Content:
- Why do we need a tutor?
- Types of tutors
- How to find a tutor?
- What factors are to be considered in the process of choosing?
- What type of education to choose?
- Personal experience
The process of choosing a tutor for either preparation for exams or personal lessons is multitasked. There are many recommendations how to choose a tutor and all of them are correct. Whet to start with? Whom to ask? Today, UpSkillsTutor want to share its experience to help everyone to find a tutor.
Why do we need a tutor?
In order to understand why you need a tutor, you or your children need to use the right approach while searching. First, you need to determine the purpose of the search. Take a pen and a piece of paper and write “Find a tutor ...” and continue the phrase. Whether you need it to pass the TOEFL, to pass the math exam, to understand chemistry and to be able to explain it to your child. Believe me, if you just say this “in your head” there will be no correct and effective result.
The most common reasons to choose a tutor:
1. Preparation for school
Modern education requires parents to make genius from their children. The schools began to accept children based on the rating system. Often children must pass tests for admission. There is a selection committee for schools. Therefore, you need to carefully approach the issue of finding a specialist for a preschooler. Usually they are inexpensive and ready to conduct lessons at home. He can even replace the caregiver and work with the child for half a day or a whole day.
2. The child lags behind the school curriculum
The reasons are numerous. In this case, it will be enough to find a novice teacher. UpSkillsTutor offers a variety of such teachers. They are always inexpensive.
3. Special preparation for entering the gymnasium or lyceum is required
This reason requires more effort and responsibility. After all, more than just learning the school program will be demanded from the tutor. Read reviews, consult with parents who have already passed this. Finding a teacher in this case will take more time, but this should not be taken carelessly.
4. Personal desire
When you or your child independently decided that it is time to tighten certain knowledge, the learning process will be the most effective in this case. The results will be better with the help of an individual tutor.
TYPES OF TUTORS
There are several types of tutors. As soon as you familiarize with all of them, you will have more questions about choosing the right one. You may experience difficulties with the choice of the right person. There are 6 archetypes of tutors and 7 professional types.
Archetypes of tutors:
1. Actor
They can be very active and present information in an exciting way. In case emotionality, brightness and optimism are important for the student, this type of tutor will be a source of inspiration.
2. Fighter
This type is associated with resolution and cautious. It will help gain the necessary knowledge and overcome doubt and fear.
3. Aesthete
He is the ideal person to teach literature, music, and art. After all, this type is slow, but harmonious.
4. Leader
This type of tutor is “universal”. He is charismatic, able to find an approach to anyone. He is also able to persuade. Versatility helps learn new knowledge, but also reveal his charisma.
5. Logician
He is restrained and principled. If you have a goal to systematize knowledge, this type of tutor can be the best option.
6. Pedant
They can be easily recognized by appearance. They are meticulous formalists, attentive to the details. If you are interested in deep learning, choose this type of tutor!
It does not mean that the tutor-student is less qualified. Due to youth and low flexibility, the cost per hour of their work is a lower. Most often, students teach in their areas of expertise. The most popular are: Englishlanguage, mathematics, physics, chemistry, geography, biology, preparation for exams. He does not require a lot of money and he is energetic.
He has a desire to improve the knowledge of the student, but his skills as well. However, he doesn’t have enough experience for anyone who would like to study at a low cost. He has limited training time and may have problems with quick preparation. It is suitable for schoolchildren / preschoolers / first-year students / those who need to improve the basic knowledge of the subject.
How to define a good tutor? After all, a completed file with countless merit and long experience does not mean it is true. Since the work of these tutors is quite expensive, the requirements for them are higher. Do not be afraid to ask him for feedback from previous students or even their phone number or mail.
Read the reviews and look for them on the forums to enlarge your scope about this tutor. Ask about his merits and techniques he uses. This information will help you define whether he offers a reasonable price and make the right choice.
Tutor “Star”
Do you need someone to help you become a professional in the field? You definitely need to contact such a tutor. Their only disadvantage is higher payment per hour. Most often, they have popularity among students. You just have to ask about the recommendations of your friends / acquaintances or consult UpSkillsTutor. Usually they have a million reviews on the pages and their own teaching methods.
They often do not have free time for new students. They need to be recorded in a few weeks, sometimes in a few months to start learning. Such teachers often become real mentors. They educate those who glorify them for a long time. Sometimes they have their own books, publications in the media, different portals or speeches on television.
HOW TO FIND A TUTOR?
Everything starts with the question: “where to find a tutor?”. Let us remind you about the importance of setting goals. Prepare the list with aims and show it to the tutor. Good tutor will ask you to tell about your learning goals.
Where to look for a tutor? Word of mouth works better in this case. After all, people tend to talk about good things, especially if they found it good. Gratitude to excellent teachers is manifested in advising him to everyone. However, the adviser does not always come across at the right moment. Sometimes it's enough to go to school. School teachers can recommend their candidacy. Teachers and parents can become good sources and recommendatory, however, one should not neglect social networks VKontakte and facebook.
Sources are different and the level of trust in them is also unequal. It is useful to get information from the experienced people. Look at reviews of tutors.
An excellent source is parents. Do not be afraid to approach unfamiliar mothers and ask for advice. Most of them are willing to help you.
If to speak about publications in VKontakte and facebook. This is a good option, when there is no time to conduct researches. Find profile groups and publics, which are numerous. Write a post with the details of who you are looking for. Do not forget to specify the city / district / time and classes. Make the post interesting.
You will have a very big chance of multiple repost publications. Do not forget to put hashtags, especially those who are looking for a tutor. So the tutors themselves will find it easier to find your message. This method is effective. But sometimes you can get caught on a swindler. After all, it is difficult to verify whether a person is an expert, especially if it is not registered on specialized sites for individual teachers.
Do not forget about your own mind. Pay attention to details. You will talk to him by phone or personally. Listen to what he says.
THINGS TO PAY ATTENTION IN THE PROCESS OF SELECTION?
1. Level of knowledge in a particular area of expertise.
If you decided to choose a tutor for your child, it is very important to know in which area of expertise he works. If you choose a tutor in math, learn the level of preparation: school, preschool. In the process of preparing for tests, learn his experience of work with applicants. English tutor should be selected based on these riles as well. Attend the first class yourself, read the reviews and recommendations.
Look for them on specialized sites, forums and ask former students. It is suspicious if the tutor has only positive feedbacks, as it is normal that we do not like someone.
Attention! Do not refuse from the candidacy of a tutor who has 1-2 negative reviews.
2. Materials
Ask the tutor to show all the training materials. Even if it is an individually designed program, you have the right to request it. When the tutor refuses to do this, you are free to stop the dialogue.
3. Place for lessons conduct
It affects your time and influences the cost of training. If training takes place at the teacher’s, the cost will be lower, while the tutor comes to your place, the price is usually higher. If you come to his office, the price is also higher, since the teacher pays rent. However, separate class contributes to better memorization of information. Lessons at home are usually distracting. There is also the option of distance learning via Skype.
4. Price per lesson
Tutors, whose prices are good, write it in the questionnaire or in the process of private discussions.
5. Half a tutor
When looking for a tutor for a child, maximum attention is required. Ask the child whom he wants t see, man or a woman. Sometimes children close at the sight of an adult man and are afraid to make a mistake. Such a fear leads to poor learning and results in fearful memorization. Sometimes they are afraid of adult women.
6. Teaching experience
Determine your goals: whether you are looking for a student or a “star”. Feel free to ask for certificates and diplomas from teachers. You should know what you will pay for.
7. Appearance
You (or your child) should be comfortable with this person. Do not be afraid of your thoughts that you do not like a person’s appearance. Otherwise there will be no result!
WHAT WAY OF TEACHING TO CHOOSE?
Online lessons, individual lessons or group lessons. Which way is the most appropriate for you or your child? Everything depends on your individual case. Online classes are video tutorials. Now there are a lot of them available online. This option is suitable for those who want to diversify their free time or to learn additional information from experts.
Lessons online (Skype) are suitable for those who do not have a scattered attention. It is easy to be distracted by something more interesting. The biggest advantage is time save. Individual lessons are suitable for everyone, because total immersion of the tutor and the student in the classroom cannot fail to produce results. Individual lesson is an individual approach, time and flexibility.
Group classes are best suited for those who are going to learn a foreign language. It will give the opportunity to communicate in a group, improve their skills. Group classes are also good for students to feel competition and prepare for the lessons better.
It is necessary to remember that effective learning is based on three principles:
- theory,
- practice,
- individual learning.
Therefore, it is recommended to use several ways of learning for faster mastering: online lessons, individual and group lessons. Online lessons will help know the details and news from the area; lessons with a tutor will help master the theory, while group lessons will help to practice. It will help in any sphere: math or English.
POSSIBLE PROBLEMS AND THEIR SOLUTIONS
As soon as you have chosen a tutor, it is necessary to discuss the details with him. Sometimes, there are problems with price, time, methods and approaches to learning. However, you like this tutor and want to keep on your cooperation. What to do in this case?
Offer several options. Remember that human nature is complicated and the person may not choose the only one solution. Offer several possible options. If you want to reduce the price, you may offer the following:
- I will take lessons with you, however for lower price, but I am obliged to attend lessons for a year.
- If you lower the price, I can recommend you to other pupils.
- In case you lower the price I am ready to attend classes at any convenient time.
In this case you believe that this offer is mutually beneficial for you both. You have to keep your promise, but if the tutor does not agree to accept your offer, it is still alright. Everyone has the right for personal opinion. Ask him to offer his conditions. Probably, he will find it profitable to conduct lessons for the same price but with two pupils. You will share the price between two of you and preserve good relationships with the tutor.
Finally, when you discuss the terms of cooperation with the tutor, do not be afraid to talk about everything. You may offer reduce the price for two, however, he may not agree and offer some small reduction of price. In any conversations with the tutor, try to walk in his shoes.
