English tutoring for school and exams
Help with reading, writing and the English papers ahead. One-on-one tuition with a tutor chosen for your child, and an Education Consultant who plans the programme and keeps your family informed.
From a good idea to a clear answer
Your child may enjoy reading and have plenty to say, yet find it difficult to put an answer on paper. An essay comes back with a request for more detail, or a comprehension answer misses what the question was asking. For another child, reading itself needs attention. We start by finding out which part of English is getting in the way.
An assessment and recent schoolwork help us plan the lessons. That might mean strengthening reading and spelling, learning to organise an essay, or developing a more thoughtful response to a poem. We work with children who need to catch up and students who want to take good work further.
English support through the school years
Lessons follow your child’s stage and school course, with time to revisit a foundation when it needs attention.
Primary school
Reading with understanding, spelling and putting ideas into sentences. We help younger learners explain what they have read and develop their own writing, using work suited to their stage.
Grade 7 to 9
Longer texts and more demanding questions call for closer reading. Lessons can cover comprehension, summaries, grammar and paragraph writing, alongside the novels, plays and poetry being studied at school.
Grade 10 to matric
Focused work on language, literature and writing, with practice for the papers ahead. We use the student’s prescribed texts and relevant exam material, looking at how they explain an interpretation and support it with evidence.
Reading closely and writing clearly
In comprehension, we work on reading the question carefully, finding relevant evidence and explaining what a writer means. In literature, a student needs to go beyond retelling the story. We discuss characters, themes and language, then practise turning those observations into a supported answer.
Writing lessons give your child time to plan, draft and revise. An essay needs a clear direction; a letter, speech or other transactional task needs to suit its reader and purpose. We work on structure and expression as well as grammar, spelling and punctuation.
As exams approach, we bring those skills together in timed practice. Your child works on choosing relevant points, developing an answer and leaving time to check it.
The right focus for your child’s course
Tell us the course your child takes when you enquire. Home Language and First Additional Language have different demands, and international courses have their own texts and assessments.
CAPS and IEB
English Home Language and First Additional Language support, planned around the student’s schoolwork and papers. We also tutor Further Studies English for students taking the additional IEB course.
Cambridge English
Support for IGCSE First Language English and Literature in English, and AS and A Level English Language and Literature in English. Share the syllabus and set texts so we can discuss a suitable tutor.
IB English
For the International Baccalaureate, tell us whether your child takes English A: Literature, English A: Language and Literature, or another English course, and at which level. We use those details to discuss the support they need.
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Our approach
Assess
First, we assess the student to identify gaps in the fundamentals (what content don’t they know?) and common error types (how are they losing marks?).
Match
Then, we select a mentor from our team of English tutors. It is crucial for a student to ‘like’ their tutor and look forward to the lessons.
Teach
The trained tutor comes to the house for high-impact one-on-one lessons where they actually teach the ideas and concepts.
Practise
We set structured homework for the student to do in between lessons. When it comes to learning, practice is key.
Engage
We use projects, experiments, and practical demonstrations to excite the student and pique their interest.
Test
The student writes regular mock tests so that they can practise their skills under exam conditions, and we can monitor their progress and increase their confidence.
Refine technique
A student needs to familiarise themselves with the technical requirements of the memorandum in order to excel. We teach test-taking techniques.
Supervise
We supervise, guide and support the programme to ensure a great result.
A tutor to work with, a team to turn to
Our English tutors achieved distinctions in the subject at school, have studied a relevant field at university, and passed our English intake exam and tutor training with distinction.
Our English tutors know the work and how to teach it; our students frequently improve their marks by 20%.
Your Education Consultant selects and supervises the tutor, reviews progress and keeps in touch with your family. You have someone to discuss the programme with as your child’s needs change.
We offer English tuition at home in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Pretoria, and live online lessons. Tell us your area and preferred arrangement so we can discuss what will suit your child.
Questions parents ask about English tuition
My child reads well but loses marks in comprehension. Can you help?
Yes. Reading fluently and answering a comprehension question are different skills. We look at whether your child understands the question, notices an implied meaning and gives enough evidence in the answer. Recent marked work helps us see what to practise.
Can lessons help with essays and creative writing?
Yes. We work through planning, paragraph structure and expressing ideas clearly, with feedback on your child’s own writing. Lessons can also cover transactional writing, such as letters and speeches. The aim is for your child to make and explain their own choices as a writer.
Do you tutor English Home Language and First Additional Language?
Yes. Tell us which one your child takes and whether their school follows CAPS or the IEB. We plan for the appropriate language level, prescribed literature and assessment requirements.
Can you help with a particular set book or poetry collection?
Share the titles, your child’s grade and their course when you enquire. We use that information when choosing a tutor and planning the work. Lessons can explore meaning and interpretation, how to use quotations, and how to build a response to the question.
Do you help younger children with reading and spelling?
Yes. We begin with the work your child is doing at school and assess where they need support. Lessons can focus on understanding what they read, building vocabulary, spelling and writing clear sentences. Tell us their grade and what their teacher has noticed.
Can English lessons take place online?
Yes. Online lessons are live and one-on-one, with a tutor working through reading and written tasks with your child. Your Education Consultant oversees the programme and follows their progress, just as with tuition at home.
What does tuition cost, and how do we start?
Our fee structure explains the assessment and tuition fees. Start with an enquiry, giving your child’s grade, course and what prompted you to look for help. You can also read how we operate for more about assessment and programme planning.
What our families say
While we were skeptical about investing so much money in a parallel academic programme over and above the fees we pay, Genius has proven to be the best investment we have ever made for our child.
Genius provided a total package that can be summed up in one word, exceptional. … the quality of Genius’s tutors are unrivalled and monetary value cannot be placed on the instrumental part the tuitio…
The Genius team are thorough and spend time fully assessing your requirements before putting a study plan into place. This pre-planning definitely assists in making the Genius programme bespoke and e…
Ready to bring out the best in your child?
Speak to our team about a personalised one-on-one tuition programme - in Johannesburg, Cape Town, or online.