English Language Tutors for Adults

Adult learners come to English tuition from very different starting points: some are settling into life and work in the UK, others are preparing for a visa application or professional registration abroad, and others want to sharpen the English they already use at work. Taylor Tuition shapes each programme around that starting point, with tuition taught one-to-one or in small groups at every level from beginner (CEFR A1) to proficient (C2), online or in person in central London.

Employers arranging English support for staff face a similar range of need, from newly arrived colleagues building everyday confidence to senior staff refining presentations and negotiations in English. Taylor Tuition accommodates this by booking programmes for individuals or groups of colleagues at a similar level, with the organisation invoiced directly and sessions arranged online or at a central London location to fit around work commitments.

At a glance

• Who it is for: Adults learning English as a second or additional language, and employers supporting staff
• Levels: CEFR A1 (beginner) to C2 (proficient), with a level check before the first session
• Format: One-to-one or small groups of colleagues
• Where: Online, or in person in central London
• Employers: Programmes for staff, invoiced directly to the organisation
• Fees: From £50 per 50-minute session, depending on tutor level

Beginner to proficient: the CEFR levels

The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) sets out six bands of English ability, and most adult ESOL tuition, including at Taylor Tuition, is planned against this scale. At A1 and A2, learners build the basic vocabulary and grammar needed for everyday situations such as shopping, appointments and simple conversation. B1 and B2 cover the intermediate to upper-intermediate English needed for independent life, further study and most workplace communication, whilst C1 and C2 refine the fluency, precision and range required for postgraduate study, professional practice or specialist roles, with tuition available across the full range from beginner (A1) to proficient (C2).

• A1-A2: everyday vocabulary, grammar and confidence for daily situations
• B1-B2: independent, workplace-ready English for study, work and travel
• C1-C2: advanced fluency and precision for professional or academic use

Assessing your starting level

Before lessons begin, the tutor needs an accurate picture of what the learner can already do, since a course pitched too high or too low wastes time either way. Every placement at Taylor Tuition opens with an introductory session with the matched tutor, who assesses spoken and written English against the CEFR scale and agrees a starting level and plan with the learner or, for staff bookings, with the employer's named contact.

Tutors carrying out this assessment are usually well qualified: more than half hold Qualified Teacher Status, around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and many are graduates of Russell Group universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. Should the initial match not feel right once lessons are under way, Taylor Tuition re-matches the learner to a different tutor at no extra cost, keeping the focus on finding someone the learner can work with.

General English, business English and exam preparation

Adult English tuition usually falls into three broad categories, matched to why the learner needs the language. General and conversational English builds everyday fluency, pronunciation and confidence for life, study and social situations. Business English focuses instead on the language of meetings, presentations, emails and negotiations, useful for staff already working in an English-speaking environment.

Exam preparation works towards a specific test with its own format and marking criteria. IELTS is widely used for university admission and some immigration routes. One of the Secure English Language Tests (SELT) is required for certain UK visa and settlement applications, whilst the OET is used by regulators to assess the English of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals seeking to practise in the UK. Taylor Tuition's adult tuition spans general, business and exam-focused English, taught one-to-one or in small groups at every level from beginner (A1) to proficient (C2).

• IELTS: for university admission and some immigration routes
• SELT (Secure English Language Test): for certain UK visa and settlement applications
• OET: for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals registering to practise

One-to-one and small-group tuition

Learners choose between one-to-one lessons, where the pace and content are set entirely around a single person's goals and gaps, and small-group tuition, which works well for colleagues at a similar level who want to practise speaking with each other under a tutor's guidance. Taylor Tuition offers adult English tuition in both formats, at every level from beginner (A1) to proficient (C2). For employers booking for several members of staff, small groups tend to work best when colleagues share a similar starting level, which is established individually during each person's introductory session before a group is formed.

Online and central London sessions

Most adult English tuition at Taylor Tuition runs online, which suits learners and employees who need to fit lessons around work, family or a location outside the UK, and in-person sessions are available in central London for learners who prefer face-to-face teaching. Both formats draw on the same tutor pool and the same levels, from beginner (A1) to proficient (C2), so the choice depends mainly on convenience and location.

Progress reports and a single point of contact

Learners and the employers booking on their behalf both need a clear sense of how a programme is going, particularly where a course is being funded as part of a wider training budget. Taylor Tuition sends progress reports after sessions and gives every learner, and every employer booking staff training, a dedicated point of contact for questions about pace, content or scheduling.

Employer-funded programmes and invoicing

Employers arranging English support for one member of staff, or for several colleagues at once, can book programmes directly with Taylor Tuition, which invoices the organisation for the sessions booked. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on the tutor's level and the subject being taught, and there is no registration fee, with a free initial consultation to discuss what the organisation needs before any booking is confirmed.

Taylor Tuition replies to enquiries with tutor recommendations for the employer or learner to review. Because most sessions run online, they can usually be scheduled at a time that fits around the working day, which suits both individual learners balancing lessons with other commitments and employers coordinating training across a team.

How tutoring with Taylor Tuition works

English for adults is taught one-to-one or in small groups, at every level from beginner (CEFR A1) to proficient (C2), online or in person in central London. Employers can book English programmes for staff and are invoiced directly by Taylor Tuition. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject. There is no registration fee and the initial consultation is free. Every placement begins with an introductory session with the matched tutor, and we re-match at no extra cost if the fit is wrong.

More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact at Taylor Tuition. We reply to enquiries with tutor recommendations.

Related guides

• CEFR levels explained for employers
• How long does it take to go from B1 to B2?
• SELT tests for UK visas explained
• OET or IELTS for healthcare staff
• English training for relocated staff
• IELTS preparation
• Business English