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Once you've decided to get serious about speaking Yorùbá, the next question is how: one-to-one with a tutor, or in a group? Both work. They just work differently, and one will probably suit you better than the other.
Group class vs private tutor: side by side
| Detail | Small group class | Private tutor |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per hour | Lower, because the teacher's time is shared | Higher. On Preply, Yorùbá tutors average about $9 an hour |
| Your speaking time | Shared. In a group of three, up to about 20 minutes each per hour | Most of the hour can be yours, if the tutor focuses on conversation |
| Pace and content | Set for the group's level | Tailored entirely to you |
| Scheduling | Fixed weekly slot | Usually flexible, booked around you |
| Accountability | High: others expect you every week | Depends on you and the tutor |
| Practising with peers | Yes: you hear others make the same mistakes and keep going | No |
| Real-conversation feel | Several voices, accents and topics | One voice, one style |
| Confidence in front of people | Built in | Not practised |
| Quality depends on | The guide and the group's level match | The individual tutor |
The case for a private tutor
A good tutor is hard to beat for personal attention. Every minute is about you: your mistakes, your goals, your pace. A tutor makes most sense if:
- you're a complete beginner and need structured teaching of sounds, tones and basics;
- you have a specific deadline, like a speech at a wedding or a meeting with in-laws;
- your schedule is unpredictable and you can't commit to a fixed weekly slot;
- you want reading and writing taught alongside speaking.
The trade-offs are cost and isolation. Paying for every hour of a teacher's time adds up, and it's easy to cancel when nobody else is expecting you. You also only ever practise with one person, who is used to your accent and adjusts to you, which isn't how real conversations with relatives work.
The case for a small group class
A small group gives you something a tutor can't: other people at your level. That matters more than it sounds.
- Fear shrinks faster. When someone in your group stumbles over the same word you do and keeps going, your own fear shrinks. One-to-one, it's easy to feel every mistake is being watched.
- You hear more. You learn from the other learners' questions and corrections too, not just your own.
- It's closer to real life. Family conversations have several people talking, interrupting and changing topic. A group prepares you for that; a one-to-one lesson doesn't.
- You keep showing up. Knowing people expect you each week is a powerful motivator.
- It costs less per hour, so you can keep going for longer on the same budget, and consistency is what builds fluency.
The key is group size. In a group of fifteen, each learner gets at most four minutes to talk in an hour. In a group of three, it's up to twenty. Big classes are where group learning gets its bad reputation.
Which is right for you?
| Your situation | Better fit |
|---|---|
| You understand Yorùbá but freeze or switch to English when speaking | Small group |
| You're nervous about speaking and want to build confidence | Small group |
| You want to keep going for months on a steady budget | Small group |
| You need someone to expect you each week | Small group |
| You're a complete beginner who needs the basics taught | Private tutor |
| You have a deadline, like a speech or an introduction ceremony | Private tutor |
| Your schedule changes every week | Private tutor |
| You want reading and writing taught too | Private tutor or a structured course |
Can you do both?
Yes, and some learners do. A common mix is a weekly small-group conversation for regular speaking practice and confidence, plus a few private sessions when you have a specific goal coming up. If budget only allows one, choose based on your biggest gap: if it's knowledge, pick a tutor; if it's speaking confidence, pick a small group.
How to get the most from either
- Make speaking the point. Ask your tutor or guide to spend most of the time in conversation, not explanations.
- Bring real situations. Practise the conversations you actually want to have: with your mother, your in-laws, your child's grandparents.
- Ask for gentle, in-the-flow correction, so mistakes get fixed without killing the conversation.
- Keep a list of words you needed and use them in the next session.
- Commit to a fixed rhythm. Weekly beats occasional, whichever format you choose.
Where Soro fits
Soro is a small-group speaking programme, built for adults who already understand Yorùbá. Every group has three people at your level and a friendly, fluent Atọ́nísọ̀nà (guide), meeting live for one hour every week. It's designed to give you the benefits of a group, like peers, accountability and real-conversation practice, without losing your speaking time to a crowd.
If you'd like more privacy, the Tọ́kọ Tàyà plan puts you and your partner in a private group of two.
Questions people ask
Is it better to learn Yorùbá with a tutor or in a group?
It depends on your gap. Tutors suit complete beginners and specific deadlines. Small groups suit people who understand Yorùbá and need regular speaking practice and confidence.
How much does a private Yorùbá tutor cost?
On Preply, Yorùbá tutors charge about $9 an hour on average, with rates from $3 to $30 (October 2026). Read our full cost comparison.
Do you speak less in a group class?
In a large class, yes. In a small group of three, you can speak for up to about 20 minutes of an hour, plus you learn from the others' conversation and corrections.
Are group classes good for shy people?
Small ones often are. Hearing others at your level make mistakes and carry on makes it easier to do the same. Large classes can feel more intimidating.
Does Soro offer one-to-one classes?
Soro's classes are in groups of three. Couples can have a private group of two on the Tọ́kọ Tàyà plan.
Ready to start speaking?
One live class with two others at your level, led by an Atọ́nísọ̀nà.