When I first began tutoring, I found it rather daunting because I had to teach while still learning how to do so. I’m by no means a seasoned tutor, and I’m still very much learning, but I’ve definitely become much more comfortable with teaching. Here are a few things I’ve learned in my short time as a tutor, which might be helpful for new tutors who are looking for some advice!
1.Be flexible and ready to adapt
It didn’t take long for me to realize that tutoring is a job that keeps you on your toes and requires you to be creative. There’s no such thing as “one size fits all” when it comes to education. Good tutors should be able to identify what kind of student they have and adapt their teaching style to fit the student’s needs. You’ll constantly be discovering areas your student’s needs to strengthen, especially in the beginning stages of him/her, and you have to be ready to find a way to address those areas of improvement in the best way possible. Maybe you’ll have to prepare worksheets or put together a learning exercise. Or you might have to consider the bigger picture and decide whether this is something that needs immediate attention, or something that can be set aside for now.
2.Be confident
It may be easier said than done, but have confidence in yourself, even if you’re new to the job and have little teaching experience.
At first, I thought I was being humble and truthful about my inexperience when I kept thinking that being a rookie tutor meant I might not be able to teach my students well. It took a lot of pep talks from friends and family for me to understand that being an inexperienced teacher doesn’t necessarily mean being a bad teacher. One of my favorite quotes about humility is from C.S. Lewis: “True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.” As long as you have your student’s best interests as your number one priority and do your very best, you’re on the right track!
Your student’s parents chose you to tutor their child because they trust in your abilities, so you should believe in yourself too! Understand that you don’t have to know everything about being a tutor to be confident; have confidence not only in your ability to teach but also to learn how to teach!
3.Be professional, but also be a friend
Being professional includes:
- Being on time, whether it’s for an online session or an in person lesson. I commute to my students’ homes, so I make sure to take traffic into account and aim to be at least 10-5 minutes early.
- Being dressed appropriately. How you dress can make a big impression on your student and/or their parents. You don’t need to be dressed formally, but what you wear should be neat and clean.
- Keeping student information confidential. This is part of maintaining the trust of your student and/or their parents.
- Being well prepared for lessons. I always remind my students that they should do their homework, and that I’ll be sure to do mine. After each lesson, I usually have an idea of what material will be needed for the next lesson, whether it's worksheets on a specific topic, a learning activity, or a book we’ll be reading together. I make sure to familiarize myself with any new material I have prepared before each lesson, and that I’m ready to answer any questions my student might have.
Although staying professional is important, it doesn’t mean you can’t be a good friend to your student! Forming a healthy, friendly relationship with your student will help you gain their trust, meaning they’ll be more comfortable asking you for help. Here are two things I do to maintain a friendly relationship with my students:
- I like to be early by 10-15 minutes and chat with them. I ask them about their day, and tell them about mine. Sometimes I might tell them a joke or a fun fact I think they might like. I’ve found that chatting with my students not only allows me to get to know their personalities better, but it also allows me, as an English tutor, to catch any grammar mistakes they repeatedly make.
- I teach by sharing my own experiences. Prepositions? Yes, those confused me too once upon a time. Struggling with memorizing all the grammar/spelling rules? Let me tell you about how much I struggled with memorizing Latin verb conjunctions. Sharing your experiences can give your student reassurance when they are struggling; it lets them know they’re not alone, and that it’s all a natural part of the learning process!
4.Be open to feedback
Every now and then, I check in with my students on how they feel about the learning material. Has it been helping? Is it too easy or too difficult? How has the pace of the lessons been? Is there anything they still feel unsure about and would like more practice in? I take their feedback into consideration and see if any adjustments need to be made on my part. Since much of tutoring is about personalizing a way of learning for your student, it’s important that your lesson plans are effective!
5.Communicate with parents
Not all parents will be familiar with the subject you are teaching, so it can be hard for them to monitor their child’s progress. My students’ parents are not native English speakers, so it’s up to me, the tutor, to keep them updated on their children’s progress.
I also make sure to clearly communicate my own expectations. For example, if I’ve assigned homework, I ask the parents to remind their child to complete said homework or help their child put together a daily schedule or timetable to follow. This is especially necessary in my case since I tutor younger children. After each lesson, if possible, I spend a few extra minutes to tell them about what their child learned today and let them know if there’s been progress or if more effort needs to be put in. Tutors and parents should work together to help the student improve!
6.Use online resources
Don’t hesitate to use any online resources you can find! There are plenty of free websites you can go to for both tutoring advice and learning activities.
Conclusion
Tutoring can be a big responsibility, but it can also be fun and rewarding. Good luck!
