Some General Principles of Tutoring

A student needs to find the tutor approachable. This is less an issue at tertiary levels, where students have become use to this type of relationship. Younger students vary; many have had approachable teachers, others find some adult approachable, while others are not. There is no one method here. Individual tutors have to find what works for them.

Older students sometime feel they are a burden on the tutor’s time. This is not the case with questions asked in class time. Tutors should convey the idea that they are there for the student’s benefit, and any study related topic that does not cross into anyone’ personal time is acceptable.

Some Ethical Situations

There have been some concerns with school teachers who also work as tutors. One is that teachers inadvertently focus on tutoring preparations to the detriment of the regular lessons. The other is that the regular lessons are deliberately compromised so that there is a market for private lessons.[1]

Adding Private tutors to the regular school system has several advantages, and avoids some ethical issues. One advantage is that the tutor can give a different perspective to the regular teacher; students many find they understand the subject matter when it is approached differently. A tutor can vary teaching approach according to the individual. A related matter is that the tutor and teacher may have different areas of expertise. Students can learn from a tutor anything not fully covered by the teacher.

It is in the interest of private tutors for the student to do well. Private tutors so not have other lessons to compromise, not any reason to not achieve the best results possible. The greater the improvement with the students the better this reflects on the tutor.