All About Finding & Evaluating Tutors

[AceTutors123]

Generically, my prof who is a parent of P2 and P4 kids, mentions "Class Size" and "Quality of Teacher", besides the given criteria of "Location", as her top 3 considerations

[Minstral]

If possible, try to speak to the centre in-charge, or instructor / tutor. Voice your concerns and see what they tell you. Different kids have different learning curves and weaknesses like you mentioned, sometimes heeding general feedback is not enough.


I always try to speak to someone relevant in the centre before enrolling my kid. If that centre makes all kinds of excuses to avoid that (no time etc…), I’ll just drop them. Tuition is expensive and serious business so they don’t deserve my money if they can’t even spare time to discuss their policies and capabilities with me.

Recently I came upon an English enrichment programme by Young Wordsmith. I spoke with the instructor, who seems really passionate about English, and said that as part of the programme, they will do a face-to-face assessment with my kids to identify their weaknesses before classes. I think that is really helpful, as even smart kids have weaknesses and can be improved if those weaknesses are rectified.

[helenLim2011]

Dear Parents,


If you have any issue with choosing the 'right' tutor for your child, please make known your concerns using this thread.
It is my hope that by posting your concerns here, you will be enlightened by the many responses that follow.
Wishing you best of wishes to come.

[sunnymumsy]

hmm I agree with the above. tutors are very impt, but you must also be aware of what you are searching for. ‘tuition’ and ‘enrichment’ are different things. i send my girls to this place in the Tanglin area. the teachers are very good and they even make themselves contactable on whatsapp if I have any questions. haha.

[swampthing]

Check on class sizes. Some tuition centers just stuff students in class to rake in $$. What’s the point if there’s > 20 students in class?

[weatherbee]

Class size and tutors. Frankly speaking, I will want to go to a tuition centre whereby the owners are my children’s tutors. If not, I rather get private tutors. I have heard of cases whereby the tutors in tuition centres quit, etc and they just anyhow stuff another tutor to teach the class.

[Kellystarry]

I enrolled my girl into tuition centre with good recommendations from forum and I meet up with the teacher in charge to have a look before signing up.

[SarChar]

happyheart:

Hi,

Any kiasu parent has recommendation for Male Maths tutor for upper primary? I am looking for someone who is experienced and can deal with different personalities. Thanks but no thanks to tuition agent, please do not reply to my post here.

Hi, just curious why you are asking a Male tutor? Most of us will prefer a female tutor. What different personalities do you mean?

There is a male tutor near Hougang Mall. He teaches Math to my friend's hyper active boy in pri3. My friend is quite happy with her son's results. But its 1 to 1 tuition. Apparently this same tutor has another student with anger management in sec2. But this sec2 boy is in group tuition.

[Jessisme12]

Agree. Class size is very important. If there are too many students like 10 or more in 1 particular class, it defeats the purpose of having tuition. the teacher would be very distracted trying to get everyone to listen. (if the class is noisy) I am also looking out for tuition centre to send my two girls.

[jacktutor]

tan9:

Finding the right tutor is abt chemistry.


I once thot that I found the best tutor, ex-school teacher with a passion for math........wot a mis-match. I wouldn't go to her even if she tutors for free....

I prefer tutor who will take time to understand a child's weakness and tailor the program for each .... possible to get that in yr matching service?

Hi, would you like to share why it was such a mismatch?

Coincidentally, I have just put up a blog post on this issue at http://www.fulltimetutor.wordpress.com