All About Finding & Evaluating Tutors

[TheAnswer]

Hi timtim,


I replied your pm.

[yiguangchen]

Maybe you could read to your child, or with your child. Pick up an article in the newspaper or magazine that contains issues that a child might be able to understand at least superficially, such as a piece of reporting on train breakdowns, or an article on the benefits of a particular food. Do it in small blocks of say, 30 minutes at the start. Read for a couple of minutes, then break up the monotony by stopping to discuss the text. Why did this happen? What do you think are the consequences? Do you agree with what the writer is saying? Why did the writer use this word, and not another? What is the other way you can spell this word? Where else have you seen this word? Can this particular idea be better expressed with a different sentence construction? Is that comma there really necessary?


Reading with your child can be fun, and it is a positive example for children of an age where imitating is a big part of learning.

cheers..:)

[YellowFile]

yiguangchen:

Perhaps as a priority, you should get your child to first learn to speak grammatically, and worry about the enunciation later (opinions might differ on this). A tutor with strong verbal ability in this would be helpful.


Cheers

Well said Many Singaporean students have trouble with basic grammar but they don't recognize the need to learn that well before embarking on an ambitious endeavor like doing creative writing.

What happens then is that you'll have written pieces of compositions sprinkled with grammatical errors and awkwardly placed descriptive phrases, which are obviously memorized from a list given in school.

Being an English tutor myself, this is what I'd do if I were to look for an English tutor for my child:

1. TESOL or MOE trained. A good writer may not necessarily know how to teach English. A person needs to be trained to know the parts of speech of the language and be able to explain why words or phrases are used wrongly, especially if the student doesn't grow up in an English speaking environment. Unlike those whose first language is English, students whose first language is not English really struggle to understand English grammar rules. They need someone who can explain WHY something is right or wrong, not just point out what is right or wrong. Huge difference there!

2. Familiarity with examination syllabus. Knowing what the examination encompasses enables the tutor to plan ahead and decide what to do during lessons throughout the year, so that each lesson is not just an individual one, but one that fits neatly into the entire scheme. In this way, you can be sure that your child goes through a comprehensive training with the tutor and is sufficiently prepared for his or her exam.

3. X-factor or the personal touch. Like it or not, students learn from teachers they like (lol). They are more willing to attend lessons and more open to learn if they respect the teacher. Most tutors are personable people but this is something I'd still look out for.

4. Experience. Teachers with experience can forewarn their students of possible pitfalls, which can potentially save your child many marks or even make a huge difference to his or her learning. Very valuable indeed!

Feel free to pm me if you have questions about English as a subject or about finding a good tutor for your child.

Hope that helps!
Ms Peh
http://englishtutorsingapore.org

[vinegar]

YellowFile:

yiguangchen:

Perhaps as a priority, you should get your child to first learn to speak grammatically, and worry about the enunciation later (opinions might differ on this). A tutor with strong verbal ability in this would be helpful.


Cheers

Well said Many Singaporean students have trouble with basic grammar but they don't recognize the need to learn that well before embarking on an ambitious endeavor like doing creative writing.

What happens then is that you'll have written pieces of compositions sprinkled with grammatical errors and awkwardly placed descriptive phrases, which are obviously memorized from a list given in school.

Being an English tutor myself, this is what I'd do if I were to look for an English tutor for my child:

1. TESOL or MOE trained. A good writer may not necessarily know how to teach English. A person needs to be trained to know the parts of speech of the language and be able to explain why words or phrases are used wrongly, especially if the student doesn't grow up in an English speaking environment. Unlike those whose first language is English, students whose first language is not English really struggle to understand English grammar rules. They need someone who can explain WHY something is right or wrong, not just point out what is right or wrong. Huge difference there!

2. Familiarity with examination syllabus. Knowing what the examination encompasses enables the tutor to plan ahead and decide what to do during lessons throughout the year, so that each lesson is not just an individual one, but one that fits neatly into the entire scheme. In this way, you can be sure that your child goes through a comprehensive training with the tutor and is sufficiently prepared for his or her exam.

3. X-factor or the personal touch. Like it or not, students learn from teachers they like (lol). They are more willing to attend lessons and more open to learn if they respect the teacher. Most tutors are personable people but this is something I'd still look out for.

4. Experience. Teachers with experience can forewarn their students of possible pitfalls, which can potentially save your child many marks or even make a huge difference to his or her learning. Very valuable indeed!

Feel free to pm me if you have questions about English as a subject or about finding a good tutor for your child.

Hope that helps!
Ms Peh
http://englishtutorsingapore.org

Does tutor's age matter?

[AdonciaTang]

janet_lee88:

Hi AdonciaTang,


A TEACHER with passion, inspires students and stimulates interest...that is a tough job for those who teach for as a job.

Honestly, if some of the admin work and non-core stuff like CCA activities are lessened, I believe our poor teachers will have more stamina.
MOE should ban moonlighting.

Yes. I agree with you.

[janet88]

Good tutors are VERY hard to find. Word of mouth is most reliable…or else people will not dare to recommend.

[Steadyberry]

Hi AiHong


I also prefer word-of-mouth. Unfortunately, after my 1st experience with a 1-to-1 tutor, I do not think I would dare to send my dc to private tutor anymore. 2 yrs ago, a parent intro her ds’s tutors to me. The tutors (husband & wife) were ex-moe teachers. The 1st yr was ok. But the beginning of 2nd yr, the hb cut my ds’s hair until very short n ugly. I got a shock & the hb even said "I help u save money". My ds told me he didn’t teach that day n spent the whole hr cutting hair. He said he refused but the tutor chased after him. His rate is $20/hr n sending my ds to my usual stylist is only $5-$7. Where got save? I paid for the lesson n he didn’t even give me replacement. Another day, my ds has food poisoning n sch called me to pick him up. The nx day he has not recovered n I SMS them. The wife said no replacement.

[Steadyberry]

Another incident, my ds came back with many mistakes in his work. When asked he, told me this is a completely new topic to him so he guess most of the answers. He also told me his tutor always start the lesson late. Then he will tell my ds which page to do. The tutor will eat his breakfast n read newspaper for very long. Then just bef I came to pick him up, the tutor will mark his work. When I picked my ds up, the tutor was only pretending to be teaching but in fact he spent almost the whole hr doing his own thing. Finally I asked my ds again. He told me the tutor is very fierce and he beat him before. So my ds won't dare to tell me anything unless I asked. I felt so guilty and stupid :stupid:


Actually there were more, but I won't continue. Finally aft so many unpleasant things happened, I quit. I lost my deposit, few lessons bec the tutors asked for fees 1 mth in adv and few more replacement lessons.

Few mths ago, my fren told me her ds's tutor has ran away. Same thing, her tutor collects money in advance n deposit too. She came for a few lessons but always late. Once she didn't turn up. Finally can't reach her. She was a teacher in a kindy. When my fren went to the kindy, she has resigned.

Pls be aware of tutors who collect deposits n fees in adv. Now my ds is in a private gr tuition. No deposits n we pay fees after 1 mth of lessons. If ds can't make it or sick, the tutor will deduct fees.

[CamiTLX]

Hi!


I suppose word-of-mouth gives a better understanding of the tutor, than from any other sources. Through w-o-m, I got 2 students from my previous students' parents. Guess w-o-m gives better assurance to parents.

However, I dont believe maturity is dependent on age. The situation and background varies for different people, so people mature at different stages of their lives.

And Steadyberry...I'm sorry for that awful experience. Yet I dont understand why you would agree to pay in advance for the tuition and allow tuition at the tutor's place. In my personal experience when I was a kid, my parents only give payment at the end of 4 lessons, or per lesson. Now that I am tutoring, I accept my fees at the end of each session and provide the parents with feedback of the session. It works for both the parents and me.

Thanks for all your feedback!

[Steadyberry]

Hi camitlx


It was my first time seeking for tutor. Since my friend told me how gd the tutor was, I just went ahead. I tot it was a norm to pay fees first. I know there are still many dedicate tutors around. Just want to inform newbies like me who r looking for tutors to be aware.