Posts published on June 19, 2018

5 Steps to Finding an Excellent Tutor

BY MARY KACHARAVA

Hiring a tutor is one of the best things you can do for yourself. That’s a big step and one that can take your knowledge and skills to the next level. That’s why you want to be sure that you’ve found an excellent tutor.

If you don’t know where to start, these 5 steps will help you:

 

  1. Know your options
  • Check out sites like Craigslist (“lessons & tutoring” category). Craigslist tutors are easy to find, often have availability and are usually the cheapest ones. But they have the least amount of vetting. In fact, anyone can post themselves as a tutor on Craigslist. So you should be extra careful about making sure that the tutor is fully qualified and matches your needs.

 

  • Find a tutor through a tutoring company. Going with a company with a good reputation like TutorZ ensures you find qualified and trusted tutors. It’s also convenient because you can narrow the tutor search by subject, location, and preferred interaction (in person or online). When you’re looking for the right profile look very carefully at ratings and reviews. Reading about other students’ experiences makes it easier for you to pick a tutor who matches your requirements.

 

  • Spread the Word. Ask for recommendations from friends, classmates and teachers. Finding a tutor through a friend gives you the benefit of receiving information from a trusted source. It’s important to get insights into a tutor’s personality, skills, teaching style and methods, etc.

 

  1. Figure out what you need
  • Motivation. Working with a private tutor is a great way to keep you focused, motivated and persistent.
  • Organization. Students who have better organization habits often perform better on assignments, get more done, and have more free time than their disorganized peers.
  • Confidence. Tutoring builds confidence through individualized attention and support. Confident students are better able to perform under pressure and respond to setbacks. Greater sense of confidence can help you maximize your potential – and get the most out of your courses.
  • Better grades. A tutor cannot magically improve your grades but he or she will help you break down the material and gain a better understanding of it.

 

  1. Ask questions

 

Before hiring a tutor, it’s important to first talk to him or her. Ask questions, such as:

  • How much do you charge?
  • How many students have you tutored?
  • Were you able to help them improve their grades?
  • Do you make individualized learning plans?
  • Where will the tutoring take place?
  • What are your qualifications?
  • Do you have flexible teaching methods?

 

  1. Consider costs

Hiring a tutor comes with a serious price tag. Private tutors charge from $25/hour to $100/hour, depending on professional experience and qualifications of a tutor, type of tutoring (one-on-one, group or online tutoring), subject, frequency of the sessions, and your location.

For instance, online tutoring tends to be cheaper than in-person tutoring because tutors don’t have to travel to their clients. Carefully compare rates and find the best tutor within your budget.

 

  1. Set up a trial session

Ultimately, the only way to truly see whether a tutor is a good fit or not is to have the first, full tutoring session. Make sure the tutor has expertise in your particular subject, is a good communicator, and can effectively explain concepts to you. It will cost nothing as reputable tutors do not require you to pay for a trial session.

You know you’ve found an excellent tutor if he or she:

  • Identifies your areas for improvement.
  • Tailors teaching approach to your needs.
  • Communicates in a way that makes you feel motivated, enthusiastic and confident.
  • Believes and has faith that every student can learn.
  • Has references from reputable sources.
  • Makes learning easy, rewarding, and fun.

May Kacharava is a tutor, blogger with a zeal for teaching and learning. She works for TutorZ, tutoring marketplace that helps students find, rate and review tutors-https://www.tutorz.com

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