How to Request Lesson Topics You Like: Online English Guide

Choosing lesson topics that interest you is one of the best ways to make online English learning more effective and enjoyable. When you study topics that match your goals, hobbies, or work situation, your motivation stays high, and your vocabulary becomes more practical. This guide will show you how to request lesson topics you like, how to communicate them to your teacher, and how to make the most out of personalized learning.

Why Requesting Your Own Lesson Topics Matters

In traditional classroom settings, lessons often follow a fixed curriculum. But in online English learning, flexibility is one of the biggest advantages. You can study what you need most — whether that’s business communication, travel English, or conversational fluency.

When you take an active role in selecting lesson topics:

• You stay more motivated. Learning becomes enjoyable when you talk about subjects you care about.

• You remember words better. Vocabulary connected to your interests is easier to retain.

• You progress faster. Lessons focus on your weaknesses or real-life needs, not just textbook topics.

• You build confidence. Talking about familiar topics helps you express yourself naturally.

In other words, customizing your lesson topics turns each class into a meaningful learning experience.

Identify What You Want to Learn

Before requesting topics, take a few minutes to reflect on your goals and interests. Ask yourself:

1. Why am I learning English?
   Are you preparing for travel, work, study, or social communication?

2. What topics do I enjoy talking about?
   Think of your hobbies, profession, or passions (e.g., technology, fashion, movies, sports).

3. What areas do I struggle with?
   Maybe you find it hard to talk about opinions or describe complex ideas.

4. What do I want to use English for in daily life?
   Ordering food, negotiating at work, or writing emails?

Write down 3–5 key topics or goals. This list will make it easier to communicate with your tutor.

Example:

• Goal: Improve speaking for business meetings

• Interests: Startups, leadership, innovation

• Weakness: Expressing disagreement politely

From this, you can request:

“Can we have lessons about discussing business ideas or giving feedback in meetings?”

How to Communicate Your Preferences to Your Tutor

Teachers appreciate when students take initiative. It helps them design lessons that fit your needs. Here’s how to express your preferences effectively:

1. Be Specific

Instead of saying “I want to improve my speaking,” say something like:

“I’d like to practice small talk for business meetings.”

Specific requests help your tutor prepare materials or conversation questions in advance.

2. Give Examples

Mention sample topics or situations. For instance:

“I like talking about travel, especially cultural differences or local food.”

This gives your teacher a clear picture of what excites you.

3. Use Polite and Clear Language

Even if your English is still developing, simple polite phrases are enough:

• “Can we talk about…?”

• “I’d like to focus on…”

• “Could we practice…?”

• “I’m interested in learning vocabulary about…”

4. Be Honest About What You Don’t Like

If a topic feels boring or irrelevant, it’s okay to say so. Teachers prefer honesty over polite silence. Try:

“That was interesting, but I’d like to try something more related to my job next time.”

This feedback helps the tutor adjust future lessons.

Examples of Popular Lesson Topics You Can Request

Here are common categories of topics students often enjoy in online English lessons:

Everyday Communication

• Talking about daily routines

• Describing your weekend

• Sharing opinions on news or trends

• Making small talk

Travel English

• Booking hotels and flights

• Asking for directions

• Describing travel experiences

• Talking about local cultures

Business English

• Writing professional emails

• Giving presentations

• Participating in meetings

• Negotiating politely

Lifestyle and Interests

• Movies, music, or books

• Food and cooking

• Fitness and wellness

• Technology and gadgets

Academic and Test Preparation

• IELTS/TOEFL speaking practice

• Debating current issues

• Summarizing articles

• Giving structured answers

You can mix and match these topics based on your goals. For example, “Discussing cultural differences at work” combines lifestyle and business English.

How to Balance Your Interests with Learning Goals

While personal topics keep lessons engaging, make sure they also align with your overall goal. Here’s how to strike the right balance:

1. Mix fun and practical topics.
   For instance, alternate between “travel experiences” and “email writing.”

2. Ask your tutor for recommendations.
   They might suggest related themes that strengthen your weaknesses.

3. Review vocabulary and phrases afterward.
   Don’t just talk about the topic — take notes on useful expressions.

4. Gradually increase difficulty.
   Start with simple subjects and move toward abstract discussions like “work-life balance” or “environmental issues.”

Requesting Topics Based on Real-Life Situations

Think about what you do in your daily or professional life. Each real-life situation can become a lesson.

For Work

• Explaining your company or job role

• Handling client questions

• Talking about projects and deadlines

Example request:

“Can we practice describing my company’s services in English?”

For Travel

• Asking about local transportation

• Ordering at restaurants

• Talking about your favorite destinations

Example request:

“I want to practice ordering food and making small talk with locals.”

For Study

• Participating in group discussions

• Expressing opinions in academic English

• Summarizing readings or lectures

Example request:

“Could we focus on discussing articles in English?”

By linking lessons to real scenarios, your English will become more useful and natural.

How to Keep Lessons Fresh and Engaging

Even with favorite topics, lessons can feel repetitive over time. Here’s how to keep learning dynamic:

1. Rotate between speaking, listening, and reading.
   For example, read an article on your topic, then discuss it.

2. Bring your own materials.
   Share a news article, YouTube clip, or podcast that interests you.

3. Challenge yourself.
   Try explaining something complex from your field or debating an opinion.

4. Reflect after each lesson.
   Write a short summary of what you learned or phrases you want to remember.

5. Ask for follow-up lessons.
   If you enjoyed a topic, continue it in the next session for deeper understanding.

When Your Tutor Suggests a Different Topic

Sometimes, your teacher may suggest topics you didn’t request. Don’t see this as a negative — tutors often choose them to improve specific skills. For example:

• A pronunciation-focused topic to improve clarity

• A grammar-focused topic to correct recurring mistakes

• A debate-style topic to expand vocabulary

If you’re unsure, you can say:

“I’d like to try it, but could we connect it to something I’m interested in?”

This approach keeps communication open and lessons balanced.

Tips for Building a Long-Term Topic Plan

Instead of choosing topics randomly each class, create a flexible “topic roadmap.” Here’s how:

1. List 10 topics you’d like to cover in the next 2 months.

2. Share this list with your tutor. They can plan around it.

3. Include a mix of easy and challenging subjects.

4. Review and adjust every few weeks depending on your progress.

Example roadmap:

• Week 1: Small talk and greetings

• Week 2: Talking about hobbies

• Week 3: Describing past experiences

• Week 4: Business meetings

• Week 5: Giving feedback politely

• Week 6: Discussing world news

This structure helps you progress in a natural, organized way.

How to Evaluate Whether a Topic Worked Well

After each lesson, ask yourself:

• Did I speak more confidently?

• Did I learn new, useful expressions?

• Was the topic relevant to my daily life or goals?

• Did I feel engaged and interested?

If the answer is “yes,” that topic style suits you. If not, adjust and try another. The goal is steady progress through enjoyable, personalized lessons.

Conclusion: Take Ownership of Your Learning

Requesting lesson topics you like is not just about comfort — it’s about effectiveness. When lessons connect with your passions and goals, English learning becomes something you look forward to. Don’t hesitate to tell your tutor what you need. Remember:

• Be specific and polite.

• Balance interest with practicality.

• Review what you learned after each class.

By taking ownership of your learning journey, every session becomes more meaningful — and your English will naturally improve faster.

FAQs

What does “requesting lesson topics” mean in online English classes?

Requesting lesson topics means telling your tutor exactly what you want to learn or talk about in class. Instead of following only a fixed syllabus, you propose subjects that match your goals, interests, job, or daily life. Examples include “email writing for customer support,” “small talk for business,” or “travel English for Japan.” Clear requests help your tutor design focused activities and choose the right vocabulary, situations, and practice tasks.

How do I politely ask my tutor to change the topic?

Use simple, respectful phrases and add a reason. For example: “Could we switch to presentation practice today? I have a meeting next week.” or “I enjoyed last time, but I’d like more practice with negotiation phrases.” Being specific and positive shows cooperation, lets your tutor adapt quickly, and keeps the relationship productive. If time is tight, propose a split: half on the original plan and half on your request.

What if I’m not sure which topics I actually need?

Start with your purpose (work, study, travel, daily conversation). List three real scenarios you expect soon—e.g., a client call, a trip abroad, or a college discussion. Share these with your tutor and ask for a short needs analysis. Your teacher can suggest topic clusters, such as “introductions & small talk,” “explaining processes,” or “asking follow-up questions,” then build a mini-syllabus around them.

How specific should my topic requests be?

Specificity leads to better lessons. “Business English” is broad; “handling complaints by phone” is actionable. Add context (industry, audience, formality), a sample task (role-play, email draft, meeting summary), and success criteria (sound confident, reduce fillers, use three key phrases). This helps your tutor choose the right materials and create measurable practice so you leave with usable language.

Can I mix personal interests with professional goals?

Yes. Blending interests with goals keeps motivation high without losing practicality. For example, if you enjoy technology and need meeting skills, request “discussing AI product updates for a weekly stand-up.” If you love cooking and need small talk, try “restaurant recommendations and food opinions for client dinners.” The combination improves fluency and topic-specific vocabulary at the same time.

How often should I update or change my requested topics?

Review every two to four weeks. After each lesson, reflect on what worked: Did you speak more? Learn useful phrases? Feel engaged? Keep effective topics and rotate new ones to avoid plateau. If your work calendar or travel plans change, inform your tutor and reprioritize. A simple shared document or message thread with a rolling topic list keeps both of you aligned.

What should I do if my tutor suggests a different topic?

Treat it as an opportunity: tutors often choose topics to target grammar, pronunciation, or discourse skills they noticed. Ask for the connection: “How will this help my meeting goal?” If relevant, proceed; if not, negotiate: “Could we spend 15 minutes on your activity and 15 on my presentation practice?” This preserves trust while ensuring the lesson still serves your primary objective.

How can I prepare materials to support my request?

Bring short, authentic items: a meeting agenda, a client email, a slide outline, or a short article/video related to your topic. Mark challenging phrases or questions beforehand. Ask your tutor to build tasks around the material—summarizing, role-playing, or rewriting. This approach maximizes relevance, exposes you to real language, and makes practice immediately transferable to your life.

What if I feel shy about asking for what I want?

Use a simple template to reduce pressure: “My goal is __. I need English for __. Could we focus on __ this week? Success for me would be __.” Sending this message before class gives your tutor time to prepare and removes the stress of improvising during the lesson. Remember: requesting topics is part of being an active learner; tutors appreciate clarity.

How do I measure whether a chosen topic was effective?

Create quick, observable outcomes: “Use five key phrases without notes,” “Explain my product in 60 seconds,” or “Handle two objections in a role-play.” After class, write a micro-reflection: what new phrases you used, any pronunciation fixes, and one thing to try next time. Share this with your tutor to refine upcoming topics and build a clear sense of progress.

Can I request exam-related topics while keeping lessons engaging?

Absolutely. Combine test tasks with topics you enjoy. For IELTS/TOEFL speaking, choose themes like technology, culture, or travel that you already like. Practice structured answers (introduction, reasons, example, mini-conclusion) using those themes. You’ll build fluency and confidence faster because the content feels familiar while the format meets exam requirements.

What are some ready-to-use phrases to request topics?

Try these:

• “I’d like to focus on __ today because __.”
• “Could we practice __ for about 20 minutes, then switch to __?”
• “Next week I have __. Can we simulate that situation?”
• “I brought a short __ (email/slide/article). Could we work with this?”
• “My goal is __. What topics do you recommend to reach it?”

What if my requested topic feels too advanced?

Ask your tutor to scaffold it: pre-teach key phrases, model a short sample, and provide a speaking frame. Start with controlled practice (guided questions), then move to freer production (role-play or debate). If needed, narrow the scope—for example, from “negotiation” to “making concessions politely.” Gradual difficulty builds confidence while keeping the topic directly relevant.

Online English Learning Guide: Master English Anytime, Anywhere