The eight girls’ eyes went straight to where their friend’s laughing daughters ate grapes. Eight, straight, ate — three spellings for one pronunciation. “Laughing daughters” — one spelling for two pronunciations. “Girls’ eyes” but “friend’s daughters”, and “grapes” without an apostrophe at all. In any case, there is a grammatical error in the sentence — the friend’s baby “was eating” grapes, not “ate grapes”, because a past continuous is required here and not a simple past.
Tutoring in English — the stumbling blocks of the language
The English language is full of pitfalls as soon as you leave beginner level. Precisely because the beginning of learning English is so easy due to the omnipresence of the language in everyday life and you very quickly build up a rudimentary understanding of the language, many people miss the point where work needs to be invested to progress further. And suddenly you fall behind while the level of difficulty keeps rising — and the initially easy language becomes more and more of a puzzle. And this at a time when solid English skills are increasingly demanded in professional life.
How can we help?
Our English tutoring in Zurich helps students catch up on what they’ve missed, consolidate current material and prepare for what’s to come. Our tutors take the time to explain the grammatical foundations and practice until they really stick and can be built upon. They help with learning and reviewing basic or exam-relevant vocabulary, teach learning techniques, and support sorting into “important” and “less important”. The tutoring is conducted in English as often as possible throughout the entire lesson so that our students get practice in spoken language. This is essential for active language proficiency — and often falls short in regular school lessons. Regular pure conversation lessons can also lead to very rapid progress in active language use.
Why individual tutoring instead of a language course?
English tutoring is more individual than an intensive language course. It is tailored to the requirements and current knowledge level of a student and supports them where necessary. It is therefore better suited for targeted improvement of school performance.
Successful English Tutoring — a case study
Stefan (1st year gymnasium): He didn’t like going to English from the start, which is also reflected in his grades. He has to study a lot for barely sufficient grades and makes many spelling mistakes. In other subjects he is an average to good student. The assessment shows that Stefan’s English vocabulary is patchy and particularly difficult to actively recall. He applies grammar more intuitively than systematically, which sometimes produces correct sentences, sometimes not.
Stefan’s tutoring starts by getting him to actively speak English. Only then does he notice what is actually causing him difficulties and we can specifically practice the relevant grammar with him. To improve vocabulary learning, we work with flashcards, practice effective self-testing with him and techniques for creating mnemonics.
Who are our tutors?
At Open Learning Space Zurich, tutors teach who can convey enthusiasm for English and value positive interpersonal experiences. A motivating learning atmosphere, alongside the teacher’s subject expertise, is the key to learning success in tutoring, especially for younger students. For tutors at gymnasium level, a started or completed English degree is a prerequisite.
Would you like to book a trial English lesson in Zurich?
Contact us by phone, email or via the contact form. Please provide us with the following:
- School level
- Subject area
- Possible times for lessons
- Lesson location
We will get back to you within 1–3 days with a proposal. After the free trial lesson, we will discuss how to proceed.
You can choose between a 10-lesson package with discount or monthly billing.
We are happy to inform you without obligation and free of charge!