English 
Български 
Română 
Polski The question this guide answersHow do I choose an online English tutor for everyday life in the UK?
Choose a real-life goal
Most people say they want “better English”, which is too vague to teach. Pick one situation you meet in the next month and write it as a sentence: “I want to explain a problem to my child’s teacher without rehearsing every word.” Or: “I want to take part in team meetings without staying silent.”
Here are three goals that are specific enough to teach:
- Ordering, asking questions and solving small problems in shops and on the phone.
- Speaking up in team meetings and writing short, clear emails to colleagues.
- Chatting with neighbours and other parents without worrying about every mistake.
A concrete goal changes what you look for. It tells you whether you need conversation practice, vocabulary for a job, help with writing emails, or a steady routine. It also gives you a way to judge progress after a few weeks, because you can try the situation again.
If you are preparing for a particular exam, a visa test or a registration test, your goal is different and the rules of that test come first. Our guides on nursing registration tests and B1 tests for settlement cover those cases.
Check tutor experience
Ask what the tutor has studied and how long they have taught. Do not accept a vague “experienced”. A clear answer names a qualification and a kind of teaching.
Ucraya lessons are taught by tutors of the London school behind the site, Training Centre Raya London, which has taught English in London since 2015. The tutors the school publishes have degrees in English philology or teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL), and one holds the Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA). For example, one tutor, Lena Vlahova, has taught online since 2018 and states in her own words on the school site that she has given more than 15,000 online classes.
Be careful with a provider that talks only about its own size or its prices and says nothing about who will teach you. You are buying a person’s attention for an hour, so the person should be easy to identify.
Experience with online teaching matters as much as the certificate. Ask how the tutor keeps a video lesson active, how they share material on screen, and what happens if your connection drops.
Compare lesson formats
The same price can buy very different lessons, so compare what you actually get.
| One-to-one | English through English | Group course | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 55 minutes | 55 minutes | A 12 week level course of 72 lessons |
| Who teaches | A tutor for you alone | A tutor for you alone | A tutor with a small group of no more than 12 |
| Language of the lesson | Bulgarian speaking tutors are available | Entirely in English | Ask the office |
| Price | £15 per lesson | £20 per lesson | £298 per level course |
One-to-one lessons suit people with a specific goal or an unusual timetable, because you agree the time with your tutor. English through English suits people who want full immersion. A group course suits people who enjoy learning with others and want a steady structure from level A1 to B2. Levels A1 to B2 describe a path from beginner to upper intermediate, and one-to-one lessons are open to any level.
Lessons run on a live video call. For group courses we use Zoom, and for one-to-one lessons we send the link when you book.
Review terms and costs
Before you pay anyone, ask five questions about money and rules, and get the answers in writing.
- What does one lesson cost, and is anything extra?
- How do I pay, and when?
- What happens if I need to move a lesson?
- What happens if I am ill?
- What if the group does not run?
At Ucraya, payment is by bank transfer, and the bank details are sent with your booking confirmation. One-to-one lessons are paid per lesson or in blocks agreed with the office. You can move a one-to-one lesson once if you give at least 48 hours notice by email, text or phone, and a lesson moved with less notice is charged. A group course needs a £50 deposit, which is part of the £298, then £124 at the start and £124 at the third lesson. If a group does not run, the deposit is refunded or moved. Illness is considered case by case.
Those are the rules as the school publishes them, and you can see the current prices on the pricing page.
Agree an initial assessment
A good tutor starts by listening. Ask for a short assessment or a first conversation before you commit to a block of lessons. The site has a short placement quiz that gives a rough level from A1 to B2. It is a guide and not a formal assessment, so treat it as a starting point and let your tutor confirm.
Here is a buyer checklist you can copy. Use it with any provider, ours included.
| Check | Why it matters | A good answer sounds like |
|---|---|---|
| Is a real person teaching me live? | Recorded or automated lessons cannot respond to you | “Your tutor will be on a video call with you.” |
| Who is my tutor and what is their background? | Teaching skill varies | A name, a qualification and a kind of experience |
| Will I get feedback on my own mistakes? | Practice without correction repeats errors | “We write down your errors and return to them.” |
| Is the feedback personal? | Generic comments rarely change habits | Examples from what you said in the lesson |
| Do I know the full cost and the rules? | Surprises damage trust | Prices, payment and cancellation in writing |
| Can I start small? | You may find the tutor is not right for you | A first lesson before a large commitment |
If a provider cannot answer a row, treat that as useful information.
Related guides
Questions answered in this guide
Are lessons with a person?
Yes. Ucraya lessons are taught live by human tutors on a video call, either one to one or in a small group.
Should I know my level?
It helps, but you do not need to be sure. A short assessment or the placement quiz gives a rough level, and a tutor can confirm it in your first lesson.
Is a free trial available?
For group courses you can join one live class free of charge to see how we teach. For one-to-one lessons, tell us your goal and we will suggest a tutor and a first lesson.