Since coming to Hong Kong, I have had the chance to speak to students about their experiences with and expectations of their Native English Teachers and tutors.
Students in Hong Kong are very hard working and under tons of pressure. Many students are required to take entrance exams for even their primary and secondary schools, with placement into the top schools influential on a child's entire life. Meanwhile, it is not uncommon for adults to work 60 hour work weeks.
So, given the shortage of spare time, and the need for it to be used wisely, it is important to find the right tutor.
Here are some tips to consider when looking for your Native English Tutor:
- Your English Teacher must love to teach. Yup, it's as simple as that. If your tutor is only teaching English to make a quick buck, chances are your lessons will be as lackluster as their enthusiasm.
-Your English Teacher should have relevant training and experience. TESOL certification is a great indicator that your teacher has the training needed to be useful to you. Don't be shy to ask for a registration #.
-You and your English Teacher should be comfortable with one another. Ultimately, it comes down to personality. If you aren't comfortable, you won't be relaxed to learn.
- Your teacher should be willing to adjust the sessions to suit your personal needs. If you are interested in brushing up on your business English for an interview, let her stage one for you. If your next big boardroom meeting is making you weak in the knees, let her know, she can tailor an entire plan to arm you with enough intelligent buzzwords to knock the socks off your client. Planning to visit relatives overseas and you want to impress them with your skills? No problem.
Learning to speak English well will give you the confidence you need to be successful in business as well as in life. That's why I'm here.
