A year in Vancouver!

Whatever you want to teach, be brief…

My plan for trying something new every weekend has had to out on hold this weekend due to the arrival of a migraine on Friday which has meant I have spent nearly all weekend asleep. Why do these things always happen at the weekend? It didn’t stop me getting an amazing view of the storm that was brewing late Saturday afternoon and bubbling all through the night. The thunder and lightning were impressive- even by Texas standards, causing the ground the shake. (At least I don’t think it was me shaking). And as the sun started to set the sky was a flaming orange, very dramatic with the mountains in the background! Perched on the window sill feeling safe and secure is definitely the place to watch them from.

I suppose my new adventure for the week is the arrival of my very own, first Canadian pay check. This week I have been tutoring English and Math to a boy who has just finished Grade Seven. After careful consideration I’m definitely enjoying the experience of an older student, and I’m not feeling out of my comfort zone. I wouldn’t like to say I’d take a whole class of them on just yet, but this is certainly fun. Then again he is very well behaved and enthusiastic about what we are doing, and about soccer and Harry Potter, all of which have made an appearance in my carefully selected English texts… I knew there was a reason I spent so many years learning how to teach!

The rest of my time this week has been spent in the never ending frustrations of trying to import a car and change a driving license over, both tasks which should be relatively easy, but as ever, are proving more of a challenge than originally anticipated! I’m sure it must be me being naively and strangely optimistic about these things, but they never seem as smooth as I’m told they are going to be! Maybe by now I should have leaned my lesson and stopped believing the first thing I’m told by government agencies.

Next week, back to the exploring and investigation…

Tutoring- the right choice for everyone?

I’m sure that lots of teachers have deliberated over the question of whether to start tutoring. For some the answer is clear, for others they need to weigh up the pros and cons of the situation, and not just for themselves, but also for the students they will be working with.

Initially, the first time I agreed to tutor the reason was financial, but I soon decided that the relationship that developed with the individual was different to that with a whole class. On top of that it became intensely satisfying seeing one student improve both academically and in confidence over the time I got to spend with them.

In general terms I would describe individual tutees as falling into two categories. Those who have an identified need and require a certain level of input in order to meet certain academic goals, and those who are ahead of the established ideals and targets and want to be able to bounce ideas off another adult. In both of these settings a tutor can guide learning by using techniques and strategies that work for the individual child. In short, whether it is someone who has slipped behind or someone who has raced ahead a private tutor can be there when a teacher is not, and provide the individual attention necessary for greater success.

Group tutoring can be a more social way for students to interact with each other, and in the case of some language skills provides many helpful learning advantages will still providing students a comfortable environment in which to build confidence and develop the knowledge required to meet personal targets. The collection of different learning experiences, backgrounds and diverse ideas can, and often does, lead to interesting discussions and new points of view being expressed. Small group tutoring can be a great way to start learning a language or to develop and build on previous skills.

From a personal point of view, I know I get many benefits from tutoring, it provides me with an opportunity to continue learning and to ensure my teaching is as appropriate as possible for the students involved. I need to keep my ideas of learning styles and study techniques as up to date as possible. It helps me to develop my communication skills, and provides me with a sense of satisfaction in knowing I have helped someone gain a understanding in a new area. However, much as I love it, I still don’t do it for free!

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