Frequently Asked Questions for Tutors
Volunteer tutors must:
- Live in the United States.
- Be 21 years of age or older.
- Be fluent in English.
- Be able to meet with their student online.
We ask for a minimum commitment of three months to ensure students can build consistency and make meaningful progress. Many tutors choose to continue beyond this period, and some even work with multiple students.
Most tutors meet with their student once a week for approximately one hour. Tutors and students coordinate to find a mutually convenient meeting time.
A consistent, one-hour conversation each week is highly impactful. This regular practice helps learners build the confidence needed to navigate work, education, healthcare, and daily life in English.
In addition to the weekly 1:1 session, our students have access to an online learning platform for independent study and group conversation clubs. Students are encouraged to complete 2–3 hours of self-study weekly, making the one-to-one session a crucial time for speaking practice, receiving feedback, and building confidence.
No, teaching experience is not required. We provide comprehensive training materials on working with adult ESL learners and our specific tutoring approach. Many volunteers start with little to no teaching experience.
We offer a complete, self-paced online training curriculum. This training covers our tutoring model, best practices for working with adult ESL learners, and strategies for structuring productive sessions. You can complete the training at your own convenience.
Although the training is self-paced, most volunteers complete the material in about three hours. The actual time spent may vary depending on the volunteer’s schedule and review speed.
No. We provide tutors with access to online educational materials created specifically for ESL tutoring. These resources—which include lesson structure, conversation prompts, and ideas—are designed to support your sessions. Tutors are encouraged to adapt and personalize these materials to best meet their student’s needs.
Students are delighted to have a tutor helping them on a one-to-one basis. They know they cannot get such help elsewhere, and they are deeply grateful. They know the tutor is a volunteer, and they appreciate the help. They know that the tutor is not necessarily a professional educator, and their expectations reflect this.
It’s common for new volunteers to feel this way. The goal is simply to help someone practice English and gain confidence, not to be a perfect teacher. We provide training, tutoring materials, and a strong, supportive community where tutors share advice. Most volunteers quickly find that patience, encouragement, and consistency are the keys to a student’s success.
We match tutors and learners based on availability, language level, and learning goals. Our aim is to create matches that are comfortable and productive for both individuals.
Yes. Tutors are part of an active online community where they can share ideas, ask questions, exchange tips, and learn from one another’s experiences as they develop their tutoring style.
Yes. We host monthly online meetups, which are encouraged but optional, where tutors can connect, share experiences, and build relationships within the community.
No. All tutoring is conducted in English. Tutors support learners by using clear language, patience, and engaging in conversation practice. For absolute beginners, we may occasionally match a tutor who shares their native language to provide additional instructional support.
Our tutors consistently share the same sentiment: helping someone build confidence in English is one of the most personally meaningful ways to give back to the community.
Tutors Change Lives and Redwood ESL is a volunteer-driven educational initiative. We connect English tutors with adult immigrant learners who are working to improve their language skills. The program operates through the support of private donors and volunteer participation, focusing on providing essential learning opportunities for students and a direct way for volunteers to make a positive impact.
