English as a second language

Adult English Learner Intake Form

This adult English learner intake form gets to know a new ESL student before the first lesson: their native language, where they live, their English level, their work, their main goal and when they can meet.

10 questions2 steps

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Try the form

This is the real form, the way a learner will see it. Fill it in and click through: nothing you type is sent or saved.

What's included

10 questions in 2 steps. Every one can be edited, removed or reordered.

1About you5 questions

Full name requiredShort answer
Email requiredEmail
Native language requiredShort answer
Country you live inShort answer
Time zone requiredShort answer

2Your English and lessons5 questions

Current English level requiredBeginner, Elementary, Intermediate, Upper intermediate, AdvancedPick one
Job or fieldShort answer
Main goal requiredWork, Travel, Exams, Daily life, Moving abroadPick one
Lesson formatIn person, OnlinePick one
When can you have lessons? requiredWeekday mornings, Weekday afternoons, Weekday evenings, Weekend mornings, Weekend afternoonsPick any

Who it's for and when to use it

Use it with every new adult who wants to improve their English, online or in person. An ESL tutor who teaches a software developer in Brazil, a nurse in Texas and a student preparing to move to Canada needs very different first lessons, and this form tells you which one is coming.

It's written for adults: no parent questions, and plain language that intermediate learners can follow. Time zone is a short answer, because adult learners can be anywhere in the world, and the availability question reminds them to answer in their own time zone.

The goal question, work, travel, exams, daily life or moving abroad, decides the direction of your lessons. Follow up with the English level self-assessment for a rough level in each skill, or the business English needs analysis for professionals.

How to use it in 3 steps

Pick the template
Click Use this template, or choose “Adult English learner intake” under New form in Bear Forms. All the questions are already there.
Make it yours
Every question is ready to use as it is. Change, add or remove any of them to fit how you work.
Share the link
Publish, then send the link by email or text, put it in your Instagram bio or Google Business Profile, or paste two lines of code to show it on your website.

Tips for better responses

Keep your reply simple. Write your first reply in short, clear sentences. It's a lesson in itself, and it shows lower-level learners they can work with you.
Confirm times in both time zones. Write the lesson time in the learner's time zone and yours, like "9am in São Paulo, 8am in New York".
Use their job in lesson one. The job or field question gives you a topic the learner cares about. Build the first conversation around it.
Don't over-trust the level. Adults often rate themselves lower than they are, or higher. Check in the first ten minutes.

Make it your own

Teaching professionals? Add the questions from the business English needs analysis.
New arrivals? The newcomer everyday English needs form focuses on everyday situations like the doctor and the bank.
Group classes? Use the conversation club sign-up for speaking groups.

Guide: How to Onboard New Tutoring Students

Frequently asked questions

What should an ESL intake form ask adult learners?

It should ask for the learner's native language, where they live and their time zone, their current English level, their job or field, their main goal and when they can have lessons. This template asks those 10 questions in two steps, with no parent questions.

Why is time zone a short answer instead of a list?

Because adult English learners can live anywhere in the world. A short answer with examples, like Eastern Time or Central European Time, works for every learner.

Which English levels can learners choose?

Beginner, elementary, intermediate, upper intermediate and advanced. They're everyday words rather than an official scale, so learners can answer without knowing any test system.

Can low-level learners fill in the form?

Most can. The questions are short and many are multiple choice. For true beginners, consider translating the question labels into the learners' language, or filling it in together on a first call.

Can I edit the questions after I start using it?

Yes. Every question can be changed, removed or reordered at any time, and you can add new ones. When you publish the changes, the same link shows the updated form, so you never have to send families a new link.

Will the form stop spam?

Yes. Bear Forms filters out spam quietly in the background, so real families never have to solve a puzzle or click on pictures of traffic lights before they can send the form.

How much does Bear Forms cost?

Bear Forms costs $4 a month on the Solo plan, or $32 a year. Solo covers up to 30 forms and 1,000 responses a month. Pro is $15 a month or $144 a year for unlimited forms and responses. There's no free plan, but every first payment comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

See all 38 templates for tutors →

Start with the adult english learner intake template

Know every new adult learner's level, goal and schedule before the first lesson.