Frequently Asked Questions

How does online tutoring work?

Online tutoring is just like face to face tutoring, except that it can be done from the comfort of your home or during a commute.

First, the lesson itself is done over video conferencing software (Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, etc.)

All of these programs have a screen sharing feature that allows me to show my screen with you. This is just like if I were sitting right next to you and showing a book or a worksheet.

At any point, if you need to click on things on my screen, I can hand the controls over so that you can do that. Online tutoring is extremely interactive and will blow your mind away.

Second, you will receive login credentials for the website: This site includes information such as e-mail history, class schedule, summaries from previous classes, and homework assignments.

Finally, you will receive various homework assignments, so that when you are not in a class with me, you will have the opportunity to continue to work on your English language skills.

How long are your lessons/How many lessons per week?

Lesson length is approximately 60 minutes. We may end up going over 60 minutes to complete the lesson in some cases, but I will inform you if I think that is going to happen.

My research has shown that most language learning and teaching experts recommend three 60-minute lessons a week, plus homework.

You are free to schedule your sessions as you see fit - you do not have to schedule three lessons a week, but that is what is suggested.

What does a typical lesson look like?

In general:

Before class, offline via e-mail.

Comment on homework
I will provide an outline of the class.

5 Minutes: Review with student any questions or concerns that have come up that we did not discuss over-mail.

45 Minutes: Lesson

Warm Up
Intro to Class
Lecture and Exercises
Summary

10 Minutes: Q&A, Homework

How do I start working with you?

You will need the following:

Computer (Can be PC or Mac), phone or tablet that can use video conferencing software.

Webcam (Optional, not required for most classes, strongly recommended)

Internet Connection

Microphone/Headset (If doing lessons from PC or Mac)

How long will I need tutoring?

This answer is going to vary based on a couple of factors.

1. Your current knowledge level of English

2. Your goals; do you want to work on one specific aspect of Business English such as writing, or do you want help in multiple areas?

The most important factor is consistency/repetition, which will allow you to retain your knowledge as well as increase your confidence and comfort. The goal is to use Business English without even thinking about it.

Once I review your application and we conduct our initial consultation, I will have a better idea of how many sessions you might need to achieve your goals.

Why use a tutor instead of using a language app or through a language school?

With private tutoring, you get a personalized lesson plan and feedback that fits your goals so you can get faster results, instead of wasting time learning vocabulary and grammar that is unnecessary, and having the confidence of knowing a native speaker who has worked in the corporate world is giving you accurate feedback.

Because it's online, you do not have to worry about travel. This can be done with a desktop or laptop, a tablet or a smartphone. You also don't have to worry about missing class for any reason because its one on one sessions, so all the material is tailored to your schedule and learning plan. This also means you do not have any additional expenses to worry about such as textbooks or course/test fees; everything is included in the packages.

What are your cancellation, rescheduling and refund policies?/What happens if I am late to class?

I understand you probably have last minute things come up, especially at work. Because of that, there are no penalties for showing up late to class or for missing it entirely, and there is no penalty for canceling and rescheduling classes. If you are late to class, we can make up the time at a later date if we cannot extend the class.

I offer a 100% refund policy. If you are not happy with my service, I will refund you 100%.

What forms of payment do you accept?

Credit/Debit Cards are accepted through Stripe.

I also accept payments through PayPal.

Payments should be in USD, but my payment methods will automatically convert.

What materials do you use?

For the English Lessons, including test preparation classes such as TOEFL, TOEIC or IELTS, most of my material will come from Off2Class, as well as TEFL Educator, Busy Teacher, and the Ultimate ESL Teaching Manuals.

For Accent Reduction, I utilize the textbook, "Speak with Distinction", and I will utilize other resources based on the ethnicity of my student.

For the Business Lessons, I utilize books such as "Crucial Conversations", "You Say More Than You Think", "Never Eat Alone", "Strength Finders 2.0", etc.

I also create custom material for my students to replicate and personalize real-life scenarios as closely as possible so that you can prepare and exceed in these situations. Examples include interview preparation that is specific to your industry or career, role plays with challenging co-workers and management, customized feedback for your such as resume, PowerPoint presentations, etc.

You will be provided access to any and all required materials at no additional charge.

How is Business English different from General English or Conversational English?

I found most of my students understand some level of English already; most of my students learned some English in their home countries.

However, I have noticed a few trends:

Most students know the vocabulary, but they do not know the grammar. This means they know what a word means, but they don’t know proper sentence structure. A common example I have seen is writing paragraphs to get the point across in their e-mails when one sentence would have been fine.

Most students do not have confidence, so they are afraid to contribute. They may have the technical skills likes sales or technology, but typically they do not feel comfortable speaking up or letting management know about problems or issues.

Some other issues include enunciation (commonly called accent reduction: basically, many clients have commented that their peers do not understand what they are saying.) as well as reading comprehension.

Finally, there are really important cultural differences. In America, its typical for employees to work independently and with minimal management supervision and guidance, and in my experience, managers expect employees to take more initiative, such as training new hires and leading group meetings with senior management.

What gets covered in your classes?

Students can choose what to work on and prioritize.

There are two main categories:

English Language Refresher

These classes are intended to test the student’s knowledge of English, to identify gaps in understanding, as well as to expand the student’s general knowledge base.

This includes:

Grammar
- Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Prepositions, Tenses, Idioms, Articles etc.
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
- Speaking
Accent Reduction
- Consonants and Vowels
- Stress and Intonation
- What specific sounds to work on based on your native language

Business English

These classes provide essential English vocabulary, common phrases and cultural norms that are common in most workplaces in America, regardless of your industry, as well as the behaviors and cultural norms that will allow my students to exceed expectations and excel in their careers to maximize their earning potentials.

These classes assume an intermediate knowledge of English (Proficiency of B1 or above)