Program Details
What are Private Tutorial classes?
If you want to study a language, but a group class isn’t for you, we are happy to meet with you in a private (one on one) face-to-face lesson in person in Northampton, Massachusetts or online. You can also chose a semi-private lesson (two on one) with a friend, colleague or family member if you are both at the same language level. Our teachers love working one on one and can accommodate whatever level you happen to be in your language journey.
How it works
In your private tutorial, you will have the chance to explain your goals to your teacher and get started right away on your individualized plan. Even if you are in another country outside of the USA, you can meet with one of our expert instructors online.
Private language lessons offers a student both flexibility in scheduling as well being able to set targets that match their specific goals. Most tutorials meet once per week for one hour, however, the time and frequency can be adjusted to the needs of the student.
Program Info
Online
Taking classes online means receiving live lessons with your ILI teacher via a video call at a pre-scheduled time.
In-person
In-person lessons take place at our campus in downtown Northampton, MA and require your physical attendance.
Group Size
Course Timings
Here are some common goals for private lessons:
- Preparation for your next exciting trip or ILI Language Travel experience
- Improving conversation skills and comfort speaking in your new language
- Specialized vocabulary and grammar for your level and goals
- Presentation and academic or workplace skills.
- Accent reduction
- Writing proficiency for the workplace
Our Teachers
In an ILI private tutorial, our amazing teachers, all with Master’s degrees or equivalent experience, know how to get learners communicating in the target language right away! We create a trusting environment so that students feel comfortable speaking up and practicing their new skills. Most of our teachers have the flexibility to meet for the private language lessons in person in Northampton, Massachusetts or online.
“ILI is and will always be the go to for anyone willing to learn a second language, the staff is amazing. Teachers are very supportive. Location is excellent. Flexibility is very helpful. I would choose ILI no matter what any time for any language, I would like to learn. Thank you.”
A previous ILI Tutorial student
Program Info
Online
Taking classes online means receiving live lessons with your ILI teacher via a video call at a pre-scheduled time.
In-person
In-person lessons take place at our campus in downtown Northampton, MA and require your physical attendance.
Group Size
Course Timings
Formats
In-person, or Online?
Our Private Tutorial Language lessons can be delivered in two different ways:
- face-to-face classes in our school in Northampton, Massachusetts, USA
- live online classes which take place on Zoom
In-person, Face-to-Face Private Language lessons in Northampton, Massachusetts
Come into our school in downtown Northampton for your private language class, and you’ll soon be a part of our friendly community of language learners and teachers.
We’re just a few minutes’ walk from the Roundhouse parking lot and the Peter Pan Bus Terminal (Peter Pan line, R42, R44).
Online Private Language lessons with ILI
Our online private language tutorials will also be with a real humans, in real time. The lessons will work in just the same way as with the in-person option, and we’ll make sure you progress just the same too.
One big benefit of online private classes is that it saves you the logistical hassle of getting to and from the school each lesson. If you’re a very busy person, you also save time by just logging in and out for your lesson.
Northampton, Massachusetts is in the Eastern Time Zone (ET) and observes daylight saving time (DST). You can take a private language lessons from anywhere in the world, so long as you’re comfortable with the regular times the classes run. You can check out the compatibility of your time zone here.
If you’re not sure which option is best for you, please contact us and we can discuss this with you.
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
We’re certain that you’ll have some questions ahead of launching into a private language tutorial, and that’s why we’re here to help.
Here are some of the questions we get asked the most. Please use the form below to get in touch, and we’ll be right back to you.
Selected FAQs
The benefit of having the luxury of a teacher to yourself, or your small mini group is that the teacher can respond to you personally to a higher degree than in a larger group. It also means you’re almost always in the spotlight – you’ll speak a lot more, and everything will be aimed at you! That makes learning this way very efficient, and intensive. To make the most of these classes, you’ll need to spend plenty of time between classes refreshing and reviewing what you covered last time, and learning vocabulary so you’re ready to move on next lesson.
The first thing to remember when you’re taking private language lessons is that you get to go at your own pace. That’s because you’re in the driver’s seat!
Since there is no one else in the class, you get to set targets to match your specific goals.
There are no requirements however, we recommend that you follow up after lessons to keep refreshing what you’ve learned.
But the harder you work between lessons (including things like watching TV in the language you’re learning, and all the other great free ways of practicing the language), the faster you’ll get there.
We don’t expect you to do this perfectly, but a lot of language learning is about repetition, so the more times you see, say and hear the language through the week, the more it will sink in and become part of your own vocabulary, ready to expand in the next lesson to impress your teacher!
The easy answer is, it depends. The more complicated answer is that many factors go into determining how long it takes to learn a new language: your learning methods, background, mindset, time put into study among other things. Here’s an in depth article on the topic.
For example: If you’re preparing for fast-paced negotiations with a Spanish supplier, and you’re currently an intermediate level of Spanish, you might need 40 or 50 hours focused on the particular area of Business Spanish for negotiations.
If you want to polish up your rusty school Spanish and become fairly fluent ahead of a new life or extended travels in a Spanish-speaking country, then that might take you 120-150 hours of private individual Spanish lessons.
Flexibility is one of the many benefits of a private tutorial. As long as a teacher is available, you can set up your tutorial to meet their scheduling needs. Most students purchase a block of hours and meet with their teacher once per week for one hour. However, if you want to learn at a faster pace, scheduling lessons more than once per week will help get you to your goal faster. The length of your course is determined by how many hours you purchase and how frequently you are able to meet with your teacher.
Yes you can. We recommend a minimum of 10 hours of private language lessons because as that allows your teacher to plan your learning trajectory and help you achieve the best progress.
Taking private language lessons is the most flexible way to learn with us. If you have one or two friends or colleagues, we will assess them to determine if they are at the same (or a very similar) language level to you. If yes, and you’re available at the same times, we can set up semi-private tutorial classes for you.
Flexibility is one of the many benefits of a private tutorial. As long as the teacher is available, you can set up your tutorial to meet your scheduling needs.
It’s normal to purchase a block of hours and schedule regular lessons with your teacher each week. The length of your private course is then determined by how many hours you purchase.
A semi-private tutorial is two or more students with one teacher. Semi-private tutorials are a good option when you want to learn in a group of two or more of your own friends or classmates of your choice. If you choose this option, you are responsible for finding your own tutorial partner(s). Cancellation protocols apply to this type of tutorial. The cost of a semi-private tutorial is $45 per hour per person.
For cancellations we ask that you give your instructor 24 hours notice. There is no charge the first time you do not attend a confirmed session. After that, any time you do not join a confirmed session, regular charges will apply — even if you send late notification. Refunds are calculated based on the number of hours used and which price tier was reached. For instance: if you purchased 10 hours (10 x $70 = $700, the Tier 2 rate) but only use 7 hours (7 x $75= $525, the Tier 1 rate) your refund will be $175 ($700 – $525)
A private tutorial means one student with one teacher.
1 hour only: $85
Tier 1: 1 to 9 hours of class time at $75.00 per hour
Tier 2: 10 to 19 hours: $70.00 per hour
Tier 3: 20 or more hours: $65.00 per hour
You can purchase any number of tutorial hours. We honor the discounted rate once you accumulate over 9 and again over 19 hours.
In other words, you purchase 5 hours to start at 5 x $75 = $375 then decide to add 5 more which would bring you to 10 accumulated hours. You would then pay the $70 rate ($350)
View all our Frequently Asked Questions >
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Costs
Course fees
You can book any amount of hours. Here are some popular choices:
Private, individual 1:1 language lessons
These are the prices if it’s just you taking a language lessons with your teacher. The price is the same whether you study a language online or face-to-face in our language school at ILI Northampton, Massachusetts.
- 1-hour, one-off Private lesson$85Ideal for a taster lesson
- 5 hours of Private lessons$375
- 10-hour Private course$700Ideal as a refresher or to get some basics
- 20-hour Private course$1,400Good for moving up a level
Private, two-person, 2:1 Private language lessons
These are the prices if you are going to take private language lessons with your teacher and a friend, colleague or family member (online or face-to-face at ILI Northampton):
- 1-hour, one-off Private lesson for two$50 eachGreat to find out how you get on with each other!
- 5 hours of 2:1 Private lessons$225 each
- 10 hours of 2:1 Private lessons$450 each
- 20-hour 2:1 Private course$900 each
If you require a different course duration or a different class time to usual, please get in touch and we’ll tell you what’s possible and provide you with a quote.
Private Tutorial Course Options
Private English Lessons
Choose Private English Classes for exclusive one-on-one time with your teacher, or add them to your Intensive English Program for an extra boost.
Private French Lessons
Our Private French lessons online or in-person allow you to shape your learning around your busy life. You choose the times, days and topics, we’ll do the rest!
Private German Lessons
Our Private German lessons in-person or online allow you to shape your learning around your busy life. You choose the times, days and topics, we’ll do the rest!
Private Italian Lessons
Our Private Italian lessons allow you to shape your learning around your busy life. You choose the times, days and topics – we’ll do the rest!
Private Portuguese Lessons
Our Private Portuguese lessons allow you to shape your learning around your busy life. You choose the times, days and topics – we’ll do the rest!
Private Spanish Lessons
Our Private Spanish lessons allow you to shape your learning around your busy life. You choose the times, days and topics – we’ll do the rest!
What to do next
- Explore our private language tutorial options and choose the one that suits you best.
- Purchase the number of hours that you would like to start with.
- Schedule your first class meeting!
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Community Partners at Work!
Thanks to a District Grant from the Northampton Rotary Club, ILI has expanded volunteer tutor training for those working with immigrants and refugees in our free English classes. Tutors help students improve English skills to navigate life, work, and community in Massachusetts. Join us and make a difference!
The ILI Promise
At ILI, we believe that all our actions should stem from grace and loving kindness.
- We operate as an equal opportunity organization.
- We nurture relationships beyond the classroom.
- We are committed to providing the highest quality language instruction and teacher training.
- We promote intercultural understanding and celebrate the diversity in our local communities.
- We work collaboratively to build and sustain the communities we serve.
- We believe in life-changing teaching and learning.