Recommended Online One-on-One English Courses: How to Choose Based on Your Own Situation

Learning English has become a global necessity, and with the rise of online education, the flexibility and convenience of one-on-one English courses have opened up many possibilities for learners across the world. With numerous options available, choosing the right course that suits your specific needs can be overwhelming. This blog will guide you through a selection of recommended online one-on-one English courses, explaining how to choose based on your individual situation.

1. 51Talk: Structured Curriculum with Certified Teachers for Children

Overview:
51Talk is a globally recognized platform specializing in one-on-one live English lessons for children aged 3 to 15. Established in 2011 and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016, 51Talk serves over 40 million users across more than 50 countries. Known for its highly structured, self-developed curriculum, 51Talk provides a learning environment that is both comprehensive and engaging, tailored to children at various levels of English proficiency.

Why It’s Ideal:
51Talk’s curriculum is well-suited for families seeking a structured, internationally recognized program. The platform uses a unique spiral progression approach, ensuring that concepts are introduced and revisited with increasing complexity, which enhances long-term retention. With a focus on personalized, live interactions, 51Talk offers students the opportunity to learn English through interactive and engaging lessons. It also prepares students for international exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, and the Cambridge exams (KET, PET, FCE), making it an excellent choice for families seeking exam preparation.

What to Expect:
51Talk’s curriculum spans 11 levels and is divided into four stages: Enlightenment, Introduction, Advancement, and Mastery. Early levels focus on phonics, basic sight words, and foundational skills, while higher levels help students develop academic English, preparing them for real-world language use and exam success. The platform’s teaching model includes AI-guided pre-class previews, live interactive lessons, and post-class reinforcement, ensuring a comprehensive learning experience. Teachers provide detailed feedback after every session, and parents can review full lesson recordings at any time.

Ideal For:

• Families looking for a structured, internationally recognized curriculum
• Children aged 3-15, especially those seeking exam preparation
• Parents who value regular progress assessments and personalized feedback
• Learners who benefit from live, interactive lessons with highly trained teachers

How to Choose on 51Talk:
51Talk’s teacher-matching system uses AI to analyze factors such as pronunciation clarity and teaching style, ensuring that each student is paired with the most suitable instructor. The platform also provides detailed post-lesson reports to track progress in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Families can review teacher profiles and lesson recordings to ensure a good fit for their child’s needs.

2. Italki: Flexibility and Personalized Learning

Overview:
Italki is one of the leading platforms for personalized, one-on-one language learning. The platform offers access to thousands of teachers from around the world, providing a highly customizable experience for students. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, Italki offers lessons that can be tailored to your specific goals, interests, and proficiency level.

Why It’s Ideal:
Italki’s standout feature is its flexibility. You can choose your teacher based on various criteria such as their experience, teaching style, price range, and availability. This makes Italki an excellent option for learners who prefer a highly personalized approach to their language studies. Additionally, Italki’s diverse pool of teachers includes both professional teachers and community tutors, offering a wide range of pricing options. Lessons can be arranged at times that suit your schedule, making it perfect for busy individuals or those with irregular hours.

What to Expect:
On Italki, you will have the opportunity to book individual lessons with your chosen teacher. The lessons can cover a wide variety of areas, such as conversation practice, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and exam preparation (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.). The platform also offers a “trial lesson” feature, allowing you to try a session with a teacher before committing to long-term learning. This feature is particularly useful for those who are unsure about which teacher or learning style suits them best.

Ideal For:

• Learners seeking a flexible schedule
• Those who want to try different teaching styles and instructors
• Students with specific learning goals (e.g., business English, travel English, exam preparation)
• People who prefer conversational practice in a relaxed setting

How to Choose on Italki:
When choosing a teacher on Italki, consider your primary objectives. If you need help with conversational English, look for a teacher who specializes in informal dialogue. If you are preparing for an exam, search for a tutor who has experience with test preparation. You can view teacher profiles, including their teaching methods, languages spoken, and reviews from other students, helping you make an informed decision.

3. VIPKid: For Children and Young Learners

Overview:
VIPKid offers an immersive English learning experience for children, focusing on one-on-one lessons designed to engage young learners. Known for its rigorous curriculum and use of interactive lessons, VIPKid is primarily aimed at children between the ages of 4-12, though there are some offerings for older students. The platform is one of the most popular choices for English learning in non-English-speaking countries, especially in Asia.

Why It’s Ideal:
What sets VIPKid apart is its well-structured, standardized curriculum. The lessons are designed by education experts to ensure a progressive learning experience. Teachers on VIPKid are all native English speakers, most of whom are based in the United States or Canada. This ensures that students are exposed to authentic accents and cultural nuances in English. The lessons are highly interactive, incorporating games, songs, and activities to keep children engaged.

What to Expect:
VIPKid offers fully immersive lessons where teachers use visual aids, animations, and props to make learning engaging and fun. Lessons typically last around 25 minutes, making it easy for children to stay focused. VIPKid also offers a platform for parents to track their child’s progress through reports and assessments, ensuring that learning objectives are being met. The flexibility of the platform also means that you can schedule lessons based on your child’s availability.

Ideal For:

• Parents looking for a high-quality, structured English program for children
• Families seeking teachers who are native English speakers
• Parents who want to track their child’s progress through assessments
• Children who learn best through interactive lessons and play

How to Choose on VIPKid:
When selecting a teacher for your child, look for instructors with experience working with children and a playful teaching style. Since lessons are typically around 25 minutes, it’s important to choose a teacher who can hold your child’s attention and create an engaging atmosphere. VIPKid allows you to choose based on availability and teaching style, so make sure to review teacher profiles and any sample videos available on the platform.

4. Preply: Affordable and Diverse Learning Options

Overview:
Preply is a global platform that connects learners with tutors for one-on-one English lessons. The platform offers a wide range of tutors, from professional teachers to conversational partners, and features a flexible pricing model. This makes it one of the most affordable platforms for English learners, with a variety of pricing options based on tutor experience and expertise.

Why It’s Ideal:
Preply is known for its affordable pricing and the ability to choose from a large pool of tutors. Whether you’re looking for conversational practice, exam preparation, or business English, Preply allows you to choose tutors based on your specific needs. The platform’s flexibility also extends to scheduling, with tutors offering lessons at various times, including weekends and evenings.

What to Expect:
On Preply, you can book one-on-one lessons with your chosen tutor and communicate directly with them before booking your first lesson. Preply offers a trial lesson feature, which allows you to get a feel for the tutor’s teaching style before committing to a long-term arrangement. The platform also offers a satisfaction guarantee, so if you’re not happy with your lesson, you can request a refund or choose a different tutor.

Ideal For:

• Budget-conscious learners who still want access to high-quality tutoring
• Students who need help with specific aspects of language learning (e.g., pronunciation, writing, speaking)
• Learners who prefer a large selection of tutors to choose from
• People who need flexible lesson scheduling

How to Choose on Preply:
When selecting a tutor on Preply, take into account their teaching specialization, availability, and reviews from other students. If your primary goal is improving conversational English, look for a tutor with a relaxed teaching style. For more formal learning, such as exam preparation, choose tutors with expertise in test formats like IELTS or TOEFL. Preply’s pricing allows for a variety of options, so you can choose a tutor based on your budget.

5. Engoo: Intensive English Learning for Adults

Overview:
Engoo is an online English tutoring platform that offers intensive lessons with a focus on adult learners. The platform is known for its strong emphasis on improving speaking and listening skills through interactive, one-on-one lessons. Engoo’s teachers come from various backgrounds and nationalities, providing learners with a diverse range of accents and dialects. It is a great option for adults looking to improve their conversational English and fluency.

Why It’s Ideal:
Engoo stands out for its affordability and focus on flexibility. Learners can access lessons at any time, with tutors available for short 25-minute lessons. This makes Engoo perfect for busy adults who want to fit in English practice between work or other commitments. Engoo also offers various subscription plans, so learners can select a package that suits their budget and frequency of lessons.

What to Expect:
Lessons on Engoo are conversational-based, often revolving around topics in news, culture, or general topics. Teachers will encourage students to speak as much as possible during the lesson, with the goal of improving fluency and confidence. Engoo also offers personalized feedback, ensuring that learners understand their strengths and areas for improvement. Since lessons are short, they can be scheduled around your availability, even during breaks at work or school.

Ideal For:

• Adults who need to improve their speaking and listening skills
• Busy learners who need short, flexible lessons
• Those looking for a cost-effective way to practice conversational English
• Learners who want a quick, intensive way to enhance fluency

How to Choose on Engoo:
Engoo’s platform allows you to filter teachers based on availability, price, and expertise. Since the lessons are geared towards conversational English, look for a teacher with a focus on fluency practice. You can also review teacher profiles and read feedback from other students to gauge which tutor might be a good match for your learning style.

6. Cambly: English Conversation for Busy People

Overview:
Cambly provides instant access to English tutors for conversational practice, which makes it ideal for learners who want to improve their speaking skills without any prior booking. You can connect with a tutor anytime, making it the most flexible option for those with unpredictable schedules. Cambly is especially useful for learners who prefer a more informal approach to language learning.

Why It’s Ideal:
Cambly is designed to be user-friendly, allowing you to instantly connect with native English speakers from around the world. The platform is perfect for learners who want to practice speaking English in a casual, stress-free environment. Cambly is highly flexible, and there is no need to book lessons in advance. The lessons are tailored to meet the student’s current needs, whether it’s general conversation or preparation for an interview or presentation.

What to Expect:
On Cambly, you can engage in one-on-one video chats with native speakers, discussing any topic of your choice. The platform offers both short and long sessions, depending on your time constraints. Cambly also has a unique feature called “Cambly Kids,” which provides age-appropriate lessons for younger learners. With no long-term commitment required, Cambly is ideal for those who want to improve their speaking without being locked into a subscription or rigid lesson plan.

Ideal For:

• Learners who want immediate access to tutors for conversational practice
• People who have irregular schedules and need flexible learning options
• Busy professionals who want to work on their speaking skills
• Students looking for a stress-free way to practice English in real-life contexts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Which platform is best for younger children?

For younger learners, VIPKid and 51Talk are ideal as they offer structured, age-appropriate curricula that are engaging and effective for children aged 3-15. Both platforms emphasize interactive lessons with native speakers, ensuring that young students are learning in an engaging, fun environment.

2. How do I know if I am choosing the right teacher for my goals?

On platforms like Italki and Preply, you can review teachers’ profiles, their specializations, and feedback from other students. It’s helpful to consider your primary learning goals—whether conversational English, exam preparation, or business English—and select a teacher with the appropriate experience and teaching style.

Final Thoughts

When selecting an online English course, it’s important to consider your personal goals, schedule, and budget. Whether you’re learning English for business, travel, exam preparation, or simply to improve your fluency, the right course can make all the difference in your learning experience.

From platforms like 51Talk and Preply, offering flexible scheduling and a wide variety of tutors, to VIPKid and Cambly, offering interactive and convenient options for young learners and busy professionals, there’s a course to suit every learner.

Take the time to assess your own learning style, availability, and goals, and choose a course that aligns with your needs. With the right resources, you’ll be well on your way to improving your English skills in no time!