Business English: Choosing A Private Teacher

Finding A Teacher

In large, international cities like Vancouver, Tokyo, Shanghai, etc, there are many schools, and colleges offering courses in business English. These places are usually very expensive, and often can't create a course of study for your unique needs and goals.

A private instructor is better if you want lessons that are made for you specifically. Today, we'll discuss how you should choose your teacher, and where to find private ESL instructors.

 


An excellent website to find a teacher in Canada is findatutor.ca. It is nationwide, and easy to use.

In Japan, there are several companies that help ESL learners find private teachers. I have worked with two of them. 7Act and Teacher/Student.com. Both work closely with students, and watch demo lessons. If you're not happy with your instructor (or she/he stops teaching), they will help you find another instructor.

If you know other services in your country, please give links and contact information in the comments section of this post, or email me directly at my Gmail.

Appearance 

For business English, your teacher should look presentable. A clean shirt, trousers, and comfortable shoes are basic clothing for any business English instructor, especially if the lessons are in your workplace. Every company is different, and have their own rules about clothing, but smart casual or business casual wear is suitable for the office.

Here are two examples.

Skills/Experience

Experience in the workplace is great, of course, but, to teach English communication  skills, an instructor doesn't need business experience, but, experience in the workplace is ideal: it makes the lessons more authentic, and you may learn new skills along with your ESL training. 

BUT

Teaching skills are more important. Your teacher should have lesson plans and targets, and make sure students have as much speaking time as possible. 

 Personality 


 You should choose a teacher who you feel comfortable with. Every teacher is different and has their own teaching style. Choose one that you feel is best for you. 


Professionalism 

A common problem, especially for female ESL learners, is sexual harassment and unprofessional behavior. These are unacceptable. If  your teacher says or does something that makes you uncomfortable, end the lesson right away, and find a new instructor. 

It okay to socialize with your ESL teacher. Dinners and drinks are okay but the student/teacher relationship should not change.

In many countries, teachers are highly respected, but, private ESL teachers work for you. You are a student, but, you're also a customer. 

Lessons 

The lessons should be well planned. A good teacher will often write an outline of the lesson on the whiteboard or handout. Most important, is that you get to practice the target language of the lesson, and get a lot of speaking time. 

At the end of your lesson, your teacher should quickly review the lesson points, and give you feedback on your performance.