Charlie here, again, with tip 4 for peer tutors!
Tip #4: Don't borrow from your tutee.
Yes, I know, another common sense tip, but, again, you'd be shocked how many peer tutors I have worked with who have borrowed from their peer tutees. Even worse, many of them have forgotten to return the borrowed items.
The thing about peer tutoring is that, as the name suggests, you are working with a peer, maybe even a long time school friend. This can lead to scenarios in which a tutor is so comfortable with the tutee on a friendship level that he/she starts acting more like a friend and less like a tutor.
I knew one tutor who borrowed $1 from his tutee when he peer tutored back in high school. The problem was that the tutor repeatedly forgot to pay the tutee back, the school year came to an end, and the tension between the two of them got so bad that they could not work together over the summer. All that over $1.
Another tutor I know borrowed a CD from his tutee, accidentally left it in the hot car during the tutoring session, and ruined it. The tutee didn't want to say anything, and it led to some awkwardness.
Still another tutor I knew borrowed school supplies from the tutee during every session (pencil lead, erasers, paper, folders, etc.). This made the tutor seem frazzled and disorganized, and he did not get a very good review at the end of the semester.
No matter what the item is, or how much money it is, never borrow from your tutee. Borrowing anything at all can make you look a lot less professional, and could even cause some unwanted tension in the future. Sure, on occasion you may need to quickly borrow a pencil sharpener, or even a pencil, during the session, but make sure to return it, and remember extra pencils/a pencil sharpener for your next session. Be prepared so that you can avoid borrowing anything.
Well, that's it for now. Stay tuned for Tip #5, coming soon!
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