? If so, great! It is sometimes difficult to tell if a student enjoys the lessons, so why not tell your teacher when they ask.
Does your teacher ask for your comments or suggestions for future lessons? Are they happy for you to tell them what you want the lessons to focus on? If so, then this means the teacher understands that the lessons are for YOU. They are here to help YOU. This is how it should be. One of my private English students, Marina from Russia, always tells me what she would like to refresh and focus on in future lessons, and I LOVE IT!
I hope you've found these 6 tips helpful. Is there anything else you'd like to add to them? Let me know! I'd love to hear from you :)
Paulina x
Your biggest cheerleader
In my opinion, every good English teacher should offer this. The trail lesson/call is a perfect opportunity for you to get to know each other and see if you are a good student-teacher fit. You obviously want to feel good and comfortable with your teacher (and the teacher wants to feel the same with you). If you both feel good in each other's company, you're off to a great start!
Don't expect these trial lessons/language discovery calls to be free, but if the teacher charges for them, then the price should be lower than the price of their regular lessons (as they will probably not last as long as a regular lesson).
2. Message the teacher before booking a trial lesson/language discovery call/first lesson and see what they reply
In my opinion, a good teacher really wants to understand their students' problems and wants to look for solutions to try and help them. Message the teacher you're interested in having lessons with before booking your trial lesson/discovery call explaining what you're looking for, what your goals are and where you think you might need help. If they reply asking more about you, your problems etc. and are genuinely interested in you and your goals, then that's very promising! If they reply simply wanting to sell you something, then I would stay well clear from them :)
3. Do you accept the teacher's lessons Terms and Conditions?
Once you've found a teacher you're interested in having lessons with, make sure you're happy with their lessons Terms & Conditions (Ts & Cs). If you're not sure what they are, ask them. In particular, what is the lesson cancellation and rescheduling policy? For example, my private English lessons cancellation policy for both the IELTS Accelerator programme and General English lessons is that lessons can be rescheduled no problem within 24 hours of the scheduled lesson start time. After that, no rescheduling or cancellation is possible.
Make sure you're really clear and happy with the Ts & Cs to avoid any unpleasant situations in the future.
4. Do you like the teacher's vibes and energy?
This is super important. You want your teacher to motivate you to keep going, to create a safe learning environment, to keep you engaged during and after every lesson. If you don't like how the teacher speaks, the energy he/she transmits, then they may not be right for you. Ask yourself: are they too loud or too quiet for me? Too energetic or too hmmm... boring? Too bubbly or too bland? You'll probably be spending 1-2 hours a week with them (or more!), so you want to leave every lesson feeling empowered and ready for action!
5. Do they talk more than you?
Every English teacher should maximise the student talking time. So basically, you (the student) should speak during most of the lesson. This is to keep you engaged, active and to give you maximum opportunity to practise the language.
Does the teacher ask you lots of questions AND follow-up questions to encourage you to give details, to use grammar structures/vocabulary you've been practising (by the way... this is one of my favourite parts of teaching private English lessons!)? If yes, GREAT!
If the teacher spends too much time talking, for example explaining grammar, talking about their personal life (yes... I once had a private language teacher that used to give me a 10-15 update about their personal life at the start of every lesson...), then in my opinion, it's time to find another teacher.
6. Is the teacher open to feedback/lesson suggestions?
Every good teacher will be open to feedback - positive as well as constructive criticism. Do they ask for feedback? If so, great! It is sometimes difficult to tell if a student enjoys the lessons, so why not tell your teacher when they ask.
Does your teacher ask for your comments or suggestions for future lessons? Are they happy for you to tell them what you want the lessons to focus on? If so, then this means the teacher understands that the lessons are for YOU. They are here to help YOU. This is how it should be. One of my private English students, Marina from Russia, always tells me what she would like to refresh and focus on in future lessons, and I LOVE IT!
I hope you've found these 6 tips helpful. Is there anything else you'd like to add to them? Let me know! I'd love to hear from you :)
Paulina x
Your biggest cheerleader
Paulina Skladanowska
Loughborough, United Kingdom
Loughborough, United Kingdom
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