Tutoring methodology:

how to become
a successful tutor
Preply’s simple steps to having
enjoyable, productive lessons with
students
Table of contents

Page 3: Overview
Page 4: Golden rules of teaching
Page 5: The first message
Page 8: Conducting the trial lesson
Page 12: The components of a 60 min lesson

2
Overview
Methodology is the foundation
to becoming a successful tutor

We know. It’s difficult to find students, organize lessons for each of them, and
maintain a work-life balance. Being a tutor can be tough, but also very rewarding.
So we put together something to help make tutoring a little bit easier.

This short handbook will provide you with an expert methodology to become a
fantastic tutor. We have gathered these tips from expert tutors who are in the
Preply community.

There is also a step-by-step guide to messaging students, designing trial lessons

and a guide on how to structure further lessons.

In online teaching, methodology plays a crucial role in the success

of a student’s learning. The tutor should be prepared to use these
methods even with students who are thousands of miles away.

‘There’s method in his madness.’—Hamlet

3
4 golden rules
of teaching

Some of the questions that we will answer throughout this handbook are;
How is the student-tutor connection made?
How do I make a great first impression?
What is a good structure of a 60 min trial lesson?

Teaching is a responsibility not a job.

Create the ability for students to speak

confidently.

The more students try, the more they learn.

Never forget the importance of homework.

The ultimate goal: learning functional language

over acquiring a certificate.

4
The first message

Your first impression begins from the moment the student sends you a
message. Follow these guidelines to leave a positive impression!

A fantastic first message will:

Arrive as quickly as possible: Students appreciate tutors who respond quickly.
Say hello: Add that you’re looking forward to the trial lesson.
Ask about the student’s goals: Asking relevant questions will provide you with
the knowledge to prepare for a great trial lesson.
Confirm the time and agenda of the trial lesson: The student will feel more
comfortable when you confirm this with them.

5
Sample messages

Hello, Thanks so much for choosing me as your tutor! Here’s how my trial lesson
will go. My methodology is to work towards my students’ learning goals. I call it
tailored learning! First I will ask you what you would like to achieve by learning
English, along with what you would like me to focus on. If needed, we will go
through an English assessment test together so I can create the best lesson plan
for you. Looking forward to seeing you in our trial lesson!

Hello, I have taught IELTS prep courses to many students. In this course I will use
several textbooks, and will provide tips on how to answer each section of the
IELTS test with a focus on the spoken section. You’ll receive instant feedback
from me, and I will evaluate your progress over time. The number of lessons I
suggest after the trial lesson depends on your current level of English and the
score you would like to achieve. Please feel free to ask me any more questions
you might have, and looking forward to our trial lesson!
Regards

Hello, I’m looking forward to our Business English trial lesson!

Currently, I’m teaching similar lessons to several students in different countries.
First, We will go through a short English assessment test together to determine
your English level. Based on the results, I’ll tailor my lesson plan to strengthen
areas where you can improve. The classes will emphasize your conversational
skills in a business setting. Looking forward to our trial lesson!
Best Regards

6
Technical requirements

Having technical difficulties, such as a bad audio or an unstable internet

connection during the trial lesson can make a great lesson less enjoyable.

To make sure everything goes smoothly, you can send the below messages
to your student in the days leading up to the lesson;

Sample message
Hello!
To prepare for a great trial lesson, please make sure you have
the following ready to go:
• A good internet connection.
• A computer is more comfortable, but using mobile devices or tablets
is possible.
• An external microphone. Using a headset provides better audio quality
than a built-in microphone.
• A quiet room.

To go the extra mile, send a message to the student the day before
reminding them of the start time. Try not to change the time they have
booked, as it can decrease their willingness to buy more lessons.

Sample message
Hi! Just a friendly reminder about our class tomorrow at 10am your
local time. Looking forward to speaking with you then!

7
Conducting the trial lesson

The trial lesson is when the student decides whether to continue with you as
their tutor, or to look for another tutor. At the end of the trial lesson, the student
should want to continue learning with you and purchase a package of lessons.
Now is the time for your professionalism to shine!

Prepare yourself for each trial lesson. Tailor the content to the student’s goals
and what they wish to achieve—you learned this from their messages before the
trial lesson began.

Students are building their futures during these lessons.

You are their mentor to achieve their life goals. Some students may be learning a
language to get a promotion at work, others to pass the IELTS and enter
Universities abroad, and others may have just moved to a new country and need
to integrate!

Teaching here is not only your job, it’s also your responsibility. You should care
for your students and share in their successes. During the trial lesson, students
should feel your dedication to them on their journey.

Let’s look at the following pages for a 6-part breakdown of what

makes a fantastic trial lesson. This can be adapted to fit your own
unique style.

8
Greetings

● Send a message 15 min before the lesson. “Hello, I’d like to remind you that
our lesson will begin in 15 min. See you soon!“
● Before connecting over video, ask if they are ready. This shows empathy
and goes the extra mile with the student. “Are you ready to begin our
lesson?”
● Start with a warm greeting and by introducing yourself. Make sure your
camera is turned on, even if the student doesn’t turn on theirs. Let the
student feel comfortable during the class, either with their camera on or
off.
● Make sure the quality of sound is good and both of you can hear each
other clearly.
● Create a warm atmosphere by continuing with a couple of minutes of small
talk.

Introduction

Here are a list of questions you can ask as part of your introduction:
● Is this the first time you are having an online class? What is your
experience with learning English online?
● What difficulties have you faced up until now?
● What are your goals once you have learned English?
● What would you like to achieve by learning English? (This is especially
important if the student requested lessons for exam prep.)
● What is your experience with English to date?
● Have you taken any evaluation tests? If so, what were the results?
During the conversation, try to do your own assessment of the student’s
level—but don’t share your thoughts right away!

9
Evaluation Test

Students like taking an evaluation test in the first lesson—it evokes a feeling of
accomplishment! The test shouldn’t take more than 15 to 20 minutes though. Set
the expectation that the aim of the test is to assess the student’s language level
for more productive lessons. Here’s a sample assessment test and answer key.

Here are commonly used language

assessment guidelines:

Elementary (A1)
Pre-Intermediate (A2)
Intermediate (B1)
Upper Intermediate (B2)
Advanced (C1+)

At the end of the test, clearly explain the student’s level to them, making sure to
emphasize their strengths. For example: “Your overall level is Pre-Intermediate. We
can continue to work on your speaking skills, which are currently at an
Intermediate level.

Present the lesson plan

Make sure you explain what the student can expect, and how many hours they
will need to reach a milestone.

10
Turning the trial lesson into a lesson package

● You should aim to complete the academic lesson within 45 minutes,

leaving 15 minutes to end the lesson and explain what’s next (step 4).
● If the student has decided to continue taking lessons with you, try to
arrange the next lesson. The Preply Calendar will keep your tutoring
availability up to date and in the student’s timezone.
● Suggest the student buys a package of hours for a better deal. You can be
up front about the number of lessons you think the student will need to
achieve their goals—they’ll appreciate your honesty!
● If there is time left at the end of the trial lesson, don’t end the lesson early.
Start the next lesson and make sure to give some homework to the
student.

Follow-up after the trial lesson

● If the student did not purchase more lessons within a week, write a polite
follow-up message to peak their interest—a short preview to what will
happen next, or something to get them excited about achieving their goals.
● If the student purchased a package of lessons, write an enthusiastic
thank-you message to them.

11
The components of a 60 minute
lesson

Here are our suggestions for the components of any 60 minute language lesson.
We hope this will help you feel more confident as a tutor!

Getting to a good start

● 15 min before the lesson, send a polite text message reminding the student
about the lesson.
● Ask for permission before calling.
● Politeness, patience and a sense of humor are three important character
traits to build strong relationships with your students.
● Never skip the introductions at the start of the lesson. Create a friendly
atmosphere at the start of the lesson, but keep it to less than five minutes in
total..
● Send an agenda of the topics which will be covered in the lesson that day.
Make sure you stick to it anas closely as possible.

Tip: The ultimate goal of any language lesson is to create the

ability and confidence in the student to speak. This is achieved
by the joint hard work of the tutor and the student.

12
During the class

● Review homework done by the student. You can correct the homework
during the lesson with your student.
● Never interrupt students when they speak. It has a negative impact on their
self confidence. Give them feedback after they finish speaking.
● Don’t provide unnecessary comments and explanations during the lesson.
● Make examples common and practical. Try to teach your student functional
language. Ask them to use the vocabulary they learn to build sentences
about real situations at work or home.
● Always review new vocabulary at the end of each lesson.

Summing up the lesson

● Revise the topics covered with the student during the class.
● Assign the student homework to be completed for the next lesson.
● Ask if the student has any questions about the lesson.
● Thank them and say you are looking forward to the next class.

13
Thank you
for reading!

Learned something new?

Share your insights with a friend who teaches languages on preply.com. Provide
your feedback at tutors_performance@preply.com