More Than Teaching English: Building Confidence, Connection, and Calm

At this week’s Tutor Talks, volunteers from across the English B'Yachad community shared practical strategies, meaningful reflections, and reminders about what makes this work so impactful.

One theme came through again and again: successful tutoring begins with understanding what the student truly needs.

Rather than focusing only on grammar or vocabulary, tutors discussed the importance of helping students define meaningful, real-world goals. One helpful approach is to make goals both measurable and behavioral. Instead of asking, “What English do you want to improve?” tutors might ask:

“In what situations do you feel less confident using English?”

The answer could be speaking with a boss, chatting with coworkers, helping a child with homework, or making conversation at the gym. Once the context becomes clear, the learning becomes more focused — and more relevant. Tutors can then introduce vocabulary, expressions, and even idioms that fit naturally into the student’s daily life and relationships.

Volunteers also spoke about the importance of flexibility. Sometimes a student needs structured grammar practice. Other times, what they need most is conversation, encouragement, and a calm presence.

As one tutor reflected, many volunteers initially worry that “just talking” is not really teaching. But over time, they come to realize that listening, conversing, and building confidence are themselves powerful forms of language learning.

That insight feels especially important right now. Many Israeli students continue to live with the ongoing stress and uncertainty of war. Several tutors noted that anxiety itself can become a barrier to learning. Humor, warmth, and moments of shared laughter can help lower that anxiety and create space for growth.

The discussion also included practical teaching tools and strategies. Tutors shared ideas such as:

• following up sessions with vocabulary summaries and example sentences,

• using voice notes so students can hear pronunciation,

• introducing idioms to make English feel more natural and expressive,

• identifying recurring errors gently as opportunities for improvement,

• and using tools like ChatGPT to help explain grammar concepts clearly.

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Resources like test-english.com were also recommended for grammar and comprehension practice. 

Perhaps the most powerful takeaway from the conversation was the importance of ending every session on a positive note. Many learners naturally focus on mistakes or what they still cannot do. Tutors can help shift that perspective by highlighting progress, effort, and moments of success.

Confidence grows not only from correcting errors — but from being seen, encouraged, and understood.

That spirit was reflected throughout the discussion: English B'Yachad is about far more than language instruction. It is about human connection, dignity, encouragement, and helping Israelis feel more confident in their voices — both in English and beyond.