How to Find the Best Online English Teacher on Preply: A Step-by-Step Guide

Improving your English can be a challenging journey, but one of the best ways to accelerate your progress is by working with an expert who can identify your weaknesses and help you overcome them. In this guide, we'll explore how to find a quality English teacher online, ensuring that you receive the best education possible.

Why You Need an English Teacher

Before diving into the details, it's essential to understand why having an English teacher is beneficial. An experienced teacher can pinpoint the areas where you need improvement and guide you on how to address them. This personalized feedback helps raise your overall language proficiency, boosts your confidence, and ultimately makes you a more effective communicator.

Where to Start Your Search

One of the most popular platforms for finding online tutors is Preply. It's the largest tutoring website I’m familiar with, and it features thousands of English teachers from around the world. While this guide focuses on Preply, the same principles can be applied to other platforms like italki.

Steps to Find the Right English Teacher

1. Visit the Website: Start by going to Preply's website. You'll be greeted with the option to "unlock your potential with the best language tutors."

2. Manual Search vs. Algorithm Recommendations: While Preply can use its algorithm to match you with tutors, I recommend manually selecting your teacher. This allows you to apply filters that align with your specific goals and preferences.

3. Set Your Filters:

   • Language: Select English (or any other language you wish to learn).

   • Price per Lesson: Determine your budget. Preply offers a wide range, from as low as £2 per lesson to as high as £100. Choose a price that fits your financial situation.

   • Country of Birth: Depending on your needs, you can choose tutors from different countries. If you're moving to the United States, you might prefer an American tutor. However, don’t overlook non-native speakers, who often have a deep understanding of English grammar.

   • Availability: Filter by the times you are free. For instance, if you can only take lessons in the evening, make sure to choose tutors who are available during that time.

4. Narrow Down Your Options: After applying these filters, you’ll notice that the list of available tutors shrinks significantly. For example, selecting English lessons under £26 per lesson from a tutor based in the UK and available in the evenings can reduce the pool from 23,000 to around 1,271 tutors.

5. Sort by Experience and Reviews:

   • Experience: While newer tutors may charge less and be more passionate, experienced tutors often provide more value through refined teaching methods and deeper insights into the language.

   • Reviews: Reviews are one of the best indicators of a tutor’s effectiveness. Look for tutors with high ratings and numerous positive reviews. For example, a tutor with 234 reviews and an average rating of 4.9 is likely to be a strong candidate.

6. Additional Filters:

   • Specialization: If you need help with specific areas, like business English or IELTS preparation, use these filters to find a tutor who specializes in those areas.

   • Language Skills: If you’re more comfortable with a tutor who speaks your native language, or if you want a bilingual tutor, you can filter based on other languages spoken by the tutor.

   • Super Tutor Status: Preply offers a "Super Tutor" designation to tutors who are highly consistent on the platform. While this doesn’t necessarily mean they’re better, it can be a helpful indicator of reliability.

Example: Finding a Tutor on Preply

Let’s say you find a tutor named Ryan C., who has 53 reviews, an average rating of 5 stars, and charges £12 per hour. He also speaks several languages and has five years of experience teaching IELTS and general English. A tutor like Ryan could be a great choice for focused learning, especially if you’re looking to improve quickly within a budget.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right English teacher online can dramatically improve your language skills. By following these steps, you can ensure that you choose a tutor who not only meets your budget and availability but also has the experience and specialization to address your specific learning needs.

Even if you only study with a tutor for a month, the insights and guidance you receive can set you on a path to continued self-improvement. So, take the time to find a great tutor, invest in your learning, and watch your English skills flourish.