As soon as we are faced with low grades at school or homework, we are in a hurry to hire a private tutor or English tutor for our child.
Will private lessons benefit? How can an English tutor help? And how to find a good English tutor so that time and money are not wasted?
Today we will tell you what tutors in English hide and what each parent needs to know when choosing private tutors.
English tutor: who is this?
Translated from English “a tutor is a person who explains, repeats the information as many times as necessary and checks how well it is learned.
Accordingly, an English tutor is a teacher, teacher, tutor who clarifies and works on the vocabulary and grammatical structures of the English language (and everything else that you need to know) with your child until he is convinced (through tests) that the student can apply and applies the acquired knowledge in practice.
In the understanding of the majority, an English tutor should not only ensure planned progress in language and study but also shift some of the parental obligations onto his shoulders. But what about reality?
If the tutor is engaged only in the school curriculum or textbook, usually all attention is paid to explaining material that was not learned in the lesson, and valuable time is spent on completing the school homework.
Estimates in this case, of course, will be higher, but will there be knowledge? And how to track progress if the tutor gives only his material outside the school curriculum? So, ideally, a good tutor is a wise mentor and companion for his student, classes with which should lead to successful mastery of English.
Why do I need an English tutor?
Tutoring in English has recently acquired enormous proportions and has long been a profitable business.
To the question “Do I need a tutor?” those interested in making a profit will definitely answer yes. And how do parents themselves look at the question of tutoring?
According to statistics, a private teacher is hired in the following cases:
According to statistics, a private teacher is hired in the following cases:
- “Pull up” a child in English and fill in knowledge gaps (50%)
- Prepare for the exam and other exams (30%)
- Develop abilities and desire to learn English (10%)
- Release parents from the need to do homework with the child (10%)
As you can see, the majority of parents are seriously worried about school success, and only a few believe that an English tutor is necessary with increased curiosity and good abilities of the child.
A Good Tutor in English for a Student: How to choose?
Finding a good English tutor is no easy task. Be sure to attend the first meeting with the teacher, observe him and the child, and after class ask the child what he thinks about the lesson.
Some naively believe that when a mother is an English teacher, the child should be fluent in English. In fact, this does not always work, since not all children perceive their mother as a teacher.
It is better if your child is educated by a specialist. But how not to make a mistake in choosing a mentor?
Different Goals – Different Tutors
If the main task facing a private teacher is preparing for exams and entering a university, take the choice of a teacher very seriously and not at the last moment.
Even the most powerful professional is powerless to put material into the applicant’s head for a week, the development of which takes years. Not every tutor knows about the structure and requirements of various exams.
To help with homework and work on knowledge gaps in high school, students of the last courses of language universities are also suitable. Beginning teachers are less numb in methodological approaches and it is easier for them to find an approach to adolescents.
In short, depending on the purpose of learning English, choose a tutor who can be most helpful in achieving the result.
How to Choose a Good Tutor?
“Finding” a good English tutor is not so easy. Usually, an appointment with professionals for the next academic year begins in May, and in September the entire time of the tutor is scheduled for the year ahead.
Therefore, if you did not adhere in advance, and rushed to look for a teacher only in October, be extremely careful in your choice.
The main points that you should pay attention to when choosing a tutor:
Education: a potential tutor must have a philological or pedagogical education; very well if he has any more certificates confirming his level;
Teaching Experience: the tutor should have a teaching experience of at least 2 years, but ideally 5-10 years;
Positive Feedback: when choosing a tutor, you need to make a choice based on recommendations and reviews, and not buy a “pig in a poke”;
Professionalism: In the first lesson, the tutor should conduct trial testing and plan further individual work with your child;
Personal Qualities of a Teacher: responsibility and punctuality play an important role in choosing a tutor; in case of dishonesty there is a risk that the teacher will “skip classes” without a good reason;
Contact: it is imperative that personal contact is established between the teacher and the student, in which the child is interested in the subject, which ultimately will give the desired result; the tutor should listen to the wishes of the parents and the child.
