Improve your English with private English classes

If you struggle with English and need help, you have come to the right place! English is not only essential for school and the workplace, but also for communicating with people in your personal life.      

Learning English while living in the UK is a great way to pick up the language faster. You will have access to native speakers and contact with the language in every aspect of your life. Keep reading for studying tips and how English classes can help you…

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Benefits of learning English in your personal life

Learning a language is always a good way to expand your horizons and open up new opportunities. However, if you are still not sure whether to start taking English classes, here are some of the ways it will benefit you in your personal life:

• Gain confidence: In the UK, English is used wherever you go so learning the native language will help you feel more comfortable and confident in your day-to-day life. Whether it’s filling out a form, going to the shop or a doctor’s appointment, having a good level of English is essential .
• Travel abroad: Given that English is the universal language, it will also help you communicate with others when you go abroad or visit other English-speaking countries.
• Train your brain: This is perhaps one of the most overlooked benefits, but it is just as important. When you learn new things, your brain gains neural plasticity. This means that new neural connections are created, keeping it healthy and fit.
• Make friends: Making friends with other people will be much easier once you have a good level of English, not just in the UK but abroad as well.

Benefits in your professional life:

Many people start learning English to improve their professional opportunities. English is not only the business language for companies based in English-speaking countries like the UK, but also for many large international businesses. Candidates that do not have a good level of English therefore have far fewer opportunities, not just in the UK but also on an international scale. Here are some other professional benefits of learning English:

• Better job opportunities: In science and technology, more than 90 % of publications are in English. This means that learning English is essential for working in these sectors. Moreover, by training with a private English teacher, you will have a better chance of getting more challenging and complex jobs, even abroad.
• Access to a wider range of resources: Employers often prefer people who are fluent in English. One of the reasons for this is that most of the information on the internet is available in English. Therefore having an employee that is able to understand this information without incurring additional costs or time, is highly beneficial for companies.
• More attractive CV: Companies in the UK and international companies abroad are more likely to contact you if you have a good level of English, given that this is the language that many of them use to communicate. Additionally, if you take Business English classes you will be able to learn specific vocabulary for the workplace.
• Better networking opportunities: If you are fluent in English you will be able to connect with professionals in more companies and places. Connecting with the right people will help you generate a network of contacts which will function as a gateway to business and career opportunities. 
• Higher education: Some of the best universities in the world are located in the UK and going to one of these can open up many job opportunities after graduating. In order to get into one of these universities, having a high level of English is essential as you need to be able to read material in English and understand the lectures.

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How to learn English: English classes

The best way to learn English is to find an online English tutor that is a native speaker. Whilst it’s true that you can learn English by yourself, it will be a lot harder without the help of a tutor. A native English teacher can help you with your studies, improve your pronunciation and help you practice your speaking skills. 

If you love to study at your own pace, private lessons are for you! Not all schools will adapt to your pace and your way of learning like a private tutor. In a private lesson, the teacher will adapt to you: you set the pace, as the teacher will not advance until you have understood the content.

What kind of English classes are there?

Depending on your goal, there are different types of English classes and tutors. Are you studying English as a Foreign language? Or, do you want to pass the First Certificate in English? These are some of the different English tutors available on FindTutors:

• English tutors
• English as a foreign language tutors
• IELTs tutors
• First Certificate in English tutors
• Certificate of Proficiency in English tutors
• Certificate in Advanced English tutors

In addition to different classes, you can also choose where you want to study:

• English classes in person

If you prefer to interact with your tutor face-to-face, then in-person lessons are for you! In-person classes are often more interactive as they involve less screen time and allow you to engage in more physical activities. They are also good for your mental health, promoting a better bond with your tutor. And the best thing is that you can study from the comfort of your own home or wherever you prefer!

• Online English classes

On the other hand, if you are more digitally inclined, online English classes could be the solution for you. Online English classes are extremely convenient as they allow you to study from wherever you are. Additionally, finding tutors that teach online is much easier, especially if you live somewhere remote. You will have access to English tutors all over the UK, meaning that you can choose from the very best. 

How to choose the best English tutor for you

So now that you know that you want to improve your English or learn from scratch with private classes, the next step is finding tutors and choosing the best one for you. You can find tutors online using tutoring platforms like FindTutors or ask friends and family for recommendations. But what should you look for when finding a tutor?

• Outline your goals and needs: If you want to learn business English, a primary school English teacher will not meet your needs. Create a list of your needs and main goals and check whether your chosen tutor ticks all the boxes. If you are using our website, you can do this by using the filters.

• Check other students’ opinions: This is an important part of finding a good tutor. You do not want to hire a teacher who will fall short of your expectations. Checking former students’ opinions can help avoid this disappointment. On FindTutors, if students have reviewed a tutor, you can see them on the tutor’s profile.

• Find a native or bilingual tutor: This is another major dilemma that always arises when finding a teacher. Often, people think that a good language teacher must always be a native speaker. And, of course, native speakers are great teachers: you will learn correct pronunciation and practice a lot of vocabulary. However, bilingual teachers will understand the difficulties of learning English and may be able to explain difficult concepts better.

• Check their qualifications: It’s always good to choose a qualified tutor. Check whether your tutor has a TEFL or CELTA qualification. 

• Ask for a trial lesson or interview: This is the best way to find out if a tutor is going to match your expectations. If you ask the teacher for an interview or a free lesson, you will be able to see how interested they are in teaching you. Additionally, even if it is over the phone or online, you will get to see if you get along and what a class would be like. 

Learning resources for studying English

Knowing where to find resources is essential for learning a language. If you have started your English classes and want to reinforce the concepts you have learnt, check our list of useful resources. What's more, many of them are fun, which is essential to keep you motivated.

Films and TV programmes to support your English classes

Finding a film or TV series in English that you enjoy is a great way to improve your listening skills and pronunciation. It’s also a good way to expand your vocabulary and hear it being used in various contexts. 

TV programmes are shorter than films and therefore more accessible in terms of time, but both are equally useful for improving your English. Some series and films you can watch, with or without subtitles, are:

• Once upon a time: The characters in this 7-season series speak clear English and their pronunciation is usually slow. Ideal for people with intermediate levels of English.

• Grey’s Anatomy: This programme has 13 seasons and, given that it is a medical drama, it is particularly useful for learners who want to go into the medical field. 

• Harry Potter: The infamous Harry Potter films will keep every fiction fan entertained. 

• Friends: This classic American sitcom is great for those who want to learn American English.

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Music and podcasts to improve your English

Another good way to improve your English outside of your English classes is by listening to music or podcasts. This will help in particular with listening comprehension. What’s more it’s easy to integrate this into your daily life.

Listening to English music to supplement your private English classes is a good way to improve your vocabulary as well as your mood. You can study the pronunciation and vocabulary in songs by artists like Coldplay, Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran. There are a wide range of English-speaking artists, so there is plenty to choose from according to your music taste. If you are a beginner you can try starting with songs for children.

As for podcasts, these are a good way to listen to conversations, monologues and opinions on a wide variety of topics. The good thing about podcasts is that they are easy to integrate into your day-to-day life. They are a really good way to improve your listening skills since you can listen to real conversations. Some recommendations include TED Talks Daily and Today in Focus. 

Books for learning English

One of the best ways to improve your reading comprehension is to read books. The more you read, the more fluent and faster you will become. Additionally, whether you read books, newspapers or magazines, you will be able to discover new words and expand your vocabulary. Reading is, without a doubt, a great way to supplement your English classes. If you want to read books in English you can start with easier books like Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl. Or for more advanced learners, there are books such as 1984 by George Orwell or The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.

Language exchanges 

Whilst it may seem daunting at first, language exchanges are a great way to practice speaking English. To do a language exchange, you need to find a partner with whom you can practice speaking English. English language learners tend to like this the least given that it pushes you the furthest out of your comfort zone. But how will you improve if you do not put everything you learn into practice?

You may find it much more difficult at first, but you will make progress without realising it. If you have English lessons with a private teacher, you can also ask them to dedicate part of the lesson to speaking. 

Tips for staying motivated

You may get discouraged at some point during your journey to fluency. This is common, and in fact quite normal, because when you decide to learn English, you are stepping out of your comfort zone on a daily basis. However, stagnating out of frustration can mean the end of your progress. That is why we want to give you some tips:

• Find the right teacher: A good teacher will give you support whenever you need it, as well as respect your time. In private English lessons you will not be compared to anyone else; your tutor will dedicate all the lesson time to you.

• Reignite your motivation: The most important thing for retaining motivation is to keep your goals in sight. If your goal is important enough, your motivation should not wane. However, it is normal for you to go through periods when you are less eager to learn. When this happens, give yourself time and get someone to help you stay consistent.

• Persevere: If you give up after one class, you will not be able to see the results of your hard work. Persevere and once you start seeing your progress, you will feel proud and more motivated to continue studying English.

• Don’t forget to have fun: If you don't see studying English as something fun and entertaining, you will probably end up quitting. Try using the resources we have mentioned in this article. Once you incorporate English into your personal life, you will perceive English in a different light. It is also great both as a supplement to your English classes and for keeping yourself motivated.