School Teachers Working as Tutors

[jamestancx997]

Hi pixiedust,


That is considerably less important than one might think for Language components at the PSLE level. It would be extremely relevant for topics such as GP, or other humanities subjects where the focus undergoes a sea-change from time to time, e.g. History, Social Studies, etc.

The exam requirements for languages, however, take considerably longer to change in a significant way, because language itself takes very long to evolve. If someone is good at English, he or she will score well, regardless of whether the exam is taken in 1990, 2000 or 2010. The minor alterations to the marking scheme are completely negligible, even for GP. If you knew of someone who took the exam in 2001 and won an Angus Ross prize, do you suppose that if today he or she were to write another GP essay, it would not be of a similarly high standard?

This "time-sensitive" component is very much overrated, especially when weighed against the reality that firstly, MOE teachers are generally harassed and overworked, and thus unlikely to prove the best tutors one could find for the money; and secondly, that in many cases, the MOE system is the cause of the problem in the first place.

I was very lucky. I came under the tutelage of perhaps the single best GP tutor in the whole of Singapore. My other schoolmates in JC were not so lucky. Whenever I compared my notes to theirs, I would feel a strong pang of sympathy, that was how bad some of that "official" teaching material could get.

[Chenonceau]

I beg to differ on 2 points.


(1) Compos are marked according to some very rigid criteria that one must know. Not all good writing consistent with the slow changing rules of the language will score well. Many parents are handicapped in not knowing these rigid marking criteria.

(2) Whilst language takes time to evolve, exam boards can ratchet up expectations very quickly. It is still the same language, but fast changing expectations.

Having 2 kids go through the system, I can't help but note that PSLE standards are as dynamic as the Dow Jones, with the difference that the Dow Jones often drops but the PSLE standards don't.

But I do agree that MOE teachers dunno how to teach writing. I am not an MOE teacher but I am able to teach writing. I just need to know the marking criteria and that is not difficult to find if you keep bugging the school. My son's English Teacher write sentences like \"I hope XXXXX fairs better next time.\"

[ridcully]

pixiedust:

I speak for myself : because I expect a MOE-trained aka NIE-graduate teacher, to have knowledge of CURRENT PSLE syllabus and marking guidelines. Period. This, to me, is especially important for LANGUAGE componets eg. EL and CL compos.

I agree.


Also, I consider the ability of a teacher/tutor to relate to and motivate children to be of utmost importance.

Assuming a core knowledge, it is not terribly important that a teacher/tutor has a first class honours degree; I would prefer HUMILITY and PASSION.

Rgds
R

[ridcully]

jamestancx997:

If you knew of someone who took the exam in 2001 and won an Angus Ross prize, do you suppose that if today he or she were to write another GP essay, it would not be of a similarly high standard?

If the person does not practise, then I would expect his/her standard to deteriorate.

[ridcully]

jamestancx997:

I will now share my very frank answer to all that, because this is something people really need to know. I have a 1st Class Honours degree. I also have a track record of pulling up students' failing grades to As in record time. So I have the knowledge, and I have the teaching ability.

Self-promotion. Be especially careful as there are people contributing to this forum who have higher qualifications and do not self-promote.


:celebrate:

[smurf]

Hi Chenonceau,


‘fairs’ is wrong meh?

[Chenonceau]

Yeah lor… "fairs" is salah…

[pixiedust]

ridcully:

Assuming a core knowledge, it is not terribly important that a teacher/tutor has a first class honours degree; I would prefer HUMILITY and PASSION.

Agree on above. Unfortunately, it is not easy to find people with humility and passion, let alone a tutor. I see many who just want to make a fast buck out of this 'tution nation' phenomenon. For parents who have limited content knowledge, best bet would be to pay a NIE-trained tutor - the assumption is that at the minimum the content knowledge and marking guidelines are relevant.

Chenonceau, I've met one who wrote 'Dear Dairy'....ya, no kidding !

[jamestancx997]

I will just let the considerable number of past students I've taken, some of whom had gone through a string of unsuccessful MOE/NIE-trained tutors before encountering me, enjoy the fact that I do not boast -- I state.


Sure, of course some will have higher qualifications than myself. That's hardly the point, as you correctly note, ridcully. The true winning combination is the academic knowledge, as indicated partly by the qualifications, and the actual teaching ability.

Let me reiterate: based on my observation over the years, an MOE/NIE background confers no particular advantage on the tutor. It does not serve as an indicator of skill and tutoring ability.

Another ancillary point: a fair number of tutors out there who are competent, i.e. the kind who will not say \"fairs\" when they mean \"fares\", know the so-called marking scheme as well as the teachers themselves.

I have never been afraid of being misunderstood as being arrogant. I know where I stand, I know what I am capable of, and I know that I have helped many students and parents who remain grateful. I know that I am able to continue doing this, and this gives me my sense of self-belief and my driving passion to take what I do, and develop it to the next level.

Self-promotion? Of course. I want my services to benefit as many people as possible. I have been transparent about this from my very first post: I have nothing to hide. I've opened my centre, and I am confident of bringing the very best out of every student I have.

[ridcully]

jamestancx997:

I will just let the considerable number of past students I've taken, some of whom had gone through a string of unsuccessful MOE/NIE-trained tutors before encountering me, enjoy the fact that I do not boast -- I state.

Always enjoy your postings, jamestancx997!


My favourite is:
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=22647

jamestancx997:

I basically am a firefighter, have been for the last 8 years. Parents always used to get me to come in and have me be a statue of Buddha for their kids to hug my feet.

That's quite a powerful 'statement'. Frankly, I am in awe.

Rgds
R