Sunday, 13 January 2013

How to Get Tuition Assignments as a New Tutor

Not receiving any responses after seeking tuition assignments? This is very common for most tutors who're starting. They register with numerous agencies and apply to dozens of tuition assignments. Having said that, despite their effort in applying for assignments, they don't appear to get any reply from tuition agencies.

Why does this happen? We receive more than twenty tutor applications per assignment. Therefore, not all tutors get the assignment which they applied for.

On average, you are competing against 19 other candidates when you apply for assignments. If you are just like any other tutors, you simply will not get the job. Hence it is your job to make sure you stand out amongst the crowd.

Here are some ways you can get the attention of tuition agencies if you have no experience.

Think about your strong points. What can you offer which will make you a good teacher? Some parents want tutors who’ve got good grades, some want tutors who can guarantee results. If you do not present what you have to offer, tuition agencies will usually pass through your application.

Do not miss out any detail in your application. As an example, some tutors graduate from a top school in Singapore. Nevertheless, they do not include it when they submit an application for assignments. That's a serious mistake as some parents only want tutors from top schools.

Without experience, you cannot command a high rate. Most parents do not want amateur tutors to tutor their child. As such, tuition agencies will always ask tutors how long they have been teaching.

Even so, you can still get assignments if you charge a lower rate. If you are new, reduce your rate and acquire experience. It is crucial for you to tackle even tougher assignments down the road. With time, with experience, you will be able to command a higher rate.

Provide a good personal description. Nearly all tuition agencies will ask teachers for his or her experience in teaching or elaborate on their teaching methods. In our experience, most tutors leave this field empty or keep this portion brief. If you are really passionate about teaching, this is the time you may really shine. Creating a good personal description gives tuition agencies grounds to select you over the other applicants who don’t elaborate on their teaching methods.

You will find a time where every tutor go through the period of being new. Everybody shares the same history with no exceptions. Try this advice and over time, you will start getting a couple of tuition assignments. If other tutors make it to where they are today, you should too!

Friday, 4 January 2013

5 Simple Tips to Ace Your Next Exam

Are you stress out by assessments? Most students will most likely point out that examinations could be a very nerve-racking part of student life. Some parents might even be more stressed than their kids when examinations approaches!

Why do pupils feel strain when assessments are near? It could be that they're not sure of what's likely to come out for the exam. Or perhaps it could be that they believe they haven't done enough.

How could you reduce this stress when tests are near? The answer to that is planning, and lots of it. With proper planning, you will feel sure and get through exams with a breeze. Top students know this and utilize it. Every exam question is but a repetition of what they did in practice.

Many students often wonder if top students spend more time studying. Most of the time, they don't. They've got the same 24 hours as everyone else. They're just more productive and effective. They know when and how to use their time to revise. Can you do the same too? Here are some ideas which our top tutors have for students for revision:

Switch off your online access during revision. In the present age, the largest distraction for individuals is the internet. There are lots of activities to do on the net, Facebook, Youtube, online shopping etc. Shutting out unneeded disruptions is one of the simplest ways we know to concentrate on revision.

Teach your friends that which you learnt. Teaching someone provides you with a higher comprehension than studying from books. In order to teach someone that which you have learnt, it means you must know the topic inside out.

We suggest studying with a friend and teach each other to examine your understanding. By practicing this, you could find out aspects of the topic that you missed.

Study in modest blocks of 30 minutes. Most students have the attention span of approximately 30 minutes. From then on, they could end up roaming on the web for leisure. This usually leads to one more hour of unproductive time. Dedicate yourself to 30 mins of productive studying, and have a Five To Ten minute break to treat yourself.

Set daily targets. Many students let time slip through their fingers, and discover they do not have time to study. When inquired where did all the time go, they're unable to offer a good answer. By setting daily targets on what you want to accomplish for the day, it keeps you centered on the work at hand.

Write down that which you learnt. How frequently do you remember something which you've just read? The majority of pupils feel that by reading, they would manage to memorize what they have learnt. They then recognise that they have forgotten what they studied for in the exam. You can begin taking in much more by jotting down everything you have learnt, in both an overview or mind map form. This boosts retention of information.

We hope that these 5 tips will serve you well in your coming exams!

The author is a full time tutor and dedicates his time to teaching home tuition in Singapore . He offers free advise to students who wish to excel in their academics. If you would like to see what home tuition can do for you, be sure to visit TuitionKing today.

Monday, 31 December 2012

Giving Primary School Tuition in Singapore

If you have offered tuition to primary school students, you'll know the difficulties faced by many tutors today. Possibly even teachers in schools would acknowledge that kids in primary school can be difficult to teach. How can this be?

Attention problem: Many teachers and tutors think that these pupils do not do well in class because they are not bright. Quite the opposite, they are in a phase whereby they discover the quickest. That's why only children are able to master multiple languages at once. Most teachers find teaching primary students challenging because they not able to keep the attention of these hyperactive pupils.

How to solve the issue: Developing a special bond between you and your student would be the secret formula to success. Are you aware of a child who does badly in a subject as he disliked a teacher? Do you also know of a child who does extremely well in another subject because he preferred the teacher? I believe all of us have encountered this phenomenon before.

Expert teachers teach students in a fashion that is fun and interesting. Students feel connected to their teachers and study faster. Exactly what are the key qualities these particular teachers have that make students love to learn from them? Here are several methods for you to form a strong bond with your students.

Listen: Listening is an excellent method you are able to bond with your student. Most students don't learn well as they've many questions who are not answered. For those who grew up in the Singapore education system, you would understand what I am talking about. It is actually considered impolite in our culture to ask questions during a lesson. Because of that, many students keep questions to themselves, feeling lost and confused. Always take the effort to hear what your student needs to say, this makes them feel important.

Understand: We've repeated this many times to our tutors, but we still have to stress this point. Always appreciate your student's standpoint. What might appear clear to see for you may not be easy for your student. Move back and think about your lessons from your student's point of view. Using this method, you could appreciate aspects of your lessons which you can improve. A different way to do this will be to ask your student if he's any questions after your lesson.

Appreciate: Finally, always show appreciation for your student. Everyone wants to feel valued for his or her efforts. Let them have reassurance whenever they strive towards their academic targets. The key here is to offer little encouragements frequently.

While good teaching is important, it is also vital that you form strong bonds with your student. This gives him the extra boost to do his best to achieve in his academics. When doubtful, always picture your favourite teacher and why he/she is your favourite teacher.

Would you like to find more tuition assignments in Singapore? Danny is a full time tutor in Singapore gives free advise to other tutors who wish to succeed in their tutoring career. For more information, please visit us today!

Monday, 24 December 2012

How to Tell If Your Child Needs a Private Tutor

The majority of parents would want their children to succeed in school. Education is the 1st step of a infant's voyage in life. These first few steps would likely determine how your kid's life could turn out later in life. Research indicates that children who do well in class early in life acquire more self confidence and self respect than their friends who fare badly. Therefore, it is necessary that you guide him toward a positive experience with school.

Although education is very important, majority of children do not fare well in education. As much as parents want to help, they do not know what they could do in order to help their children succeed. The problem is that many of these children can't stand studying. Gradually, they'll associate a negative emotion with studying. These children go through the motion as opposed to finding the enjoyment in studying. If your child display some of the behaviors below, employing a private tutor may help him in his studies.

Failing Results. Most students will be able to pass their exams with relatively good understanding. If your child is always failing his tests, it could possibly mean that he has lost interest in the subject. This usually occurs due to two reasons. 1) Your child finds it difficult to understand the topic. 2) He finds the teacher boring and hard to understand. Step-by-step guidance by a tutor can help your child comprehend complex subjects.

Lack of attention. Most parents hold 9 to 5 jobs in today's world. Consequently, they spend almost no time helping their children revise. This responsibility is given to their teacher. But, a teacher is required to divide his/her focus on all students in a class. Many children cannot do well in this environment. They require the undivided attention of a home tutor who can help them understand concepts and clarify doubts.

Lack of self confidence. It is very common for a child to lose confidence right after failing an examination. Consequently, they may start to think that they aren't intelligent enough or they're not 'study material'. This lack of self-belief may extend to other areas of life, such as health and work. Consequently, achieving success in exams will build the self-confidence and esteem your child will need to achieve other pursuits in life.

Is there absolutely no hope for children who've lost interest in studying? Thankfully, interest for virtually any subject can be developed. Have you ever lost interest in learning something simply because it was too difficult? I believe most of us have been in this situation before. We quit because it is too complicated for us to do it by ourselves. These children could use the help of a private tutor to help them personally in their studies.

Enrolling your son or daughter with a tuition agency can help your child comprehend lessons better, know where his strengths and weaknesses lie, and begin having a good time in studying again.

Wednesday, 19 December 2012

How Home Tuition Helps Working Class Parents in Singapore

Home tuition is a quick growing sector in Singapore. Tuition agencies have emerged delivering a ready availability of tutors for home coaching. The main reason driving this particular rise in the need for these companies is because in many households both parents are service holders. This means they rarely have time to teach their children. Additionally many parents feel that specialized teachers are better prepared to help their children improve their scores.


Tutors are available for students of every level. This means that even if your kid is just a toddler you can actually find someone to coach him. However it goes without saying that tutors who coach students of higher classes charge much more compared to those teaching nursery or primary sections. Many of these tutors are experienced professionals who can simply identify areas that require more focus and guides students for improvement. Day by day step by step guidance aids students to conquer the difficulties through multidimensional approach.

The advantage of home tuition in Singapore is that the student studies in the comfort of their own home. Furthermore the learning schedules don't clash with activities that students have to undertake. Many of these tuition agencies hire teachers who have experience. Reputable home tuition agencies employ a rigid verification procedure for tutors. Coaching is also provided for teachers from time to time. The courses arm them with tips to handle the specific and various requirements of students. Furthermore the agencies follow a strict code of conduct which implies you are able to leave your kids without worry at the capable hands of the teachers.

Classes in Singapore are full of students. The huge number of pupils in each school is frequently detrimental to the pupils who're lagging behind. It is because schools rarely give individual attention to students. Private tuition is definitely a blessing in disguise for these weak kids. If your kid is lagging in a particular subject, you could ask for the agency to send a tutor who has knowledge to deal with the issues of that particular subject. Direct interaction with the teacher helps the students in identifying areas that require improvement.

There are ways to select the perfect tutor for your child in Singapore. All you have to do is select a few respected agencies and have face-to-face meetings. This will give them a fair share of suggestions in what exactly that you are searching for. You will have to share more about your kid's shortcomings otherwise the agency will not be able to find you the perfect person for the assignment. 

Home tuition is essential given that they supply the child with the determination to make an effort and achieve ambitions that would otherwise looked a far-away dream. Teachers help their pupils discover their hidden skillsets and encourage them in several ways and help them to sharpen their skills, thus giving direction for their future and careers.

Monday, 17 December 2012

Tuition Agency Tips for First Time Tutors

Due to the rise in education standards, home tuition has become more popular in Singapore. There are more tuition assignments available on the market than before, and many tutors get to teach more students. Once a while, we do get first time tutors who wish to start their career in tutoring. However, they are unsure of what to expected of being a tutor. What are some of the things you should look out for to do well as a tutor? Today we take you step by step on what are the things you need to prepare to succeed as a tutor.

Do your preparation before the first lesson. You do not want to realize you have forgotten something in the middle of a lesson. Common items that you should bring for the first lesson are your transcripts for verification, assessment books, and of course, a pencil box. Depending on your style of teaching, you might want to bring extra items for lessons. Some tutors bring test papers for assessment purposes, while others bring treats as incentives for their tutees. If you have not figured your teaching style yet, just be sure to bring the mandatory items we have stated above.

Be well groomed for lessons. Spend some time the night before your tuition lesson to ensure that you look presentable. The best tutors not only teach well, they also dress well.  Tutors who dress well leave a good impression on parents and tutees. Studies have shown that teachers who look more authoritative capture the attention of their students better, and as a result, teach better. You should use this same principle to your advantage. Many tutors get rejected on their first lesson as parents complain that tutor looks sloppy. Some of these tutors could be great at teaching, but because they didn't look the part, they didn't get the job. Do not let this happen to you.

Prepare a lesson plan for the first session. A lesson plan is a schedule of what you plan to accomplish for the lesson. This should include the materials that you are going to use and activities that you are going to do. The lesson plan ensures that tuition time is productive and efficient. It also allows you to keep track of the progress of your tutee towards achieving his academic goals. Some tutors use the first lesson to establish the standard of their student, while others use the first lesson to do goal setting. Find a style which you find most comfortable. However, it is essential you plan your lessons before you conduct your lessons.

Finally, be friendly and break the ice. The first person you are probably meet is the parent of your new student. Smile and introduce yourself as you present your transcripts. This would probably be a good time to ask about your new student and share your teaching methods. This is gives parents a sense of security in the handing over of their child. However, keep the niceties to a maximum of a few minutes and get the lesson started.

With that, you successfully survived the first lesson! It not that difficult and like you, many thousands have gone through it without much of a problem. You get to enjoy the process and reap the fruits of labour as your student improves day by day.

Saturday, 15 December 2012

How to Make Your Child Want to Study: The Carrot and The Stick

Today, tuition in Singapore is an necessity. A Straits Time report indicates that some 97% of the Singaporean student population today have some form of tuition. Tuition can come in the form of tuition centres, or enrolling your child in a tuition agency.

How we choose to reward and punish our children will definitely have the biggest impact on how well they are going to do in school, and ultimately, how they turn out as people. Without doubt, this is going to be the most important aspect of parenting. So the dilemma arises, just how tight should you hold on to your kids?

It is important for parents to understand the concept of the reward and punishment system. Your child should recognise that there is always a consequence for his action. It may be good or it may be bad. For example, he gets a reward if he displays good behaviour and gets punished when he displays bad behaviour. This must be adhered to strictly.

It is common knowledge that children learn 3 times faster than adults. They are curious about the world and are quick to pick up what mistakes would cost them, and what mistakes they can get away with. For example, if you buy him a toy despite him failing his exams, he would start thinking it is okay to not to try his best in studying. If you scold him despite putting in all his effort, he would think it is pointless to study hard.

At a young age, children would most certainly not recognise the importance of studying. This does not mean studying is not important; it is what they are going to do for the next 20 years or so! The kind o grades they achieve now would definitely affect their quality of life in the future. Therefore, achieving good grades is of paramount importance. This is where the parents come in and play the role of the compass, steering the child in the right direction until he is old enough to make intelligent decisions for himself.

You can do that by making your child recognise the importance of studying from young. The way to do that is to put a direct correlation between his school work and needs. All children have needs which will need to be met. This includes food, play time and love. For example, you could give your child more play time if he does well for the exams. This teaches your child the concept of delayed gratification, which would be priceless in life later on.

The “marshmallow experiment” is a well known experiment conducted at Stanford University. In this experiment, 4 year olds were given a plate with a marshmallow placed in front of them. If they were able to resist eating the marshmallow for 20 minutes, they would be given another one. Some were able to wait, others were not. Children who resisted understood the concept of delayed gratification.

Research done on these four year olds many years later was astounding. It was found that the same 4 year olds who practiced delayed gratification scored significantly higher in exams and generally did better in life.

It may be painful not to do, but pampering your child would hinder his development. The responsible thing to do would be to do whatever it takes, even the occasional scolding to make sure your kids are on the right track. Hopefully in the future, they would be useful individuals to society and be thankful for their upbringing.

The author is a full time tutor in Singapore, and gives free advice to parents on how to help improve their children's grades. To view other articles like these, please visit our blog today.