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What Makes a Good English Tutor?

by Rogers Gislason

As you surely know, teachers vary in their personality and teaching style. That said, there are qualities that English tutors must all possess to be good at what they do.

In this article, we’ll go over the qualities you would want to watch out for your search for the right English tutor. Let’s get right to it!

Qualities to look out for

For one thing, an English tutor must be very proficient in what they teach. Keep in mind that Immersion is a big part of learning any language. That is why it would be best if you get a tutor who is a native English speaker.

Of course, it’s not to say that all Native English speakers are ideal candidates for English Tutoring in Sydney. There are other factors that you would want to consider that we’ll tackle later on. One thing to remember is that there are certain aspects of the English language that you can only learn from a native speaker.

Apart from fluency, here are a few other qualities that you would want to look out for when choosing an English tutor:

Is the tutor friendly?

You’ll struggle to learn anything if you are not comfortable interacting with your teacher. The same is true for English tutors, and it’s not anybody’s fault — some personalities don’t mesh with others. If you find that is indeed the case, then there’s nothing wrong with switching to a different English tutor that matches your personality.

Of course, it is best if you can be friends with your tutor. That way, you can concentrate on learning without having to tiptoe around their personality. 

Is the tutor easy to get hold of?

You would want an English tutor that is accessible to you. That means that the tutor supplies you with their contact information like email and phone numbers.

While you can’t expect a tutor to be available around the clock, he or she can at least advise you regarding their availability and when they’d be able to respond to your questions or concerns.

A good English tutor is patient

To be effective, teachers must be patient and understand that their students may not comprehend what they’re trying to teach right away. They know that they are there to help you learn and that they’ll have to go through each lesson as many times as needed. If your English tutor seems irritable or annoyed, then he or she is probably not the right teacher for you.

Of course, students must understand that their English tutor is only there to provide guidance. Hence you’ll need to put in the time and effort to learn the lessons taught to you. Don’t expect your tutor to provide all the answers, and in most cases, you’ll have to dig up the answers yourself. 

Keep in mind that spoon-feeding answers won’t help you become proficient. English tutors are only there to guide you and step in whenever you’re stuck or struggling with specific lessons.

Self-confident English tutors

Last but not least, an English tutor must be confident in his or her abilities. Regardless of whether the tutor is a native English speaker or simply experienced, your tutor ought to be able to address your questions or concerns with an air of confidence.