Debunking Tutoring Myths for Students

Author: Bethany Spencer

Posted: 04 May 2017

Estimated time to read: 4 mins

Tutoring is an easy way to get extra help when you need it‭. ‬Simple as that‭. ‬But even so‭, ‬there are a lot of myths and misconceptions surrounding tutoring about how it isn’t‭ ‬‘cool’‭ ‬or worthwhile‭. ‬To help you see the benefits that tutoring can offer‭, ‬we’ve debunked these myths for you‭.‬

Tutoring is for kids who are failing

Having tutoring sessions doesn’t mean that you’re not intelligent‭. ‬It’s impossible to be good at everything‭. ‬The good thing about needing to improve on school work is that it is very achievable to do so. ‬What’s not so achievable‭, ‬is training yourself to sound good when you sing‭, ‬so consider yourself lucky‭. ‬

The fact of the matter is that tutoring is not only applicable to students who are struggling‭. ‬Tutoring is a great way to help you close the difference between grade boundaries‭. ‬It’s also a great way to gain confidence in a subject you may find tricky‭. ‬

Tutoring takes up too much time

An extra hour or two of tutoring a week isn’t going to kill your social life‭. ‬So you can relax‭. ‬The idea of extra school may seem worse than homework‭, ‬but an extra hour to‭ ‬help you understand a subject better is only going to mean that completing your homework takes up less of your time in the long‭ ‬run‭.‬

You can even opt for online tutoring which would mean you spend less time travelling to and from your tutors house and more time doing the things you love. Having to manage your time is also great practice for later on in both your academic and work life‭. ‬It’s impossible to do everything‭, ‬and tutoring can help to learn to prioritise‭. ‬

I only need tutoring around exam season

You know how cramming and revising the night before an exam after no revision for the whole year isn’t going to make you pass‭? ‬Well‭, ‬neither is squeezing in as many tutoring sessions as physically possible in the thick of exam season‭. ‬Knowledge doesn’t grow overnight‭, ‬it’s acquired over a period of time‭. ‬You should start thinking about a tutor‭ ‬early on in the year if there’s a subject you want to improve in‭. ‬Over time‭, ‬they can help with consolidating knowledge‭, ‬give you confidence and help you become exam ready‭.‬

If I have a tutor‭, ‬I’m guaranteed an A

Nice as it would be to have that as a guarantee‭, ‬it unfortunately isn’t the case‭. ‬Much like your wallet‭, ‬with tutoring‭, ‬you get out what you put in‭. ‬Just because you turn up to a tutoring session‭, ‬it does not mean you’re going to instantly become an A grade student‭.

‬You need to put effort into these sessions if you want to see results‭. ‬It’s also important that when going into your tutoring sessions‭, ‬you look at your current level and ability‭. ‬If you’re working at a D grade‭, ‬it’s going to be hard work to get up to an A‭; ‬a C or a B would be more achievable unless you’re investing a lot of time in sessions from early in the academic year‭, ‬so make sure your goals are realistic‭!  ‬

Having a tutor will only complicate matters

It’s understandable to be worried about a new tutor coming onto the scene and confusing matters for you with outdated methods‭. ‬In order to make sure this doesn’t happen‭, ‬it’s a good idea to opt for a tutor who is currently a teacher‭. ‬This way they’ll know the curriculum you’re currently studying and won’t end up teaching you anything from the dark ages‭.‬

If you’re using a tutor for revision and exam purposes‭, ‬make sure that they’re aware of the exam board you’re studying with‭. ‬This way they’ll know what content you’re covering and will be able to better help you‭.‬It’s no secret that different teachers have different teaching techniques and the thought of this may seem scary‭. ‬However‭, ‬this may‭ ‬be a blessing in disguise‭. ‬A new way of teaching a subject may resonate with you better than your classroom teacher’s current method‭. ‬

You may not get along with your tutor‭ ‬

You’re not going to like everyone‭, ‬and that’s a fact‭. ‬But it is important that you and your tutor get along‭ - ‬you’re less likely to listen to someone that you don’t like‭. ‬

Most tutors will offer a brief meeting or phone call before you commit to any tutoring sessions‭. ‬This is a great opportunity to‭ ‬find out if you’re going to get along‭. ‬If you don’t like them‭ - ‬don’t worry about offending them‭, ‬these things happen‭. ‬At the end of the day‭, ‬this is your education‭, ‬you have to find a person that‭ ‬is right for you‭.‬

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