What can YOU do to maximise the benefits of tutoring?
- Cate Taylor
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
This is a follow up to the last blog, Unlocking Success: The benefits of tutoring and how to maximise its impact, where we talked about the benefits of tutoring. Here we are discussing the influence that you can have over how successful it is for you.
1. Set Clear Goals
Establish specific, measurable goals for what you want to achieve through tutoring. Whether it's improving grades, understanding a particular topic, or developing study skills, clear goals will guide the tutoring sessions and keep you focused.
Example:
A student might set a goal to improve their grade in biology from a C to a B+ by the end of the term or academic year.
2. Stay Engaged and Ask Questions
Active participation is key to effective learning. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, seek clarification, and engage in discussions with your tutor.
Example:
If you don’t understand how to solve a particular type of problem, ask the tutor to walk you through it step-by-step until you feel confident.
3. Practice Regularly
Reinforce what you learn during tutoring sessions by practicing regularly on your own. Consistent practice helps solidify new knowledge and skills.
Example:
If you’ve been working on essay writing with your tutor, continue writing essays independently and seek feedback to improve further.
4. Review and Reflect
After each tutoring session, review what you’ve learned and reflect on how it applies to your studies. This will help reinforce your learning and identify any remaining gaps.
Example:
Keep a learning journal or notebook where you summarise key points from each session and note any areas that still need improvement.
5. Balance Tutoring with Independent Study
While tutoring is beneficial, it’s crucial to develop the habit of studying independently. Relying too heavily on a tutor can hinder the development of self-discipline and problem-solving skills.
Example:
Set aside dedicated time each week for independent study, using what you’ve learned during tutoring sessions to guide your efforts.
The Danger of Over-Reliance on Tutoring
Relying too much on a tutor can create a dependency that undermines your own ability to learn and solve problems independently. This can be particularly detrimental when facing exams or real-world situations where a tutor isn’t available. For example, a student who relies solely on a tutor for maths homework might struggle to solve problems independently during an exam, leading to poor performance.
Whether you're seeking Spanish, French, or English tutoring, or looking for specialised support for an exam goal, the key is to use tutoring as a tool to assist your learning elsewhere, be that in school lessons, homework or for adults, personal study, reading and conversation groups.
Cate is a qualified teacher with over 20 years of experience in teaching and tailored tutoring. She specialises in both online and face-to-face lessons, working with students and adult learners from Hong Kong, the UK, Spain, Switzerland, and France. With a proven track record of helping learners achieve their goals, Cate offers flexible scheduling for adults and international students, including those in Hong Kong, who can take lessons during UK daytime hours. Spaces are limited and we’re taking bookings for the next academic year already.
#tutoring #learnlanguages #French #Spanish #tutor # languagetutor
