One-to-One Is Not Just a Smaller Class
The Unique Opportunities of Private Teaching
Every vocabulary item, every exercise, every example can reference the student's actual life. A gap-fill sentence about 'Marco's morning routine in Milan' is infinitely more engaging than a generic textbook sentence.
You don't need to manage group pace. If the student is struggling, slow down. If they're flying, skip ahead. This responsiveness is impossible in groups.
50% of a private lesson can and should be genuine conversation. Two humans with different knowledge bases can have genuinely interesting exchanges — the teacher learns about their student's world, the student practices fluency in a supportive context.
With one student, you can maintain a mental (or written) tally of every error. After 3-4 lessons, you'll know exactly which mistakes are fossilized and design exercises to address them specifically.
Private Teaching Advantages
100% Personalized
Every exercise, example, and conversation can reference the student's specific world
Real-Time Adaptation
Adjust pace, content, and style in the moment without affecting 29 other students
Faster Progress
Research shows private learners progress 2-3x faster than equivalent classroom learners
Teacher Tip
“In private lessons, make space for genuine off-the-lesson conversation. When a student mentions something interesting — a trip, a problem, a project — follow it for 5 minutes. You're not wasting lesson time; you're building rapport, collecting vocabulary sources, and practicing authentic communication simultaneously.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I talk as a private ESL teacher?
Less than you probably do. Aim for maximum 30% teacher talking time in a conversation-focused lesson. Your primary roles are prompt-provider, error-noticer, and vocabulary-source — not lecturer.
How do I handle a student who wants to only chat and not do exercises?
Honour the conversation but make it deliberate. Take notes during the chat, then at the end: 'You used 'convince' three times incorrectly — let me show you the correct pattern.' The lesson happened; it was just disguised as conversation.
Should I give homework in private lessons?
Yes, but make it achievable. 5-10 minutes of focused homework (a DrillKit worksheet from last lesson's vocabulary) done consistently beats ambitious assignments that get skipped.