How to be a good Tuition Teacher?

Tuition teachers are special people. They need not be intellectually bright but they must know what it feels like not to understand.   They must be creative, able to explain a concept by using stories, drawings, analogies, or metaphors. Tuition teachers must be affirming people, humble and patient.

Are you an “A” Student in Singapore?  

It is not necessary to be an “A” student to be a good tuition teacher in Singapore. But it is necessary to like people. It is also necessary to listen. Tutoring is not so much an act of sharing information, as it is a process of empowering. The focus is primarily on helping people learn how to learn. Sometimes this means teaching them to take smaller bites of information, and sometimes it means reformatting content so that it is more meaningful to the person learning it. But whatever strategy is required; the goal is always get your student to understand something.  

At Stanford Tuition Singapore, we are always looking for excellent tuition teachers. The best tuition teachers ask questions that create understanding, help learners develop study skills useful in any course, and present material in novel and interesting ways. If you have these skills, if you love learning and would like to help others learn, we need you.

Characteristics of a Good Tuition Teacher

Know your syllabus:  

Make sure that you know your stuff. Spend some time at the bookshop reading up what you are going to teach before the first lesson.

Positive outlook:  

Reliability:  

Enthusiasm:  

Openness:
Willingness to accept other points of view.

Initiative:  

Disposition:  

Patience, gentleness, understanding and fairness. Empathy:  
Ability to feel what another person is feeling.

How to be a good Tutor?

Being a Good Tutor, you become a person who likes to assist the Student in Learning. You teach your student how to do the work. You should not do the work for that student.

Just a saying: Give a man a fish and it lasts a meal. Teach a man how to fish and it lasts for life.

Master the ways to tutor effectively.

In order to become an effective tutor, you need to set priorities and develop a scheme of work plans for each particular student.

You need to know the subject syllabus and follow the scheme of work plans. You need to learn good tutoring techniques. Understand the student expectation and yours. Mutually agreed on the rules set with the student and follow accordingly.
Do not be afraid to say that you don't know the answer to a question. Offer to help the student find the answer in the next lesson. During the tuition period, listen closely to the student and observe that you understand the question/ assignment before you help the student. Praise the student at each opportunity arises. Giving good feedback to the student. It does motivate the student. Refer to: "88 ways to praise a child"

For example: Wow. Fantastic. I knew you could do it. Hip, Hip Hooray. Outstanding Performance. You’re Superb.

Knowing your student well.

Each student have a certain learning habit and style. Some students learn best in the early morning at 5am and other in the afternoon 5pm. Of-coarse, some like the night period. You also need to understand the differences between you and the student. Student in Secondary Normal Technical (e.g.: Sec-4NT) and those in the Integrated Program (i.e.: IP) are far difference. Those in IP, you may not match with them. Don't be afraid to tell their parents. The student needs to find another tutor. It is important to know that a tutor does not have to diagnose learning disabilities. If you suspect that a student has a learning disability, refer the student to their parents. Tell them to seek help from the medical doctor.

Know the Basis Responsibility.

“First Impression Count”. Remember that students and their parents will judge you by your appearance. Be smartly dressed!

Show your highest qualification to the parents during your first lesson. This is to avoid them from making the wrong judgment.

Always be prepared for every lesson & keep up with the latest school syllabus.
Most parents & students like the worked out model answer & work-sheet prepared by the Tutor.

If you foresee that you are going to be more than 10 minutes late for a lesson then it courteous to let the student or parent know in advance. Keep the phone numbers of both parents & student accessible in a booklet or mobile phone.

Parents expect regular progress reports. Make a point of spending a few minutes each week to discuss the child’s progress with the parent.

If you are going through a topic with the student, and you see that the lesson time is complete, spend a few minutes to finish what you are doing. Don’t finish the lesson abruptly in mid-topic!

Keeping attendance records of the tutoring session with in and out time including the student sign off in each lesson.