How to Tell If Your Child Needs an English Tutor
- Heather Adam
- Mar 16
- 3 min read
Many parents wonder whether their child actually needs a tutor, or if extra help will even make a difference. Students often do not get feedback on their work until it is one to two months into the semester. As a result, I see a surge of concerned parents reaching out to me in March, April, or even May. Although students can get results from tutoring late in the semester, it is always better to be proactive. Here are a few ways to tell if your child should get extra help to avoid unneeded stress later in the semester.
Quick Checklist: Does My Child Need an English Tutor?
If you answer yes to two or more of these questions, extra support could make a big difference this semester.
✔ Your child struggled in English last year
✔ Your child finds essay writing confusing or stressful
✔ Your child doesn’t understand their teacher’s feedback
✔ Your child’s marks in English are declining
✔ Your child feels anxious about diploma exams
✔ Your child needs a high average for university admission
If any of these sound familiar, getting support earlier in the semester can help your child feel more confident and avoid unnecessary stress later on.
The Top Three Indicators that Your Child Needs a Tutor
Your Child Struggled With English Last Year
If your child struggled with English last semester, those problems are not going to go away. Instead, they often compound and become more apparent. English builds off foundational writing skills. I see a lot of students who have experienced progressively lower marks because they did not fully understand essential concepts like planning, writing a thesis, text analysis, and literary devices. As they get older, marking becomes stricter. If a student does not get help, it can also lower their confidence, which makes it more difficult to get back on track.
Your Child Is Confused by Teacher Feedback
With rising class sizes across Canada (and Alberta especially) students are getting less and less feedback on their work. I see a lot of students who do not understand the limited notes or corrections their teachers offer on their essays. In order to improve, students need insights on areas that they need to improve, paired with easy to follow steps to make those changes. Currently, many Alberta students are not getting this support. Having a tutor offers students the opportunity to ask questions, get detailed feedback, and discover practical ways to improve their work.
Your Child Needs High Grades for University Admission
Getting into many university programs has become increasingly competitive. As a result, students often need exceptional averages to secure admission. For Alberta Grade 12 students, strong diploma exam results can play a critical role in reaching those averages. If your child is feeling worried about their ELA 30-1 Part A and Part B Diplomas, I highly recommend getting assistance. A tutor can give your child proven strategies to succeed on their finals, extra practice prior to the exam, and the confidence they need to write with ease.
What I See as an English Tutor
After working with many Alberta students, I often notice the same patterns. Many students are intelligent and hardworking, but they have never been taught how to structure their ideas clearly in writing or how to analyze texts effectively.
Once students learn practical strategies (such as how to plan an essay, develop a strong thesis, and identify key literary devices) their confidence often improves quickly. With the right guidance and practice, many students are able to raise their marks and feel far more prepared for their exams.
The Next Steps
If your child struggled with English before, does not understand their teacher's feedback, or is writing their English diplomas at the end of the semester, I highly recommend seeking out a tutor as soon as possible. If you're ready to take the next step, I would love to meet with you for a free consultation to discuss your child’s goals and see how tutoring could help them succeed this semester.
If tutoring is not in your budget, I also have cost-effective digital resources for students who need help with writing, or reading comprehension. My Ultimate Essay Handbook is designed for students in Grade 9 and up who want to strengthen their writing skills and take their essays to the next level.
My Part B ELA 30-1 Diploma Handbook offers essential literary devices, key terms, and reading comprehension strategies that help students write their ELA 30-1 Part B diploma with ease. It also includes links to eight released ELA 30-1 Part B Diploma exams with answer keys, which offers students the practice they need to build confidence before test day.
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