Choosing a good tuition teacher for home tuition

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[Article adapted from http://www.Schtutors.com ]
This topic has been addressed by many others before, but I thought I give my point of view. For many Singaporeans, tuition has become an almost standard way of growing up. Like many of my peers, my younger days were filled with trips to the many tuition centers which my mum has rigorously signed me up for, as well as attending home tuition with different tuition teachers. Looking back, the ones which I found beneficial to my study were usually the ones who are trained teachers.

Un-trained teachers were just imparting knowledge

For the un-trained tutors, many of them were actually trying their best to teach, but they lack the know-how to teach a child to score in the examinations. The teachers know exactly what words to use, and how I could score in my examinations, while those full-time tutors who I had were just imparting knowledge.

Finding a trained teacher is hard

There are many tuition agencies which promise to be able to find MOE current or ex-school teachers but it is unclear how many of them could actually deliver this promise. The main issue is the supply of teachers. Although there are about 39,900 teachers as stipulated in the MOE Establishment List*, few teachers could actually spare the time to teach tuition due to heavy school commitment. Of those who could spare the time for home tuition or group tuition, the number of tuitions that they wish to take is on average 1-2 tuitions per week. Also due to their busy schedule, MOE teachers do not have time to register their particulars with generic tuition agencies, and very often feel that it is against their privacy to list their particulars to be shared with the open internet.

How to find a MOE teacher

The best way is by word of mouth. If you have a neighbour or friend who has hired a current or ex-school teacher as a tutor, then enquire from them if the tutor is free to accept your child. Otherwise, the next best option would be to seek out tuition agencies which specialize in MOE tutors to search for you.
As of today, Schtutors Tuition Agency is the only tuition agency in Singapore that recommends only MOE current and ex-school teachers for home tuition. If you would like Schtutors to find a MOE teacher for you, go to Schtutors Home Page to submit your request.
Choosing a good tuition teacher for home tuition

Home Tuition or Group Tuition : Which one is better?

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[Article adapted from http://www.Schtutors.com ]

I have been asked this question by many parents since Schtutors was founded in 2008, but till today there is no clear answer to this. Choosing between a home tuition or group tuition by MOE teacher largely depends on your child’s needs, and proximity to the final examinations.

Definition of Group Tuition

To avoid any confusion, let me try to define what a group tuition is. A group tuition is held in the tutor’s private home and it consists of usually a few students.
Now, let me try to list out the advantages of each type of tuition:

Advantages of Home Tuition

  1. Student is able to receive personalized attention by the tutor; thereby allowing the tutor to better pin-point the mistakes and advise the child on how to score for the examinations
  2. Student is able to ask a lot more questions and better customize the tuition to the student’s needs as compared to group tuition
  3. Generally better for graduating students (P6, Sec 4/5 or JC2) with only a few months left to the final examinations

Advantages of Group Tuition

  1. Student is able to learn from others’ mistakes and better appreciate the content
  2. Less stressful as compared to home tuition. For students who are unable to learn under high stress level, the stress level can sometimes impede learning
  3. Generally better for students who enjoy learning from others, and more prone to stress.

Ease of Getting Home Tuition versus Group Tuition

In terms of the ease of recommending your child tuition, it is actually harder for Schtutors to help your child to secure a space in a group tuition as compared to home tuition. The reason is because it is quite opportunistic since the child has to travel to the tutor’s place only on limited set of available time slots offered by the tutor. In contrast for home tuition, Schtutors has more teachers to choose from who can better suit your needs and timing.

Summary

In view of the above reasons, if your child is in need of urgent help perhaps in the graduating years, then I would generally recommend home tuition. However, if your child is willing to travel to the tutor’s place and likes to learn in the company of others, I would highly suggest group tuition.
Thanks and I hope the above is helpful,

How to hire the tutors

To hire a MOE teacher for home tuition, go to Schtutors home page and submit the ‘Hire a MOE Home tutor’ form.
To apply for a Group Tuition by MOE teachers, go to Group Tuition to search for one which suit your needs and apply.
Home Tuition or Group Tuition : Which one is better?

Home Tuition: How to get the most out of it.

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[Article adapted from http://www.Schtutors.com ]

Home tuition is something that has become integral in the lives of students today. Both the academically inclined and weaker students will at some point find they need additional help and coaching in their school work to better their performance. Every student’s needs are unique. Similarly, his or her pace of learning. We at SchTutors aim to match the student with the tutor so as to help develop the best in the child. Pupils are encouraged to be conscientious and prepare well before each tuition class in order for them to get the most out of the session. Here are some tips that we can offer:

Before Class

It is important that the student collates all schoolwork that he or she has difficulties with. Additionally, any work assigned by the tutor should be completed before the start of the class. These practices should be consistent throughout the year rather than loading the tutor with questions nearer the examination date. Paying for additional classes as a solution would also be unnecessary. Studies have shown that revising work within 24 hours after it has been taught will help you recall better. By going through the new lesson once over each day instead of cramming at the end of the year is a much more effective and efficient way of learning.

During Class

At the start of the class present all problems with schoolwork, which should have been collated before the class, to the tutor. Never be afraid to ask questions, as that is the best way to learn. There is no such thing as a stupid question. It is better to make mistakes during class than during your examinations. Students must pay full attention to what the tutor is teaching and keep all electronic gadgets shut throughout the lesson. Lastly, never finish class with any doubts. It is advisable to make sure that all problems are explained before the lesson ends and not leave it till the next lesson. It is most likely that the question will be forgotten by the next lesson.

After Class

Work assigned by the tutor should be completed as soon as possible. The work is meant to help the pupil revise and to grasp the concepts well. View the work with the right attitude and treat tuition work seriously. Tuition is meant to supplement school work where lacking.
These are some ways that can help you get the most out of home tuition, but ultimately, the individual has to have the right attitude towards learning. The student should not only depend on the tutor, without putting in any effort. Work has to be done in order for results to be seen. We hope that this advice will be able to help you get the most out of home tuition after we have successfully matched a tutor for you.
Home Tuition: How to get the most out of it.

Home Tuition: Things to Look Out for in a Home Tutor.

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[Article adapted from: http://www.Schtutors.com ]
When looking for a tutor for your child, it is important for the tutor to be the right fit for your child. However, how do we go about determining if the tutor is the right fit? Here are some key points to look out for to ensure that the tutor is the one for your child.

Check for rapport (may take 3-4 lessons though)

That saying, in order to build rapport with your child, it will take a certain amount of time, and it might not be possible to achieve that from just 1 lesson and this relationship has to be built up over a course of 3-4 classes. Your child and tutor are also taking time to warm up to each other and some may take longer than others. Take some time to observe your child and the tutor before determining if that tutor is appropriate for your child.

Any communication barrier

Secondly, is your child having communication barriers with the tutor and does your child feel comfortable asking questions or when speaking to the tutor? If your child feels uncomfortable in any way with the tutor, it would be a good sign that the tutor may not be the best fit. Check with your child after each class or observe the dynamics between your child and the tutor during class. Also, ensure that the tutor is able to answer your child’s doubts effectively and comprehensively. When your child finds it difficult to understand the tutor, does the tutor makes more effort to help your child? A good tutor will try their best to allow your child to understand in the best way possible.

Attitude of the tutor

Lastly, look out for the attitude of the tutor. Is the tutor giving your child the undivided attention that they deserve? Are they genuinely interested in helping your child clarify their doubts? Look out for signs of an uninterested tutor (E.g Checking mobile phones, watches frequently), as this will affect the quality of a tuition session and sometimes even the interest of the child.
These are some points you can look out for in a home tutor. A good tutor not only teaches well, but is also one that is able to build rapport with your child. It might take some time, but it will definitely be beneficial to your child in the long run.
Home Tuition: Things to Look Out for in a Home Tutor.

Welcome to the Schtutors Blog

Schtutors BloggerLeave a comment

Hi there,

Thank you for visiting Schtutors blog.

As this is our first post, I would like to share with you the objective of this blog. This blog is started to provide you with some useful tips and articles about education in general. These posts should be of help to your children in their studies.

Also, we will also hope to share some thinking pieces about education, and its continual relevance in today’s society.

Till next time.

Welcome to the Schtutors Blog