The Skills Every Successful English Tutor Needs to Develop
LikeBecoming a successful English tutor is about more than just knowing the rules of grammar and punctuation. Developing certain skills can significantly improve your performance and capacity to motivate students, regardless of how experienced or new you may be to the field of English tuition. In this blog, I will explain the 10 essential skills every English tutor needs to succeed, with tips on how to develop them for both in-person sessions and English tuition online.
10 Essential Skills Every Successful English Tutor Needs to Master for Effective Teaching
1. Use Creative and Engaging Materials
Using good materials are key to keeping students interested. Use colours, props, and fun resources to make your lessons more engaging. The goal in your lessons should be to make learning feel less like a task. Creative materials are amazing for helping students understand difficult concepts in a more enjoyable way.
2. You Should Be Maximising Student Talking Time (STT)
The more a student talks, the better they will learn. Student Talking Time (STT) refers to the amount of time your students spend speaking during a lesson. As an English tutor, your role is to encourage as much speaking as possible. This can be done through activities like group work, discussions, or interactive exercises. Instead of talking for long periods yourself, you should let your students practise speaking, even if it’s just answering questions or repeating sentences.
3. Effective Teacher Voice is Important
Imagine being a student. If the teacher talks all the time, you’d eventually lose focus, even if the subject is interesting. So, put yourself in your student’s shoes; speak clearly and avoid over-explaining. The way you speak has a big impact on how well students understand you. Give instructions that are easy to follow, and try not to talk too much. This way, your students can focus more and stay engaged.
4. Use Your Humour to Create a Positive Environment
Humour can help build a connection with students. It can make lessons more enjoyable and create a relaxed atmosphere. Use jokes or funny examples to lighten the mood. Keeping things fun and personal helps keep students interested and motivated. A small warning here, make sure you have the right balance between being professional and funny for your students to take you seriously.
5. Use Eliciting Technique and Concept Check Questions (CCQs)
Encourage students to share their thoughts. For example, instead of explaining a grammar rule directly, you might ask the students questions that guide them to figure it out themselves. Instead of asking, “Do you understand?” use Concept Check Questions.
Imagine you’ve just taught the present simple tense. Here are examples for CCQs:
- "Do we use the present simple for things that happen regularly?"
- "Does 'she goes to school' talk about the past, present, or future?"
- "How do we form the present simple for 'he'?"
This promotes active learning and helps students take ownership of their learning process.
6. Demonstrate and Be Clear
Sometimes, showing is more effective than telling. When you demonstrate tasks or activities, it helps make your expectations clearer for students. Visual demonstrations allow them to see exactly how to approach a task, which can be much more useful than simply explaining it verbally. This approach also boosts students’ confidence, as they can follow your example step by step. As a result, they are more likely to succeed and feel more capable in their learning.
7. Have an English Only Policy
Using only English in your lessons helps students learn faster. Immersion is an effective way to improve fluency. It forces students to think in English, which helps them pick up the language more naturally.
8. Monitor Actively and Correct Errors
Don’t just sit back during group work if you’re teaching group classes. You want your students to know you’re interested, and you want them to keep their focus on the task. Walk around if you’re teaching in-person, listen, and check that students are on the right track. Correct mistakes gently and provide positive feedback. This helps students improve and stay motivated.
9. You Should Be Patient
Every student learns at a different pace. It’s important to be patient and understanding. Be ready to adapt your lessons based on how each student is doing. This will help create a supportive learning environment where all your students feel comfortable.
10. Ask for Feedback
You should always reflect on how your lessons went. Ask students for feedback to see what worked well and what didn’t. This helps you improve your teaching skills and makes lessons better for your students next time.
Developing Your English Teaching Skills Over Time
After mastering the essential skills, it’s important to regularly reflect on your progress. Take time to assess which skills you’ve developed and where you can continue to grow. This will help you stay motivated, adapt to different students, and become a better private English tutor over time.
Start Giving English Tuition Online
Now that you know the 10 essential skills every successful English tutor needs, it’s time to assess your own teaching abilities and identify areas for improvement. By developing these skills, you can become a more effective English tutor. Whether you’re looking to become an English tutor or improve your current teaching methods, these skills will help you offer high-quality English tuition online or in-person. Focus on making lessons engaging, interactive, and supportive, and you’ll see your students’ succeed.