A parent-teacher meeting does not need complicated English.
The goal is simple:
understand how your child is doing, ask about strengths or concerns, and leave knowing what to work on next.
Родительская встреча с учителем не требует сложного английского.
Главное — понять,
как учится ваш ребёнок, что получается хорошо, есть ли трудности и над чем стоит поработать дальше.
A simple structure works almost anywhere:
Progress → Participation → Concerns → Next Steps.
“How is my child doing?”
Start with the overall picture and let the teacher explain.
“What should we work on?”
Finish with a clear next step you can practise at home.
10 useful parent-teacher meeting questions
| English | Russian meaning / Русский |
|---|---|
| How is my child doing? | Как дела у моего ребёнка? |
| How are they doing in class? | Как он / она занимается на уроках? |
| Are they participating in class? | Он / она активно участвует на уроках? |
| Is homework being completed? | Домашнее задание выполняется? |
| What are their strengths? | Какие у него / неё сильные стороны? |
| Is there anything we should work on? | Есть ли что-то, над чем нам стоит поработать? |
| Do you have any concerns? | Есть ли у вас какие-либо опасения? |
| What can we practise at home? | Что мы можем практиковать дома? |
| How can I help? | Как я могу помочь? |
| What should we focus on next? | На чём нам стоит сосредоточиться дальше? |
A realistic parent-teacher conversation
Fictional practice dialogue / Практика диалога
Parent: “How is my daughter doing in class?”
Родитель: «Как моя дочь занимается на уроках?»
Teacher: “She’s doing well. She participates and asks good questions.”
Parent: “That’s good to hear. Is there anything we should work on at home?”
Teacher: “Reading would be helpful. Fifteen minutes every day can make a difference.”
Parent: “What should we focus on when we read together?”
Teacher: “Ask her to explain the main idea and tell you what happened in her own words.”
Parent: “Perfect. Thank you.”
The useful pattern is:
ask about progress → listen → ask for examples → agree on the next step.
The four-part meeting
1. Progress
“How is my child doing?”
Start with the overall picture before asking about details.
2. Participation
“Are they participating in class?”
Ask about confidence, questions, classroom involvement and learning habits.
3. Concerns
“Do you have any concerns?”
Give the teacher space to explain anything that may need attention.
4. Next steps
“What can we practise at home?”
Leave with one or two specific things you can actually do after the meeting.
Problem → Need → Request
Problem:
I do not know how my child is doing at school.
Need:
I need clear feedback from the teacher.
Request:
“How is my child doing, and is there anything we should work on at home?”
Проблема: Я не знаю, как мой ребёнок учится в школе.
Нужно: Мне нужна понятная обратная связь от учителя.
Вопрос: «Как дела у моего ребёнка и есть ли что-то, над чем нам стоит поработать дома?»
Before the meeting
- Prepare two or three questions you really want answered.
- Know which subject or situation you want to discuss.
- Bring a notebook or use your phone for notes.
- Ask for examples if feedback is unclear.
- Ask the teacher to repeat something if necessary.
- Finish by confirming the next step.
If you do not understand
“Sorry, could you say that again?”
“Could you say that a little more slowly?”
“What does that mean?”
“Could you give me an example?”
“So you recommend practising reading at home?”
You do not need to pretend you understood.
Asking for clarification is useful communication.
Useful school vocabulary
| English | Russian / Русский |
|---|---|
| progress | прогресс, успехи |
| participate | участвовать |
| homework | домашнее задание |
| behaviour | поведение |
| strength | сильная сторона |
| challenge | трудность |
| support | поддержка |
| improve | улучшать |
| focus | сосредоточиться |
| next step | следующий шаг |
Your four-round speaking mission
-
Progress:
“How is my child doing?” -
Participation:
“Are they participating in class?” -
Support:
“What can we practise at home?” -
Next step:
“What should we focus on next?”
Practise all four questions aloud.
Then try them again without reading.
Surprise round:
The teacher says something you do not understand.
Answer:
“Could you give me an example?”
A few useful answers
What if everything is going well?
Ask:
“What are their strengths?”
What if the teacher mentions a problem?
Ask:
“Can you give me an example?”
Then:
“What can we do at home?”
What if the teacher speaks too quickly?
Say:
“Could you say that again slowly?”
How should I finish?
Confirm the plan:
“Okay. We’ll practise that at home. Thank you for your help.”
