Frequently Asked Questions
Are classes offered in person or online?
What if my child needs to reschedule or cancel a class?
What is the cost of English lessons?
What is the best grade level to begin writing lessons?
Do online English lessons work? Yes. English lessons can be as effective as in-person learning. Lessons are conducted using Google Meet. Both the student and I use a shared Google Doc, which I can view when the student is writing. I have plenty of digital workbooks and handouts that I can share on the screen. I can send a helpful web page to a student, which he or she can bookmark for future reference. Learning online is a convenient way of meeting so long as a student isn't easily distracted during the lesson (i.e., chatting with friends online, viewing videos, etc.). Presently, the majority of students learn online.
How long is an English lesson? One hour. If a student requires additional lessons or a longer lesson (i.e., for a homework assignment), please contact the teacher as early as possible to determine the teacher's availability.
Is there homework? To accelerate learning, students are encouraged to do the assigned homework. I generally assign the more straightforward exercises for homework. I leave the more challenging work to do in class so that the student receives the necessary instruction and guidance from me. This has proven to be the most efficient way of learning. For senior high school students, homework is based on an honour system: they do it if homework from school in a particular week is not too heavy for them.
How do you help students with their school work? This varies. Some students need help understanding the requirements of an assignment, some need inspiration to start an essay, some need help developing an idea, some need help with structuring their compositions, and some need help with the revision process. I have experience guiding a student in all phases of the writing process. I do this without giving the student answers or writing their work for them. My objective for students is to nurture writing independence. The proverb, “If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime" is fitting here.
How long should a student learn for? I have enough teaching content and writing exercises to instruct a student for all of middle school and high school. The duration of learning therefore depends on the student's learning goals, from improving grades to mastering material.
When are bi-weekly lessons (about two lessons per month) suitable for a student? Bi-weekly lessons should be for students who are not struggling in English. They will still learn the foundations for writing, but the content is spread out over a longer period (bi-weekly students tend to require more review time). Some parents who have multiple children will have the siblings alternate weeks with each other. I recommend weekly lessons for senior high school students.
What will happen in the first lesson? A portion of the first lesson will be dedicated to becoming familiar with the student’s background in spelling/grammar, reading, and writing (i.e., discovering details about previous tutors, past grades in school, personal assessment of weaknesses, etc.). In addition, the student should bring to class the most recent class material and writing assignments completed for school for further assessment of the student’s writing level. This will allow me to better customize content to suit the needs of the student.
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