1 of 10

Award-Winning English Tutors

Welcome! Let's match you with the perfect English tutor.

Who needs tutoring?

What grade level in?
Did you know?

We have tutors that specialize in helping students with learning differences.

Which grade in?

Mr. D. was able to keep my daughter engaged and interested the entire session. He made her feel confident with reading. She stated that he was the "best teacher in the world". She gave him two thumbs up and a heart. I'm very pleased with my investment towards my child's education using Varsity Tutors.

— Shakia

Which grade in?

Mr. D. was able to keep my daughter engaged and interested the entire session. He made her feel confident with reading. She stated that he was the "best teacher in the world". She gave him two thumbs up and a heart. I'm very pleased with my investment towards my child's education using Varsity Tutors.

— Shakia

Which grade in?

Mr. D. was able to keep my daughter engaged and interested the entire session. He made her feel confident with reading. She stated that he was the "best teacher in the world". She gave him two thumbs up and a heart. I'm very pleased with my investment towards my child's education using Varsity Tutors.

— Shakia

What year in?

I want to thank VT for connecting me with my English tutor. I'm a 49 yr old that enrolled back in college to complete my degree and I was having the most difficult time meeting the demands of my writing assignments. But fortunately, I was matched with an educator that has made what seemed hopeless in my efforts to write academic papers effectively a piece of cake.

— William R

What prompted you to seek tutoring?

I'm very grateful to have found VT. They made the difference between a pass and fail grade for my son. English was one of his most challenging classes and with Varsity Tutors he passed the course. I'm forever grateful.

— Diane

What prompted you to seek tutoring?

I am very pleased to have found Daura at Varsity Tutors. She is great to work with and helps me with my confidence in writing.

— Bob T

Do they have an IEP or 504 plan? (We have tutors that specialize in learning differences)

The tutor that was paired with my daughter was perfect and fits Bella's needs. Bella struggles with attention and has been on a 504 plan for years. The tools used, the interaction and flexibility are priceless. I was hesitant at first but now I'd do it again and I recommend Varsity Tutors!!

— Isabella W

How soon would you like to get started?
Did you know?

Understanding your timeframe helps us to develop a tailor-made learning plan just for you.

Let's finish up your profile so we can find the perfect tutor:
Did you know?

stars

We have a 4.9/5 average customer satisfaction rating.

Let's finish up your profile so we can find the perfect tutor:

Varsity tutors helped my son improve his English grade by 32%. Money well spent.

— Pat

Let's finish up your profile so we can find the perfect tutor:

We know every student is unique. And they deserve a tutoring experience as unique as their needs. With thousands of tutors available, we're confident to find the one best for you.

FEATURED BY
TUTORS FROM
Yale
University
Princeton
University
Stanford
University
Cornell
University

Private English Tutoring

Our interview process, stringent qualifications, and background screening ensure that only the best English tutors work with Varsity Tutors. To assure a successful experience, you're paired with one of these qualified tutors by an expert director - and we stand behind that match with our money-back guarantee.

Receive personally tailored English lessons from exceptional tutors in a one-on-one setting. We help you connect with the best tutor for your particular needs while offering flexible scheduling to fit your busy life.

English Tutoring FAQ

Varsity Tutors can help you connect with a highly qualified English tutor to help your child get more out of their daily lessons or to assist with test preparation. English tutors provide a unique academic advantage for your child in their English studies because of the individual attention and one-to-one learning environment. If you've tried finding "English tutors near me" without much success you already know how difficult it can be to find high-quality "English tutoring near me." However, by working with an English tutor online your child gains the same benefits of local English tutoring while greatly expanding your English tutoring options. To get connected with an English tutor quickly you can contact us today. Continue reading for more information on how English tutoring can help develop your child's skills in English.

One of the most common exams given to high school students is the ACT. It measures a student's mastery in English, Math, Reading, and Science, and has the option of also evaluating Writing. As one of the most respected methods of evaluation in the nation, it is considered a good benchmark for subject area mastery in the testing population. One of the disturbing trends made evident by looking at past scores is that less than 70 percent of students meet the standard expectations for college readiness on the English Section. For the exact percentage of past years, please see the table below.

Percent of Students Who Met College Readiness Benchmarks On The ACT English Section

Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Percentage Met Standard 67 64 64 64 61

It can be terrifying for a parent to realize that sending their child to school each day may not be enough to prepare them for college.

Academic Foundation

English is perhaps the only subject that has a direct impact on all of the other subjects your child will take. Math classes have word problems while science and social studies require extensive reading and writing. This is true regardless of your child's grade level or the exact type of science, math, and social studies they are currently learning. As the requirements for your child's English classes increase so will the communication and reading demands of their other classes. Reading levels increase steadily as do expectations surrounding the clarity of writing.

If your child is struggling with their English work or work that involves reading and writing in other classes, English tutors can help. When your child works with an English tutor they will have the opportunity to focus on the skills they specifically need to develop in addition to what they may be reviewing in their current classroom. You see, when a student is struggling with English language concepts it is often due to a deficiency in a skill to which they were previously introduced. Because of the complexity of the language, English classes rely on the foundation of previous years to build the structure for the next level of concepts.

English Skills Evolve

The truth is English is hard. That's why in the very beginning letters, the core of the language, are taught through song and imagery. Children can spend a significant amount of time just learning the sounds letters make in preparation for learning how letters fit together to make words and then all the meanings of those various words. Going further with this example, if your child is in a class and struggling with their spelling or vocabulary it could be because they didn't fully master the ways in which the letters could be used. While this may seem like an overly simple example, if your child is about to face Shakespeare the issue remains the same. English skills evolve throughout your child's academic career and English tutoring can help your child strengthen their foundation.

For an example of what is expected of students by the 6th grade, please review the following table.

Common Core English Language Standards - 6th Grade

  • Conventions of Standard English:
    • Pronoun usage - subjective, objective, possessive
    • Intensive pronouns
    • Inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person
    • Vague pronouns (i.e., ones with unclear or ambiguous antecedents).
    • Recognize variations from standard English in their own and others' writing and speaking, and identify and use strategies to improve expression in conventional language
    • Punctuation (commas, parentheses, dashes)
    • Spelling
  • Knowledge of Language
    • Vary sentence patterns for meaning, reader/listener interest, and style
    • Maintain consistency in style and tone
  • Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
    • Using context clues, Latin and Greek affixes and roots, to understand word or phrase meaning
    • Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation of a word or determine or clarify its precise meaning or its part of speech
    • Verify the preliminary determination of the meaning of a word or phrase
    • Understand figures of speech in context
    • Using relationships between words to understand their meaning
    • Distinguish among the connotations (associations) of words with similar denotations

As you can see, even by the 6th grade the expected foundation of your child's English mastery is substantial. A personal English tutor can work with your child both to discover if they are on grade level and to help them with their current assignments.

Why Work With a Tutor?

Working with a personal tutor offers many benefits. The most important is the individual academic attention your child will receive. In a traditional classroom setting teachers are limited to core curriculum based on the grade level of the child. With the adoption of standardized exams testing children on specific curriculum each year, there is very little room for academic customization within the classroom. Tutors have far greater flexibility in this area. If your child is struggling with something from a previous year, their English tutor can review that material until they have gained a sufficient understanding before moving on to the next thing. If your child is having difficulty completing their current homework or understanding grade level reading assignments, the tutor can focus tutoring sessions on these areas. Unlike a regular classroom, it is your child's individual learning needs that are the driving force behind the development of lesson plans.

A personal tutor also has the time to discover your child's specific learning style. While a classroom teacher does not have the time or resources to customize lesson plans that deliver information geared towards each learning style, a private tutor does. A professional tutor can take your child's personal learning style into consideration when creating study sessions to make them more engaging and effective for your child than what they may typically experience in a classroom setting.

Finally, working with a tutor gives both the parent and child far greater scheduling flexibility. Families today have demanding schedules that can make it difficult to fit in appointments at regularly scheduled intervals. Private tutoring provides greater scheduling flexibility that makes it more likely you and your child will be able to fit in the tutoring sessions each week.

Is English Tutoring Near me the Right Solution?

Working with an English tutor is the right solution for children who are struggling with previous or current concepts. English tutors can even help gifted students who are bored with the academic offerings at their school and who want exposure to more advanced material.

Many parents initially think the best tutoring is that which is in person. However, the key to successful tutoring is in the individual attention rather than the physical proximity. An online tutor offers the same benefits as an "English tutor near me."

Can English Tutors Near Me Help with Standardized Test Prep?

English is one of the core subjects of any student's education. From the state-mandated exams they take in grade school to advanced college and university assessments, they'll face a variety of standardized exams that include English sections. Their private instructor can certainly help them prepare for any of the tests they may face, whether in the classroom or as part of a standardized testing program.

Standardized exams require more than just content review, as each test has its own set of rules and procedures, time limits, group of sections, and so on. Your student's private instructor can help them become familiar with the format of the standardized exam they're going to take, which could help reduce any testing anxiety they might feel. For example, it's important to know what to do if they don't know the answer to a question. On some tests, making an informed guess could help their final score. On others, it could hurt their score, and in that case, leaving the question blank is the best choice. Their English tutor can present these types of situations and the best choices to deal with them to your student during their sessions.

Some of the standardized exams that have English sections include:

  • ISEE – The ISEE is an admissions exam for students applying to independent or private schools. Students can take this test at any time between grades 1 and 11, and there are a total of six tests that increase in complexity. Each level has Reading and Writing sections, where students will demonstrate what they've learned in their English studies. Some subjects evaluated are reading comprehension, story or essay writing skills, and verbal reasoning.
  • ACT – The ACT is taken by high school juniors or seniors and the score will be considered by colleges and universities when making admissions and placement decisions. A few of the topics students need to know include language usage and mechanics, grammar, sentence structure, and rhetorical skills.
  • CLEP Composition and Literature Exams – There are five CLEP exams that fall under the English umbrella, including American Literature, College Composition, English Literature, and two more. Your student can take these in order to earn credits for introductory English courses, whether their major is in English or another area.

English tutoring can be especially helpful in preparing your child for any number of careers that require an English degree. Look at the table below for some of the top careers associated with English majors for a better idea of the possibilities connected with pursuing mastery of the English language.

Careers for English Majors

  • Teacher
  • Publishing
  • Content Marketing Manager
  • Instructional Design
  • Human Resources
  • Advertising Account Executive
  • Proposal Manager
  • Technical Writer
  • Freelance Writer
  • Editor

English is a core academic requirement in all grade levels and throughout college. The English language is considered the language of business throughout the world and mastery of its complexities begins at a very early age. It's also important to remember the rules of English are among the most complex in the world. That's why English tutoring can be so valuable at all stages of your child's academic career. If you've been wondering how to help your child improve their English skills but have found your search for an "English tutor near me" to be unfruitful, online tutoring is an excellent choice whether your child is in elementary school or college.

Working directly with an English tutor in an online learning environment affords your child all of the benefits associated with traditional tutoring while giving you the scheduling and location flexibility so desperately needed in today's world. If you think your child would benefit by working one-to-one with an English tutor, then consider reaching out to Varsity Tutors. We'd love to help you connect with the right English tutor for your child's needs and get them started on the road to English mastery. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

4.9/5.0 Satisfaction Rating*

Your Personalized Tutoring Program and Instructor

Identify Needs

Our knowledgeable directors help you choose your tutor with your learning profile and personality in mind.

Customize Learning

Your tutor can customize your lessons and present concepts in engaging easy-to-understand-ways.

Increased Results

You can learn more efficiently and effectively because the teaching style is tailored to you.

Online Convenience

With the flexibility of online tutoring, your tutor can be arranged to meet at a time that suits you.

Recent English Tutoring Session Notes

Online English Tutoring review by Jeremy
- Homework assistance (possessive pronouns) - Review of Alphabet (Alphabet Jumble game variation) - Review of "Do" and "Does"/"Don't" and "Doesn't" (asking questions with) - Body parts review (Head, shoulder, knees, toes, etc.)
Read more »
Online English Tutoring review by Joel
We got to know each other. I was able to evaluate what level she is at. We went over present tense regular verb conjugations. We focused a lot of "to want" and "to have." We also looked at "s" and "th" pronunciations.
Read more »
Online English Tutoring review by Mary Rebecca
We continued to discuss the American Revolution and go over the vocabulary from her homework exercise about the Revolutionary War. We then discussed movies and TV shows and the differences in British and American culture.
Read more »
Online English Tutoring review by Meaghan
We worked on listening comprehension and speaking fluency. Additionally, we covered past perfect tense with a number of exercises, which I sent to her. Lastly, we worked on the pronunciation of several problem words, for example "used to" and "changed". The student's level was advanced. Her listening comprehension was excellent as well as her vocabulary and fluency. The main thing she probably needs to work on is pronunciation and perhaps idioms. Her word choice is sometimes off, for example, "What more?" instead of "What else?". However, I could comprehend everything she had to say quite easily.
Read more »
Online English Tutoring review by Rachel
The student and I discussed appropriate vocabulary book, explored sarcasm and irony and how they're used in conversational English. We reviewed examples of both and situations you can use them in. We also watched an episode of the Simpsons and discussed when irony/sarcasm were used, and the overarching themes of the episode.
Read more »
Online English Tutoring review by James
The student is studying for IELTS language exam and wants help with essay writing. We worked on strategies to stay on topic, outline, and write essays. We worked on writing clear main idea sentences, such as the essay thesis sentence and supporting body paragraph topic sentences. We came up with a plan to practice these skills by looking at different essay topics, identifying the type of essay it prompted, outlining an essay, and writing the thesis and topic sentences.
Read more »

If your search for English tutors is underway, Varsity Tutors is the only resource you need to find a qualified instructor. English classes teach fundamental skills that students need not only at all grade levels, but also in other courses. You cannot answer a word problem if you lack the reading comprehension skills to understand it, nor can you compose an effective essay in history without an extensive knowledge of English language mechanics. As such, investing in an English tutor is like investing in a private instructor for aspects of every major subject at once.

What topics can English tutors help me or my student review?

Most English classes cover the following content areas: reading comprehension, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, writing, and critical thinking. Reading comprehension is a broad topic in its own right, ranging from learning how to read in elementary school to analyzing literary plots and evaluating arguments at the high school level and beyond. Reading begins by learning which sounds letters can make, so your student's instructor may review the fundamentals of phonics with them to get started.

Older students may focus on active reading techniques to help them remember more of what they read. For example, taking notes as you go along forces your brain to actively engage with the material, making it easier to remember details later on. You can also jot down anything that doesn't make sense to you so that you remember to ask about it later. If your student isn't already in the habit of doing these things, their instructor can encourage them to start doing so.

Active reading may allow your student to better understand literature as well. For instance, a student who doesn't understand a novel's basic plot is unlikely to get much out of reading it. As you advance, you can start trying to put yourself in a character's shoes to better understand their motivations. Why do Romeo and Juliet take the actions they do at the conclusion of Shakespeare's famous play? What are the implications of having a first-person narrator who doubles as a character?

The basics of English grammar may seem easy enough to adults, but irregular verb conjugations, tense differences, and even distinguishing between the subject and the predicate of a sentence can seem overwhelming to a young student. There are also a lot of grammar rules that even adults don't know, such as there vs. they're vs. their and when to use "it's" vs. "its." Your student might work with flashcards to help them remember all of the rules. A professional English tutor might also stress incorrect words and phrases out loud to help them stand out in a student's mind.

While there are general spelling rules (such as "i before e except after c"), the sheer number of silent letters and unconventional words in the English language make this an area requiring rote memorization. Flashcards can again prove beneficial, and your student's instructor can also teach them mnemonic devices to remember some of the tougher words.

Nobody knows every word in the English language, making vocabulary a topic at all levels of English instruction. If you or your student are having a hard time learning how to use new words, you might consider studying common word roots, prefixes, and suffixes to give you insight into what a word means. For example, "phobia" means a fear of something. "Arachnid" means spider, so "arachnophobia" means fear of spiders. If your student is too young to start working with word roots just yet, flashcards are once again a useful tool to help them master the words on their vocab list.

Writing is among the most important skills that a student will ever learn. It's important for self-expression, creativity, effective workplace communication, and test essays in virtually every common academic subject. If you or your student feel overwhelmed by writing assignments, your English tutor might show you how to outline your work beforehand to make them seem more approachable. Your instructor can also act as an editor for your piece, giving it a close before you submit it to help eliminate any mistakes. They can also provide constructive criticism as necessary to help you improve moving forward.

Writing also serves as a comprehensive test of sorts for a variety of other English skills. For example, consistent grammar mistakes will hurt your clarity of expression, making it more difficult for readers to follow what you're trying to say. Similarly, a limited vocabulary can produce a repetitive piece that readers lose interest in. Therefore, your writing may reveal topics and concepts that you or your student are yet to fully master.

Critical thinking deals with what you can do with the information presented to you. If you encounter an unfamiliar word in a reading passage, the general tone of the passage may help you deduce what it means. Similarly, many English tests ask students to draw inferences based on what they've read, gleaning more information than is directly stated. Both of these topics are a little bit more abstract than memorizing grammar rules, and practice is often the best way to get the hang of it. If you or your student are behind your peers in this area, you might answer practice questions during your English tutoring sessions until you feel more comfortable.

Older students are also asked to critique arguments, detailing how an author uses vocabulary, style, and evidence in order to make their point. They're also expected to incorporate these techniques into their own writing to make their point stand out. For example, alliteration (or repeating the same sound in consecutive words) tends to draw attention to that portion of a piece, so writers should try to use it to highlight key points. Similarly, poignant satire can help your piece garner interest. For instance, Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal sought to call out wealth inequality in England by suggesting (in jest) that nobles pay peasants for the privilege of eating their babies. The work is among the most famous pieces of satire of all time because of how well Swift accomplished what he set out to do.

Can English tutors help me or my student prepare for a standardized exam?

Federal Common Core standards mandate that all public school students in the United States take an English test each year from grades 3-8 to measure whether they are reading at a grade-appropriate level. Students are also assessed in Writing in grades 4 and 7, and most states require English standardized tests during a student's high school years as well. National tests like the SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT also have sections concentrating on English skills. If your student is studying for any of these exams, you might consider taking a practice test during your English tutoring sessions to develop a familiarity with the specific exam you're preparing for.

If you or your student deals with test anxiety, understanding the exam's formatting can make it easier to settle your nerves. If you're still feeling apprehensive, your instructor can demonstrate mental relaxation techniques to help you concentrate on test day.

Your practice test can also reveal your academic strengths and any areas of opportunity for improvement, helping your instructor figure out exactly what you need help with. Unlike a traditional classroom setting, English tutoring sessions can be designed with your needs in mind. You can study a topic until you are ready to move on, without regard for some pre-set curriculum. If you're starting to get bored, your instructor can also introduce more advanced material to keep you engaged in the learning process.

Similarly, an English tutor can design sessions around your preferred learning style to enhance your study efficiency. For example, a kinesthetic learner might play a hands-on game to help them understand grammar rules, while an auditory learner would get more out of a lecture-based format.

Your study sessions also take place in a one-on-one learning environment, ensuring that any questions you have can be answered in a timely manner. Likewise, all of your completed work can be returned to you promptly, allowing you to correct any mistakes while the material remains fresh in your mind.

Why is Varsity Tutors the right choice for me?

Trying to find your own instructor is a hassle, as you need to independently verify a candidate's credentials, make sure they know how to share information with students, and ensure that your schedules match up. At Varsity Tutors, we take all of the hassle out of the equation. We'll refer you to a qualified instructor who meets your specifications within 24 hours, allowing you to spend your time actually studying instead of preparing to do so.

We also offer an exclusive Live Learning Platform that facilitates digital study sessions, giving you or your student the benefits of face-to-face instruction without the logistical headache of a commute. Powerful features such as a virtual whiteboard and video chat functionality ensure a top quality study experience, so what are you waiting for? Contact Varsity Tutors today for more information on how we can connect you with knowledgeable English tutors!

Call us today to connect with a top English tutor
(888) 888-0446
Call Now