Should You Use A Language Tutor?

Using a language tutor is a very traditional method, but it is also tried and tested and is a very effective way to learn a language. 

If you are in the position to use a tutor, I would highly recommend it. They can really be worth the cost and I don’t think I can really explain how powerful it is to speak to another human about the language you have been struggling with. They know what you are going through and they know how to guide you, basically I am a big fan.

What Is A Language Tutor?

I tutor is just a teacher that you can privately hire to give you one on one lessons to learn a language.

The normal image of a teacher is that you turn up to a classroom with a number of other people and they stand at the front of the room and teach everyone at once.

A tutor is slightly different. You agree a time with them to meet then it’s just you and them, so it’s like your own personal teacher.

This style of teaching is available for every subject imaginable, not just languages.

Why Use A Language Tutor?

People use tutors to learn a language for all sorts of different reasons and here are some of the most common reasons:

They Have Experience

Tutors are fully trained and qualified teachers. They will have experience teaching and will know the common pitfalls and struggles you are likely to face when you are learning a language.

They will also have experience with what you actually need to learn in a language and how to do this in the most effective way.

They Are Good Value

If you are going to pay for anything while learning a language, paying a tutor will be the best value you can find for your money.

You can certainly get a lot from books and courses/apps, but being able to interact with another person and have them guide you along will give you far greater returns for your money than anything else.

They Offer Accountability

A tutor can make you very accountable when it comes to language learning.

I don’t know if it’s the fact that money is being spent, or it’s because you are dealing with another human. Maybe it’s a mix of the two, but you will not want to turn up to each session unprepared and without doing your practice. You will want to show them that you are making progress in your language.

The tutor is also not just going to sit there and let you do no work; they will push you and make sure you progress.

They Will Give Feedback

When you are with a tutor, you will get instant feedback when you use the language.

If you do something wrong you can be corrected right away. If you do not understand a concept, or how to pronounce something, the tutor is right there to try and help you understand.

Efficiency

Learning a language is difficult. It’s even harder on your own. Trying to decide what to learn and when to do it can be a huge task in its self.

Using a tutor can take this all away.

They can tell you exactly what to learn, how to do it and when to do it. This can make the whole process of learning a language very efficient and it makes sure you are not wasting any time.

Reasons Not To Use A Language Tutor

Not everyone uses a tutor when learning and language and here are some reasons why they do not:

Cost

The main problem is the cost. Some people do not see this as a valid expense and others simply cannot afford it.

I would agree that there are ways to learn a language for free, but if you are going to invest any money into your language learning, I would suggest you try a tutor. You should see an excellent return for your investment.

I also think you can find some reasonably priced tutors that should cater for any budget.

You Might Not Get Along With Your Tutor

The first thing you need to remember is that a tutor is not your mate. You are dealing with them in a professional setting.

They should be courteous and respectful, but sometimes you will just not get along with a tutor. Maybe you don’t like their style of teaching, or there is just something about their personality you just don’t like.

I think this is fairly normal, you are never going to click with everyone you speak to. I know many of you reading this would probably not like me and vice versa, but that’s life.

I wouldn’t let this put you off starting with a language tutor. If you end up in a situation like this you can just end the arrangement. There is usually no long term contract signed, so you can just walk away and try another tutor.

I would just ask you to remember that they are not your friend, they are paid to teach you. So long as they are respectful and are able teach you effectively you shouldn’t have a problem. If you feel like they can’t do this, then that’s totally fine, try another tutor.

Not All Language Tutors Are At The Same Level

Tutors qualifications, skill and experience all differ. You might hire a tutor and they are just not what you are looking for.  

I think this can certainly happen, but I would not use this as a reason to not try a tutor.

A lot of the time you can get trails, sometimes even for free, sometimes at reduced cost, so you can try a tutor out and see if they suit your language learning needs.

You also now have reviews on the wesbites, which should give you an idea of a tutors quality.

There are so many tutors available; you should be able to find someone who fits your needs.

Where Can You Find A Language Tutor?

You can find tutors advertised locally, but to be honest, the mass majority can now be found online.

Through internet video calls you can quickly and easily have a session with a tutor. There are hundreds of websites dedicated to putting language learning students in touch with tutors.

You should find it very easy to find tutors who speak your native language and who are teaching the language you are trying to learn.

How Much Do Language Tutors Cost?

As with most things in life, you get what you pay for. The price of language tutors can range massively depending on their skills, what they are teaching and on what website they are based.

Typically they charge by the hour and it can range anywhere from £10-20 an hour.

However, I have seen much lower than this and definitely a lot higher. 

To judge for yourself you should look at the language you are trying to learn and get a feel for what the average cost of a tutor is. You should then look at the reviews and what they are offering and see if the price is justified.

Expensive doesn’t always mean better and the opposite is also true, cheap doesn’t always mean bad.

Just use some sense and should be able to find a decent tutor at a decent price.

How Long Does A Session Last With A Language Tutor?

As above, language tutors charge by the hour and you will find 30 minute or an hour sessions are the most common. These can be longer, but you can pretty much make a lesson as long as you want so long as the tutor is happy to accommodate.

What Happens In A Session With A Language Tutor?

This basically depends on what you want and what you agree with the tutor.

You may have certain things you want to cover or practice in the language, or you may want the tutor to lead and suggest things you can study and practice.

No two people’s sessions will be the same, so what I have experienced may be totally different to how you have a session with a tutor.

All that matters is that you get something from the session and fee like it was a productive time and money well spent.

What happens in between sessions is also down to you. You may be asked to study or practice or you may not. It really depends on what your goals with the language are and what you can commit to. A good tutor should be able to help you work this out.

How Often Should You Use A Language Tutor?

This again comes down to you and your goals in the language you are learning. Some people find having a weekly session is more than enough, but others may find more or less than this is appropriate.

It will also depend on your budget, so just do with whatever you feel is right.  Again, a good tutor should be able to advise you how often a session would benefit you based on your skills and level.

There is also nothing stopping you using multiple language tutors and using them at various times that suit you. Using a tutor can be very flexible and should be able to suit your needs accordingly. 

Conclusion

If you have ever thought about using a language tutor, you should just try it. They are an excellent learning resource and you will be surprised how much you can get out of a session.

Yes, they are a bit stressful and daunting at first, but just relax.

The tutor is there to help you and push you to your best, so trust them and do what they say and you will see great results and you will soon see why they are one of the best methods to really ramp up your language skills quickly.

You can read more about – Language Learning Methods That Are A Waste Of Time