Frequently asked questions
These are some of the questions that I am often asked about online learning, my lessons and the way things work at English with Kirsty. If you have a question that isn’t listed here, you can send me a message using my contact form at the bottom of this page.
Will I be able to learn if we are not meeting face to face?
Yes. Online teaching has become more popular now in the time of social distancing, but I’ve been successfully providing online tuition since 2012.
If you have the commitment and determination to learn English in person, you can definitely have the same success online.
Online learning means that you are not limited to teachers in your geographical area.
You can find out what some of my customers think about online learning here.
We are not in the same room but you can take part in the lessons from the comfort of your own home. Many companies are making use of the benefits of video/teleconferencing for meetings because it saves time and money which would otherwise be spent on travelling. You can do this too! Also, if you will be taking part in teleconferences and vıdeo conferences at work, you will be at an advantage if you are already used to speaking English in this way.
If you want to explore these issues a bit more, check out my can I really learn online post.
Can you help me to improve my speaking skills?
Yes I can! Many of my customers were originally shy about speaking English but one-to-one lessons with me have helped them to grow in confidence and speak more fluently. Whether you sign up for the club, book on the business English course or have language and communication training, We will do a range of speaking exercises on topics which are interesting and relevant to you.
I email my customers an information document at the end of the lesson with details of new vocabulary, grammar points and tips for improving their English. This means that they can focus on speaking during the lesson.
Also, I have already made the transition from being scared to speak another language, to someone who is happy to use that language at work now, so I know how it feels when customers are nervous about speaking.
Which course should I do?
If you want to talk to me about the different options, we can arrange a free, online meeting to discuss your needs and what I can offer you. If you’d like to do this, send me a message on the contact form at the bottom of this page.
On my home page, there is a table that lists my courses with a short description, and information about the kind of people for whom the course would be suitable.
Do I have to tell you how many lessons I want to have?
If you are doing the language and communication training, there is no fixed number of lessons. You can book each lesson individually if you want to, but there are discounts for block bookings. Daytime lessons are also cheaper than evening lessons.
Some customers like to have a regular slot each week. This means that they are guaranteed the slot that they want.
Other customers can’t do this due to business or other commitments and as long as I have slots available, I try to fit people in.
Lessons need to be booked or cancelled at least 24 hours in advance.
Do you offer any group courses?
At the moment I am not running any group courses. If you would like to learn with a friend or colleague, I can send you a quote for multiple participants, but I don’t generally build groups of learners who do not know each other.
Where do your customers live?
Most of my customers live in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, although I do have some elsewhere. As my lessons are online, I can teach customers anywhere in the world as long as the time difference works for both of us.
Do you teach beginners?
Yes, I teach customers of all language levels. If someone is a complete beginner, I prefer it if they also speak German so that I can give explanations in German.
Which platforms do you use?
We can use Zoom, Teams, Facetime, WhatsApp video messenger, Facebook video messenger, Discord, Skype, or Google Hangouts if you prefer.
If you only want to work on your writing skills, and not to speak, I also offer a writing course
Do you do translations or proofreading?
Yes. You’ll find details of all of my text services on my EwK services website.
Do you work at the weekend?
I work from Monday to Friday and I have daytime and evening slots. I don’t give lessons at the weekend.
Do you speak English all the time?
This depends on the customer. If I don’t speak the customer’s native language, we have to speak English all the time. If the customer speaks German, we can also speak German if it would help with vocabulary or to explain a grammar point. I am also learning Romanian, so I am able to answer some questions in Romanian as well.
There are differing opinions as to whether using a second language is helpful. In my lessons, the aim is to speak as much English as possible but I think that it sometimes helps to use German if this will make it easier for a customer to understand something. I want my customers to be clear about the rules and reasons for things so that they can use their knowledge to build new sentences confidently and independently.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Do you have questions about my courses or my online lessons?
Would you like to find out more or to discuss your requirements and what I can offer you?
Why not get in touch?
English with Kirsty News is sent out once a month and it contains articles and other information for learners of English as well as the latest news from English with Kirsty.
Why not have a look at some of my free resources!
I have a podcast called English with Kirsty. You can subscribe to it on iTunes or a number of other podcast apps. Alternatively, you can listen to individual episodes on my website.