Toby Smith
English Tutor at Lancaster University | Literature, Writing, Reading, Debate
Private tutor - Toby Smith
Bachelors degree
$31
$27
/ hour
About your english tutor
Hi there! My name is Toby, and I am an experienced, TEFL certified teacher, of both English and Spanish, from the UK. I have over 3 years of experience teaching students of all ages to become the best linguists they can be. If you are looking for a professor to push you in your studies, to tailor the learning experience to you, and provide you with skills that will help you in the real world, not just boring textbook exercises and vocab tests, then look no further! My specialities range from accent coaching, to test prep strategies, to business english, ensuring that each student has a comprehensive grounding that allows them to master English or Spanish to the highest level. Whether you are a beginner, or an experienced speaker looking to refine your English or Spanish skills, I am here to help you succeed. Let’s embark on this language journey together and unlock your full potential in English or Spanish.
Meet Toby
Toby graduated from Lancaster University
English classes overview
My teaching methodology is unique in that I incorporate the latest and most up to date teaching strategies within my curriculum. I have eliminated the outdated and actively damaging practises of learning by rote and standardised class structures from my approach, as these have been proven to not only slow learning progress, but also weaken a students adaptability in the target language. As such I employ an approach of fully immersive classes, in which 90-95% of the content is taught in and around the target language, only using translations when absolutely necessary to ensure student understanding. I create a personalised and tailored curriculum for each student, using an initial aptitude test and my own insights in the first few sessions to target the weaknesses within their fluency, and to actively improve the areas that will support the purpose of their learning. With over 100 successful students taught, and over 5000 hours of classes under my belt, I have a proven track record in my style and my ability to accelerate a student’s learning by making lessons engaging and personalised.
Rated 5 stars for speaking confidence
Students report feeling more confident in conversations.
Strong focus on speaking and writing
95% of parents see growth in both written and spoken language skills.
Regular progress check-ins
90% of students get regular updates on their language skills.
English tutor specialities
Accent coaching
Test prep strategies
Homework help
Listening skill
Speaking fluency
Visual learning
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English concept taught by Toby
Toby is tutoring Sabrina in Spanish, focusing on common grammar challenges like "ser" vs. "estar," "por" vs. "para," and the preterite vs. imperfect tenses. He uses mnemonics and visual aids to explain the nuances of each, emphasizing the importance of understanding the underlying concepts rather than relying on direct English translations. They schedule regular lessons and homework, including verb table practice and sentence construction, to reinforce the concepts. Sabrina hopes to use her Spanish skills at her hotel job.
Ser vs Estar
Por vs Para
Imperfecto vs Pretérito
Reflexive Verbs
Omitting Pronouns
Toby is teaching Sabrina Spanish, covering basic verb tenses (present, continuous, preterite, imperfect, future) and pronunciation. He explains the differences between tenses, offers mnemonics, and provides pronunciation tips for a more natural sound, emphasizing a relaxed tongue. He assigns homework focusing on verb conjugations and asks about Sabrina's learning style to personalize future lessons.
Six Basic Tenses
Preterite vs. Imperfect
Near Future vs. Simple Future
Estar vs. Ser
Present Continuous
Rounded Pronunciation
Toby tutored Paula in English, focusing on giving advice, narrating past experiences, and making future predictions. Paula practiced sentence construction and pronunciation, with Toby providing corrections and guidance on grammar. Homework involving a presentation was assigned.
Giving Advice
Making Predictions with 'will' and 'going to'
Past Tense Usage
Connectors in Speaking
Giving Advice
Past Tense Usage
Making Predictions with 'will' and 'going to'
Connectors in Speaking
Toby and Rozhin practiced Spanish survival phrases for train travel and restaurant scenarios, reviewing future tenses and related vocabulary. Rozhin completed gap-fill exercises, constructed sentences, and engaged in role-playing to simulate real-life interactions. Toby assessed Rozhin at a high A2/low B1 level and assigned no homework.
Ticket Purchase Phrases
Restaurant Phrases
Survival Phrases
Gender Agreement
Future Tense
Toby Smith worked with Matthew (Info Flipside) on handwriting, focusing on letter neatness and consistency through a quiz. Matthew earned a badge for his efforts. As a fun activity, Matthew took a quiz to determine his dragon type and created a profile for his red dragon, Hunter, which he will draw and annotate for homework.
Pencil Grip
Letter Formation
Importance of Neatness
Homework Annotation
Dragon Personality Quiz
On June 27, 2025, Toby tutored Rozhin in Spanish, focusing on reflexive/object pronouns, survival phrases for medical emergencies, and future tenses. They analyzed the song "El Clavo" by Maluma, translating lyrics and discussing grammar and vocabulary. Toby reminded Rozhin to schedule future lessons and review the material before their next session.
Survival Phrases
Formal Titles
Object Pronoun Placement
Reflexive Pronouns
Direct Object Pronouns
Near Future vs. Simple Future
English tutor also teaches
English Listening
English Literature
English Speaking
English Vocabulary
English Writing
English Reading Comprehension
Free lesson slots
1 / 1
Teaching tools used by english tutor
Translation tools
Speech recognition
Game based learning tools
Interactive quizzes
Writing prompts
Student types for english class
English for Adults
English for School students
English for Beginners
English for College students
English for Kids
ADHD
ASD
Anxiety or Stress Disorders
Home schooled
Interactive english lessons
Record lessons
Note taking
Pets are welcomed
Parent feedback
Mobile joining
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