General English FAQs:

Find quick answers below. For full rules, please see Policies & Procedures.
General English is a flexible program focused on everyday communication. Lessons are adapted to your level, goals, and learning pace while following Akademia Academy standards.
New students: booking a package means Lesson 1 is used as a Starter Session.
Transferring students: booking a package means Lesson 1 is used as a Checkpoint Session.

Q: What is the General English program?

A: General English is our core program for improving real-life English—speaking more comfortably, understanding everyday listening, expanding practical vocabulary, and improving accuracy so communication becomes clearer and easier. It is designed for students who want steady overall improvement without focusing on a single narrow goal (like only exam tasks or only business writing).

Example: If you can manage basic conversations but feel limited, lessons may focus on longer answers, better vocabulary for common topics, and smoother speaking.

Q: Who is General English best for (and what levels can join)?

A: It’s best for students who want balanced progress in daily communication: conversation, listening, vocabulary, and grammar support as needed. It works well for learners who want flexibility—your tutor can adjust topics (daily life, travel, hobbies, school, work-life conversations) and skill focus depending on your needs.

Example: A student may spend a few lessons building fluency, then shift to accuracy (common grammar problems), then add listening practice.

Q: What skills can General English include?

A: General English can include a mix of:

~ speaking fluency and confidence
~ listening comprehension
~ vocabulary growth (topics + useful phrases)
~ grammar support (practical, communication-focused)
~ pronunciation and clarity (as needed)
~ reading/writing practice when helpful for your goals
Your tutor selects what matters most for your progress and level.

Example: If you want conversation confidence, speaking and listening may be the priority; if you need clearer writing for daily life, writing support may be included.

Q: How are lessons personalized if tutors teach differently?

A: Lessons are personalized through your goals and performance, not through one fixed teaching method. Different tutors may use different activities, but the direction stays consistent: lessons focus on what you need most, include meaningful practice, and give feedback that helps you improve. Personalization typically includes adjusting:

~ topic selection
~ difficulty level
~ pace and speaking expectations
~ how much correction you receive

Example: If you hesitate a lot, your tutor may emphasize confidence and response-building; if you speak easily but make repeated errors, your tutor may prioritize accuracy patterns.

Q: 30-minute vs longer lessons — what’s the difference?

A: Both options are useful; the difference is mainly how much you can cover in one session.

~ 30-minute lessons are best for one clear focus (e.g., a speaking target, a listening task, vocabulary review + practice, or fixing one repeating grammar issue).
~ Longer lessons allow more variety and depth (more conversation time, more feedback, more practice rounds, and more time for review).

Your tutor adapts the plan to the time available so lessons remain productive.

Example: In a shorter lesson, you might practice one speaking situation with feedback. In a longer lesson, you might practice several variations and add review of previous targets.

Q: How do you improve speaking confidence and fluency?

A: Speaking improvement typically comes from repeated real-use practice plus targeted feedback. Tutors may use guided conversation, roleplays, topic discussions, storytelling, and “upgrade practice” (turning basic sentences into more natural ones). The exact method can vary, but the goal is consistent: help you speak more smoothly, with clearer structure and stronger vocabulary.

Example: Instead of short answers, you learn to give a full answer with a reason and example—without sounding memorized.

Q: How do you build vocabulary in General English?

A: Vocabulary is usually built through real-life topics and high-utility phrases, then reviewed so it sticks. Tutors often focus on:

~ words you actually need (daily routines, emotions, opinions, travel, work-life topics)
~ common collocations (natural word pairings)
~ reusable phrases for speaking (“To be honest…”, “It depends…”, “What I mean is…”)

Example: Rather than memorizing a list, you learn words and immediately use them in speaking and short writing tasks.

Q: How do packages work for General English?

A: Packages are the best value and support more consistent progress. When you book a package:

~ Lesson 1 becomes your Starter Session (new students) or Checkpoint Session (transferring students)
~ your tutor confirms level and priorities and recommends a clear direction
After that, lesson focus remains flexible—tutors choose what to prioritize based on what will help you improve fastest.

Example: One student may start with fluency; another may start with accuracy—your tutor decides based on what is most needed.

Q: I’m transferring from another tutor — what happens first?

A: Transferring students use Lesson 1 as a Checkpoint Session. Your tutor identifies what you already know, what is missing, and what is holding you back (fluency, accuracy, listening confidence, pronunciation clarity, etc.). This helps avoid repeating content unnecessarily and helps you move forward efficiently.

Example: If you’ve studied grammar rules but struggle to speak, your tutor may focus on speaking activation and confidence first instead of repeating textbook grammar.