How to tutor English online?

✏ Here’s how to tutor English online effectively

1. Emphasize concise communication
2. Develop critical thinking skills
3. Expand your student’s grammar and vocabulary
4. Incorporate writing practice into your lessons
5. Practice reading comprehension
6. Dedicate time to verbal communication

English tutors help students effectively communicate their thoughts and ideas. English is all about expressing ideas clearly and logically, even though it may seem difficult at first. English is one of the best subjects to tutor online, and is extremely important for success in life. In this article, we will explore actionable tips to help you deliver high quality online English lessons

Disclaimer: This blog post is specifically for tutors who teach high school English in English-speaking countries. While it’s generally applicable, this post is not intended for English tutors who teach English as a second language

We also have other guides on how to tutor maths and science online that may interest you

🗣 Emphasize concise communication

English is all about conveying ideas in a clear and concise manner. Encourage your students to ask themselves, “How can I express my thoughts using as few words as possible?” This mindset focuses your students on effective communication and eliminates unnecessary clutter from their writing or speech.

This approach helped me improve my own English skills. After struggling with the subject in high school, I adopted this mindset and immediately saw a clear improvement in how I communicated through writing and speaking

🧠 Develop critical thinking skills

English is not about memorizing rules; it involves critical thinking, analysis and logically structuring thoughts. Encourage your students to read widely, explore different perspectives, and think critically about the material they encounter. Encourage them to reflect on their experiences, and question information sources so they can form their own opinions. This process enhances their ability to comprehend and articulate complex ideas effectively

📈 Expand your student’s grammar and vocabulary

Before your students can communicate effectively they need to develop a solid foundation in grammar and vocabulary. Devote time to reinforce these fundamental aspects of the English language. Break down complex grammar rules. Encourage your students to develop their vocabulary by encouraging them to read, and introducing new words in your conversations

📑 Incorporate writing practice into your lessons

Writing is a valuable skill in English language development, and like most things, practice makes perfect. Encourage your students to practice writing regularly, focusing on different formats such as essays, articles, and creative writing. To enhance their practice try and simulate exam conditions, by providing a prompt and then working through the planning and writing phase with them in a timed environment. Afterwards provide constructive feedback on their writing style, organization, and language usage. Help them understand the importance of structure, coherence, and clarity to effectively communicate their ideas in writing

👀 Practice reading comprehension

To succeed in English and in life, your student needs strong reading comprehension skills. When tutoring, start by working through texts together with your student, carefully annotating and highlighting key areas to discuss later. When discussing key sections, focus on the author’s purpose behind the text. This can help your student can gain a deeper understanding of the material. While working in this way, help your student develop repeatable strategies for extracting meaning from texts that are applicable to exam situations

⏳ Dedicate time to verbal communication

In English tutoring, it’s important to cover all aspects of language learning, including verbal communication. Encourage your student to express their thoughts verbally and act as a supportive sounding board to help them understand the message they are conveying and how to improve their clarity. Assist them in refining their pronunciation, tone, and fluency to improve their verbal English ability

You should also encourage your student to participate in public speaking events or engage with an audience. Public speaking is usually a nerve-wracking task for most students, but essential for success in most careers. Afterwards, ask them to break down how it went to you so that you can offer advice and guidance to help them progress further. By encouraging your students to face their fears and develop a new skill, you’re also helping your student build confidence, which will serve them well long after their school years