Award-Winning TOEFL Tutors
serving Manhattan, NY
TOEFL
Tutors in Manhattan
Private 1-on-1 tutoring, weekly live classes for academic support, test prep & enrichment, practice tests and diagnostics, and more to elevate grades and test scores.
Based on 3.4M Learner Ratings
UniversitiesSchools & Universities
DeliveredHours Delivered
ProficiencyGrowth in Proficiency
Who needs tutoring?
No obligation. Takes ~1 minute.
I am an English language coach with 30 years of experience teaching ESL/EFL in schools, universities, and private settings. Since May 2022, I have tutored for Varsity Tutors, consistently earning high ratings. I hold a BA in English (Film and Communication) from McGill University and a diploma in Community Services from Centennial College. I help students improve English for academic, business, and social purposes, including exam prep and college essays. My diverse interests, multicultural background, and positive approach make lessons engaging and adaptable to individual learning styles.
Karin McKie, MFA, compiles curriculum and personalizes teaching for a broad spectrum of students. I know there is no better, nor more crucial, calling than helping learners communicate their voices and realize their educational dreams. I specialize in tutoring all standardized tests, including the LSAT, SAT, PSAT, ACT, GRE, HSPT, ISEE, Accuplacer, STAAR, TOEFL/IELTS, ASVAB, all AP/IB English and history classes, and more. I also created and published a simple reading annotation system and related strategies specifically to tackle timed tests, as well as teaching critical reading, comparative literature, public speaking, and theater. As a professional writer and editor, I coach students in persuasive writing for schoolwork, college application and supplemental essays, internship and job applications, and the like. For decades, I've taught and lectured at universities, schools, and with individuals in Chicagoland and the Bay Area, and to online students of all ages around the world. I customize study plans with learners and their advocates to utilize existing abilities and add new techniques to reach personal and scholastic goals. I have a BS in Communications and Theater, and an MFA in Creative Writing. I have completed Continuing Education courses at Stanford, Northwestern and DePaul Universities. I'm a professional features writer and culture critic. I've edited Perspective design journal and Reed literary magazine and have performed memoir essays I've written on Chicago Public Radio. I come from a family of teachers and was fortunate to grow up at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, where my anthropologist mom was Education Director. Since early childhood, I've been immersed in multicultural and ELL education. I've devoted my personal and professional time to diversity and storytelling, starting at public TV station WETA in my hometown outside Washington, D.C., where I was certified as a trainer with Sesame Street's Preschool Education Project. I've also taught creativity and teambuilding through improvisation to all ages (as well as creating a kids summer camp), reading for the SAG Foundations BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) program, plus reading and writing skills to at-risk students through the Park District's Kraft Great Kids Program. I've assisted many of my arts marketing clients, including Barrel of Monkeys and Kidworks Touring Theatre, with youth literacy programs at schools and libraries throughout the Windy City.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Score improvement depends on your starting level and study intensity, but students typically see meaningful gains within 4-8 weeks of consistent personalized instruction. Many students improve by 10-20 points on the TOEFL iBT (which ranges from 0-120), though some see larger jumps when addressing specific weak areas like speaking or writing. Your tutor will assess your current level during the first session and create a targeted plan to help you reach your goal score.
Your first session focuses on understanding your current proficiency level, learning style, and specific goals. Your tutor will likely administer a diagnostic assessment or review your recent practice test scores, identify which sections (reading, listening, writing, or speaking) need the most work, and discuss your target score and timeline. From there, they'll outline a personalized study plan tailored to your needs.
The speaking section is often the hardest for non-native English speakers because it requires real-time response with limited preparation time. Many students also struggle with the listening section's academic content and fast pace, the reading section's dense passages and time pressure, and the integrated writing task that combines reading, listening, and writing skills. Personalized instruction helps you tackle these specific challenges through targeted practice and feedback rather than generic test prep.
Group test prep courses follow a set curriculum for everyone, while personalized tutoring adapts to your unique strengths, weaknesses, and learning pace. A tutor can spend extra time on your weakest section, use materials aligned to your interests, provide immediate feedback on your speaking and writing, and adjust strategy based on what's actually working for you. This targeted approach typically leads to faster improvement than one-size-fits-all prep.
Most students need 4-12 weeks of focused preparation, depending on their starting English level and target score. Students aiming for 90+ typically need more time than those targeting 80+. With personalized tutoring, you can often compress this timeline by focusing intensively on your specific weak areas rather than reviewing material you've already mastered. Your tutor can give you a more precise estimate after your first session.
Yes—the speaking section benefits tremendously from personalized instruction because you need real-time feedback and practice with a responsive listener. A tutor can simulate test conditions, record your responses, point out pronunciation or grammar issues, and help you organize your thoughts more clearly. Many students improve their speaking score by 3-5 points (on the 0-30 scale) with consistent practice and feedback from an expert tutor.
Look for tutors with strong English proficiency, experience teaching TOEFL or standardized English tests, and ideally a background in linguistics or ESL instruction. They should be familiar with the current TOEFL iBT format, understand common mistakes non-native speakers make, and have a track record of helping students reach their target scores. Varsity Tutors connects you with expert tutors who meet these standards and can provide personalized instruction tailored to your needs.
Varsity Tutors connects Manhattan students with expert TOEFL tutors who provide personalized 1-on-1 instruction. You can get matched with a tutor who fits your schedule, learning style, and specific goals—whether you're preparing for university admission, professional certification, or immigration purposes. Simply reach out to discuss your needs, and we'll help you connect with the right tutor.
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