How to Give Feedback to Your Tutor: Online English Guide

Giving feedback to your tutor is one of the most important ways to make your online English learning experience effective, personalized, and enjoyable. A good tutor wants to know how you feel about your lessons, what works for you, and what could be improved. Clear and constructive feedback helps build a strong learning partnership and accelerates your language progress.

In this guide, we’ll explore why feedback matters, how to give it politely and effectively, and what to do if your tutor doesn’t respond well.

Why Giving Feedback to Your Tutor Matters

Feedback is the bridge between your expectations and your tutor’s teaching approach. It helps your tutor adjust lessons to fit your pace, interests, and goals.

Here are a few key reasons why it’s important:

1. Personalized Learning – Every student has different goals. Whether you’re preparing for IELTS, business English, or conversational fluency, feedback ensures your tutor tailors lessons accordingly.

2. Better Communication – Open discussions build trust. When you express your thoughts honestly, your tutor can understand your needs more clearly.

3. Faster Progress – Identifying what works best helps you focus on methods that lead to improvement.

4. Improved Motivation – Feeling heard and understood increases your confidence and motivation to continue learning.

5. Professional Growth for the Tutor – Feedback helps tutors refine their methods and understand what makes lessons effective.

When to Give Feedback

You don’t have to wait for a formal survey or the end of a course to share your opinions. The best time depends on the situation:

• After a few lessons: Once you’ve had enough experience to understand your tutor’s teaching style.

• When something feels unclear: If you find an exercise too easy, too hard, or not aligned with your goals.

• After trying new activities: For example, when your tutor introduces role-playing or pronunciation drills, share how they felt for you.

• At the end of a lesson or week: A short reflection can help both you and your tutor stay aligned.

Timely feedback ensures your tutor can make quick adjustments instead of repeating the same issues over several sessions.

How to Give Feedback Politely and Effectively

Giving feedback requires balance—be honest but respectful. Tutors appreciate constructive comments when they’re expressed kindly and clearly.

Here’s a structure you can follow:

1. Start with Something Positive

Begin by mentioning what you like about the lessons. It helps create a friendly tone and shows appreciation.

“I really enjoy how you make the conversation feel natural.”
“Your explanations of grammar rules are very clear.”

2. Be Specific About the Issue

Avoid vague statements like “I didn’t like the class.” Instead, describe what exactly was challenging.

“Sometimes I feel the pace is a bit fast when learning new vocabulary.”
“I’d prefer to spend more time on pronunciation practice.”

3. Use “I” Statements

Focus on your learning experience rather than criticizing the tutor.

“I feel I understand better when we use examples.” instead of “You don’t explain enough.”

4. Offer a Suggestion

Provide an idea for improvement. This shows you’re engaged and want to make lessons better.

“Maybe we can review the new words at the start of each lesson.”
“Could we include more business-related topics?”

5. End with Encouragement

Finish with something positive to keep the conversation friendly and motivating.

“I’m learning a lot from you, and I appreciate your effort!”

Examples of Constructive Feedback

Here are examples of what effective feedback looks like in different scenarios:

Small changes in wording can make a huge difference in how your message is received.

How to Use Platform Tools for Feedback

Many online English platforms include built-in feedback systems such as:

• Star ratings or written comments after each lesson

• Private message options to discuss learning preferences

• End-of-course surveys for overall feedback

Use these tools to express your thoughts clearly. Written comments help your tutor and the school track your progress and satisfaction.

If your platform allows private messages, you can say something like:

“Hi [Tutor’s Name], I wanted to share some feedback. I really enjoy your lessons, and I think focusing more on pronunciation would help me improve faster. Thank you for your time!”

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Giving Feedback

While being honest is good, there are a few things to avoid:

1. Being too vague: Always explain why you feel a certain way.

2. Being emotional or rude: Stay calm and respectful, even if you’re frustrated.

3. Giving feedback during the lesson in a harsh tone: Save sensitive feedback for after class or through chat.

4. Expecting instant change: Some tutors may need time to adjust their teaching style.

5. Ignoring positive aspects: Always balance criticism with appreciation.

Politeness and clarity ensure your message is taken seriously and constructively.

What to Do If Your Tutor Doesn’t Respond Well

Sometimes, despite your effort to be polite, a tutor might become defensive or ignore your feedback. If that happens:

1. Stay calm and polite. Avoid arguing or sounding emotional.

2. Clarify your intention. Say, “I just wanted to share this so I can learn more effectively.”

3. Give it time. Some tutors might take a few lessons to adjust.

4. Consider switching tutors. If communication remains difficult, it’s okay to try someone whose teaching style suits you better.

Remember, feedback is part of a two-way learning relationship. A professional tutor should appreciate it and adapt accordingly.

How to Receive Feedback from Your Tutor

Feedback works both ways. When your tutor gives you comments about your performance, treat it as an opportunity for growth.

Here’s how to handle it positively:

• Listen carefully instead of immediately defending yourself.

• Ask clarifying questions like, “Can you give an example?”

• Take notes on areas for improvement.

• Show appreciation for honest feedback.

Being open-minded helps you become a more confident and independent learner.

Building a Culture of Open Communication

The most successful learning experiences happen when both tutor and student communicate freely. You can build this culture by:

• Checking in regularly (e.g., “Is my pronunciation improving?”)

• Asking for feedback from your tutor, not just giving it

• Showing gratitude when your tutor adjusts lessons based on your suggestions

When both sides collaborate, lessons become more enjoyable and effective.

Key Takeaways

• Feedback helps personalize your lessons and speed up your progress.

• Be specific, polite, and constructive in how you express your thoughts.

• Use “I” statements and end on a positive note.

• If your tutor doesn’t react well, stay professional and focus on your goals.

• Communication is the foundation of successful online learning.

By giving thoughtful feedback, you’re not just improving your lessons—you’re shaping your entire English learning journey.

What is the best way to structure feedback for my tutor?

Use a simple four-step structure: (1) appreciation to open positively, (2) observation of a specific moment or pattern, (3) impact on your learning, and (4) a concrete request. For example: “I appreciate how you explain idioms. Yesterday, we spent most of the class on grammar drills, and I felt my speaking time was limited. More timed speaking in the last 10 minutes would help me practice under pressure.” This balance shows respect, clarity, and a path forward.

When should I share feedback—during class or after?

Quick, tactical comments can happen briefly in class (“Can we slow down a bit on new vocabulary?”). For sensitive topics—pace, correction style, or materials—share after class via message or at the beginning of the next session so you both have time to reflect. Weekly check-ins (60–120 seconds) are a healthy routine: “What worked well last week? What should we change for next week?”

How can I be honest without sounding rude?

Switch from blame to impact. Use “I” statements, name the learning effect, and propose a collaborative solution. Compare: “You never correct me” vs. “I learn faster when mistakes are corrected right away; could you flag them in real time and recap key errors in the last five minutes?” Tone, specificity, and a suggested action make honesty feel constructive.

What if I’m not sure what’s wrong, just that I’m not improving?

Describe the outcome you want and ask for co-diagnosis. Try: “I feel stuck around B1-B2 speaking. Could we diagnose bottlenecks with a 5-minute fluency check each class, a weekly pronunciation target, and a monthly mock test?” Your tutor can then test hypotheses (pronunciation, lexical range, grammar accuracy, task response) and adjust the plan.

How specific should my requests be?

Very. Anchor requests to time, frequency, and rubric. For example: “Two 4-minute speaking drills per lesson, immediate feedback on three priority errors, and a vocabulary goal of five topic words.” Specificity reduces ambiguity and makes it easy for your tutor to execute and track progress.

What are examples of effective feedback sentences I can copy?

Try these templates:

• “I understand best when we use real-world examples. Could we add one case per grammar point?”
• “I’d like more pronunciation focus—especially /θ/ and sentence stress. Could we allocate 7 minutes at the start?”
• “Business topics are my priority. Can we use emails and meetings as weekly themes?”
• “Real-time correction helps me; please interrupt short answers, then summarize top three errors at the end.”
• “My exam is in six weeks. Can we switch to task-based drills with a feedback rubric?”

What if my tutor gets defensive or ignores my feedback?

Stay calm and restate intent: learning outcomes. Use a neutral reset: “I value our lessons and want to learn more efficiently. Here are the top two changes that would help me.” If the pattern persists for two to three lessons, consider trialing another tutor whose style fits your needs. Your goal is progress, not persuasion.

How can I measure progress after giving feedback?

Pick two to three trackable metrics that match your goal. Examples: words per minute in a 2-minute monologue, number of self-corrected errors, IELTS speaking band descriptors, or weekly accuracy on targeted grammar forms. Keep a simple log (date, activity, score/notes). Review trends every two weeks and share the chart with your tutor to refine the plan.

Should I ask my tutor for feedback on me as well?

Yes—two-way feedback accelerates growth. Ask: “What one habit should I change this week for the biggest improvement?” or “What’s a realistic 14-day target for my pronunciation or email clarity?” Invite specific action items and commit to them. Then, at the next check-in, report what you tried and what results you saw.

How often should I give feedback?

Light-touch feedback: every lesson (30–60 seconds). Structured review: weekly. Strategic review: monthly or before major milestones (tests, presentations). This cadence keeps changes small and continuous, preventing build-ups that require bigger, harder shifts later.

Can I use platform tools to make feedback easier?

Absolutely. Use post-lesson notes for highlights, action items, and new vocabulary; messages for sensitive or nuanced topics; shared documents for goals, error logs, and model answers. If available, use rating prompts to flag trends and attach examples (screenshots, short audio) so your tutor can diagnose quickly.

What if I want more challenge—or less?

Define “challenge” in terms of task type, time pressure, and support level. For more challenge: “Let’s add 90-second impromptu answers with minimal scaffolding.” For less: “Could we add a guided outline and extend prep time to 2 minutes?” Adjusting these levers (complexity, time, scaffolding) calibrates difficulty without derailing goals.

How do I give feedback about correction style?

Specify timing (real-time vs. delayed), scope (pronunciation, grammar, lexical choice), and format (verbal cue, chat notes, end recap). A clear ask might be: “Please correct pronunciation live, save grammar for a 3-minute end summary, and paste model sentences in chat.” This prevents overload and targets the skills you value most.

What’s a polite way to request a change in materials?

Connect the material to your goal and propose an alternative: “My focus is tech sales. Could we replace generic dialogues with mock discovery calls and product-demo vocabulary? I can provide sample scripts from my work.” Offering resources shows initiative and accelerates alignment.

How do I close the loop after changes are made?

Reinforce what worked and refine the next step: “The timed speaking drills improved my fluency. Next, could we add follow-up questions to push depth?” Closing the loop rewards adaptation and keeps momentum. Document the new routine so it becomes the default for future lessons.

Online English Learning Guide: Master English Anytime, Anywhere