• View
• Edit
• History
• Print

Finding a Teacher

en

(3) Finding a Teacher

There are two ways to pick a teacher.

1. Browse teachers
2. Browse courses

Browse by teacher -- Choosing a teacher:

Filter by what language you're interested in Choose a teacher that meets your financial criteria If you are a beginner, it is helpful to find a teacher with some ability to speak your native language It is also important to check if the teacher is native speaker and their location (US vs UK English)

Browse by course -- Choosing a course:

Filter by what language you're interested in Choose a course that you want to learn Make sure the course is at the correct language level

Understanding the Teacher Ratings

As teachers teach students, it is crucial that students leave feedback for the teachers.

Overall -- This rating is an average of the other ratings and then averaged out by the site. This seems complex, but the basis is that more ratings = higher confidence the ratings are true.

Professional -- Was the teacher on time? Was the teacher prepared for the lesson? This is an objective measure.

Knowledgeable -- Was the teacher in command of the subject? Is the teacher competent? This is an objective measure.

Helpful -- Was the teacher helpful? Did the students feel that they learned a lot? This is a subjective measure by the student. more details Types of Teachers

Types of Teachers

Professional Teachers: -- Professional teachers are people who have taught professionally. In this case, the burden is on the teacher to have a structured study plan.

• Taught professionally (as a job)
• In general should have educational certifications
• Have a structured teaching method
• Have prepared learning materials

Language Tutors: -- Language tutors are people who have a strong command of a language and can help someone learn a language. In this case, the burden is on the student to have structured questions, and study needs.

• Are generally native speakers of the language
• Strive to be helpful to the student

Important to note: Choosing a professional teacher or language tutor does not guarantee a better learning experience.

Every language teacher (both professionals and tutors) will be different. It is difficult to generalize. Please check the ratings on the language teachers and don't be afraid to contact them ahead of working with them.

italki recommendations

• If you are a beginning student, it is highly recommended that you start with a Professional Language Teacher. This is because as a beginner, we believe you will need structure to learn the language. A professional teacher will help systematically explain the foundations of the language to you.
• Choosing a language tutor is better if you are already taking classes or if you already have some command of the language. If you already have a structured learning environment, and are just looking for extra practice or help on homework assignments, then a language tutor may be best for you.
• Once you've found a teacher or course that you think is suitable, click on the button to Request Tutoring or Request Course.

Next: (4) Schedule a Session