📘 CHAPTER 1 OF 10 — OFFICIAL TEACHING MANUAL

About the 60-Minute Free Trial Lesson

Why does our platform begin every new student relationship with a 60-minute Free Trial Lesson? Discover the psychology of Risk Reversal, the exact 60-minute time allocation blueprint, and the 5-step process from nomination to your first paid lesson.

1. Why the First 60 Minutes Are Unpaid: The Power of Risk Reversal

In Japan, adult learners and parents searching for a 1-on-1 English tutor face a major psychological barrier: "Will this tutor be patient with my level? Can we communicate comfortably? Will the teaching style suit my goals?"

By offering the first 60 minutes as a Free Trial Lesson (where no lesson fee or transportation fee is charged, and each person simply pays for their own café drink), we remove 100% of the student's upfront risk. For you as a tutor, this 60-minute session is your single greatest investment:

a student who feels welcomed, understood, and inspired during the trial lesson frequently continues taking weekly paid lessons (¥3,000/60m or ¥4,500/90m) for 6 months to 3+ years!

1. Mutual Compatibility Check

Meet in a bright public café (or on Zoom) to build rapport, align expectations, and confirm schedule and station convenience.

2. Diagnostic & Goal Discovery

Identify the student's exact current speaking/listening level and their concrete target (EIKEN / TOEIC / IELTS, travel, career, or hobby).

3. First-Day Micro-Breakthrough

Deliver an enjoyable 20-minute mini-lesson so the student leaves saying, "I actually spoke English today—I want to learn with this teacher!"

2. The Golden 60-Minute Trial Lesson Blueprint (10-15-20-10-5 Formula)

Never treat the trial lesson as a casual chat with no structure, and never jump straight into a heavy grammar lecture without warming up. Follow this proven 60-minute time allocation:

Time Block	Phase & Objective	Concrete Actions & Tutor Script
00–10 min (10 mins)	Phase 1: Warm Greeting, Drink Order & Icebreaker	Arrive 5–10 minutes early. Greet the student with a warm smile, order your own drink separately, and relax their nerves with friendly small talk.
10–25 min (15 mins)	Phase 2: Needs Analysis & Level Diagnosis	Ask why they want to learn English, what struggles they had in the past, and gently gauge their vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening comfort.
25–45 min (20 mins)	Phase 3: Interactive Mini-Lesson ("Aha!" Moment)	Teach 3 to 5 practical phrases or one clear pronunciation/grammar point using a sample sheet or notebook. Write down notes for them to take home!
45–55 min (10 mins)	Phase 4: Personalized Curriculum & Textbook Proposal	Explain how you will structure future lessons, recommend a textbook (see Recommended Textbooks), and confirm our fixed lesson fee rules.
55–60 min (5 mins)	Phase 5: Explaining the Enrollment Flow (Zero Pressure)	Let the student know that our office will email them to guide their enrollment, and once confirmed, you will schedule Lesson #2 together.

3. Five Mandatory Rules for Every Free Trial Lesson

1. Reply & Contact Within 24 Hours

As soon as our office sends you the student's contact information, send your initial greeting email within 24 hours offering 3 date/time options.

2. ¥0 Lesson Fee & ¥0 Travel Fee

The 60-minute trial lesson is completely unpaid. Never request a lesson fee or transportation fee during the trial lesson.

3. Separate Café Drink Bills

At the café counter, pay for your own beverage yourself. Do not ask or allow the student to pay for your drink or food.

4. Wait for Office Enrollment Confirmation Before Lesson #2

Never schedule or conduct a second lesson until you receive the official Enrollment Confirmation Email from our office. Do not pressure the student on the spot.

← Back to Tutor Portal Home Next (Ch.2): How to Succeed in Trial Lessons →

📘 OFFICIAL 10-CHAPTER TEACHING MANUAL & CURRICULUM SYSTEM

Complete Tutor Playbook: From Trial Lesson to Long-Term Retention

Designed around the Strategy of Preeminence (putting the student's breakthrough first) and Zero-Friction Risk Reversal. Read Chapters 1 to 7 for lesson operations and Guides 1 to 3 for textbook and study-hour planning.