We know that Pro students are looking for a little extra from their lessons as they tend to be more serious about improving their spoken English skills. When it comes to learning styles, many Pro students still want to focus on fun and engaging speaking lessons. We’ve talked about error correction recently, but what are some other strategies you can use to ‘Pro-ify your conversations’ and keep that balance of fun yet learning?
What do we mean by "learning content"?
On Pro, “learning content” doesn’t necessarily mean pulling out a worksheet or going through a rigorous grammar lesson. It is about naturally introducing or reinforcing new language knowledge. It could be…
- vocabulary
- idioms and natural phrases
- grammar structures
- differences in English accents/dialects
- relevant cultural knowledge
…basically anything that can leave the student feeling that they’ve learned something useful for their English journey. These can be introduced organically through the conversation and that’s actually a powerful way to make them memorable.
Practical strategies for weaving in learning content
1. Teach "in the moment"
If your student is trying to explain something but is missing a word or struggling with phrasing, that’s the perfect time to step in with a natural alternative.
Student: “I was late because the train… it didn’t come… um… it stop… no…”
Tutor: “Ah, maybe the train was delayed?”
Student: “Yes! Delayed.”
Tutor: “We usually say, ‘The train was delayed.’ Want to try that?”
Student: “The train was delayed.”
You’re not stopping the flow, you’re helping them sound more fluent right when they need it.
2. Highlight useful phrases from your own speech
Pay attention to your own language during the session. When you catch yourself using an idiom, phrasal verb, or natural phrase, take a moment to highlight it.
Tutor: “I managed to squeeze in a quick lunch. Actually, ‘squeeze in’ is a great phrase! It means to make time for something even when you're busy. Have you heard that before?”
You shouldn’t do this too often, but it can make a nice way to teach one or two pieces of very natural language in every class.
3. Offer synonyms
If a student is constantly using the same limited vocabulary, try offering up some synonyms to spice up their output. Because they are synonyms, they are easy to teach but you should mention differences in nuance and impact to ensure students use them correctly.
Student: “I was very happy when I got the job.”
Tutor: “Great sentence! Do you know any other words we could use instead of ‘happy’?”
Student: “Hmm… .”
Tutor: “We could also say ‘thrilled’ or ‘delighted.’ Want to try the sentence with one of those?”
Student: “I was delighted when I got the job.”
Tutor: “Perfect. Do you think ‘delighted’ feels a bit stronger than just ‘happy’?”
Student: “Yeah, maybe a little.”
Tutor: “Exactly, it’s like happy, but a little more special.”
4. Offer alternative grammar structures
This may also be in the form of error correction that we have covered in previous weeks. However, if a student says something that isn’t exactly a major error but could benefit from being said with a more natural grammatical structure or word order, you can point it out for a great teaching moment.
Student: “Always, I clean my room on Sunday.”
Tutor: “Ah, I see. You mean it’s your usual Sunday routine?”
Student:: “Yes.”
Tutor: “Great! In English, for the word order we usually say, ‘I always clean my room on Sunday.’ We put words like ‘always’ and ‘usually’ between the subject and the verb.”
Student: “I always clean my room on Sunday.”
Tutor: “Perfect!”
💡Pro Tip: Your Pro students aren’t coming to you just to be understood. They want to be challenged, polished, and elevated in their English. That means they need you to bring content to the table—even in a casual conversation. If you feel some classes with your Pro students are too casual and they’re not learning enough, try some of the strategies above to bring some more value to your sessions!
By teaching vocabulary, grammar, and natural phrasing in the flow of conversation, you help students develop fluency and confidence without sacrificing structure or progress. That’s what sets a Pro tutor apart!