Preparing for University: Why High School Students Need Individualized English Support
One thing I’ve learned from teaching high school students is that no two of them need the same thing from English lessons. A Grade 12 student preparing for the Common Test has completely different priorities than a Grade 10 student keeping up with school—and trying to teach them the same way wastes everyone’s time.
At Starfish English in Fujieda, I use an individualized coaching format because high school English is genuinely personal: different textbooks, different target universities, different timelines. This post explains how that works and what students can realistically expect.
Every High School Student Has a Different English Problem
High school is where English learning goals diverge. Some students need to score well on university entrance exams—the Common Test, private university papers, or specific target schools. Others are thinking about study abroad or careers where they’ll actually need to communicate in English. Most fall somewhere in between, and the balance shifts as they move from Grade 10 to Grade 12.
This is also where school English starts to fall short for many students. Classroom instruction covers the curriculum but rarely adapts to where each student actually struggles. And cram school lectures have the same limitation—twenty students sitting through identical material means most of them are working on the wrong thing at any given moment.
What Actually Happens in My Classroom
I keep classes small—six students maximum—and each student works on their own material. That might be a school textbook, university past exam papers, or essay practice, depending on where they are and what they need.
I circulate, check understanding, answer questions, and explain concepts in English. This is an important difference: students aren’t just studying English content, they’re processing explanations and asking questions in English, which builds comprehension that goes deeper than memorizing test-taking patterns. For Grades 10 and 11, this often means working through textbook material with individualized support on vocabulary, grammar, and reading comprehension. For Grade 12, the focus shifts to past exam practice, Common Test preparation, and building the reading speed needed for timed sections.
The format works because students at different levels can be in the same room without holding each other back. Each person gets support matched to their actual situation, not a curriculum designed for a hypothetical average.
Two Tracks, Depending on the Goal
I offer two approaches on the high school course, depending on what the student needs.
Track A (Exam Prep & School Support) is where many students start. The focus is university entrance exam preparation, reading stamina for the Common Test, essay structure, and maintaining school grades. This track uses whatever textbook or exam materials the student brings.
Track B (Career & Conversation) suits students thinking beyond exams—study abroad preparation, discussion practice, and building the ability to respond in English without a script. This is for students whose goals extend past graduation day.
Within either track, the curriculum is built around the student’s specific situation. There’s no single textbook everyone follows.
What I Can and Can’t Do
I want to be straightforward about this. After 35+ years teaching in Japan, I’ve seen that individualized coaching can help students build reading speed, improve essay writing, and develop stronger comprehension of English at a conceptual level. Students who attend consistently tend to see their confidence with English material grow over time, and that usually shows up in school grades too.
What I don’t do is guarantee specific test scores or university admission—nobody honestly can. I also don’t offer intensive crash courses for Eiken, TOEFL, or TOEIC within the high school class, because that takes time away from other students. Those exams deserve their own dedicated preparation.
Starting the Conversation
If you’re a parent wondering whether your child needs exam-focused support or broader English skills—or if you’re a high school student trying to make the best use of limited study time—a trial lesson is the right place to start.
During the free 30-minute trial, I assess where the student is, discuss goals, and recommend which track makes sense. Evening and weekend slots are available to work around busy club schedules.