Make Sure Your Course Is Right For You!

If you are looking for a tutor for English as a Foreign Language (EFL), first make sure they have the right qualifications and experience of tutoring other students in EFL. When you have found a tutor and meet them for the first time, you`ll need to have a short meeting before you start, to discuss your needs. This is really important!

The purpose of this initial meeting is for your teacher to understand your abilities and your needs. The teacher will need to know why you want lessons and your purpose. Do you need to pass an exam? Do you need to become more fluent, so you can live and work in an English-speaking environment? Your teacher will also need to know which skills you want to prioritise, i.e. speaking, listening, reading or writing. You`ll also need to tell your teacher how you enjoy learning and about your interests. Everyone is different, so you need to make sure the lessons are right for your learning style, and the topics you cover are interesting. It`s no good reading and talking about nuclear physics if you want to work in a hotel!

By talking to you, your teacher will gain an impression of your level, but he or she may also ask for your to do some writing or answer some grammar questions. Then your teacher will be able to help you choose which books and materials to work from.

So, as you can see, this initial meeting is a really important way of making sure your lessons are just right for you. Don`t start lessons without having one!