Ask Micki: ITA project question

© sxc.hu/lusi

 Question: Hi, Micki. I have a question that isn't technically a tutor-tutee question. It's more along the lines of an ITA question.

I was wondering if you could tell me a little bit more about how I would complete a project successfully for my ITA certification. 

I'd like to turn something in that is great, and I guess I'm kind of looking for some ideas and inspiration at this point. 

I'm an English and ESL tutor, by the way.

Thanks!
Brandi

Answer: Hey, Brandi, thanks for the question -  I'll do my best to be inspirational and throw some good ideas your way!

The subjects that you tutor definitely lend themselves to some great possibilities when it comes to your project.  A worksheet, for example, is a fantastic project.

A worksheet that tackles grammar or vocabulary is not only great for ITA certification, but also a great tool to take with you to your tutoring sessions.  One popular worksheet idea is an ESL activity that shows a calender with the days of the week listed below it.  The tutee then draws lines from the named day of the week to their positions on the calender.

Another idea: Squares of various colors on one side of the page, and a list of the color names on the other side of the page.  The tutee then draws lines from the color names to the appropriately colored squares.

Similarly, any type of ESL or English vocabulary worksheet is also a great choice for your project.  Think basic categories - months, seasons, days of the week, animals, food - all are perfect choices for vocabulary worksheets.

You can also create an activity or worksheet that deals with verbs, homonyms, antonyms, prepositions...the list goes on and on!  The key is to have fun, and be creative.

Think of things that will make your tutoring subject come to life.  Make a worksheet that you would want to work on as a tutee - something that would capture your interest, and make you want to learn more. 

Obviously, you'll want to use the above ideas as guidelines, and come up with your own unique ideas, but they are definitely a great starting place for your projects.

Good luck, and happy tutoring!
-----------------------------------------
© lusi
http://www.sxc.hu/profile/lusi

Tips from Charlie: Learning Tools

I used to think that tutoring was all about using my own knowledge and my tutee's textbook.

Then I started tutoring younger kids and it changed the way I tutored forever.

Kids can be great to work with.  They are enthusiastic (most of the time), are honest about what they do and don't know, and have a very different way of learning...they also, like myself, have shorter attention spans than most grown adults!

I started realizing that my tutoring sessions with kids were just not as exciting and full of zest as they could be.  So, I sat down and did some thinking.  What did I respond to at a younger age? What bored me?  What got me enthusiastic about learning?

The answer, as it turns out, was using learning tools during our tutoring sessions.

Learning tools can turn a drab tutoring session into an exciting learning opportunity!

I used simple experiments to tutor the concepts of electricity and chemistry.  I brought games and activities that showcased the exciting world of math.  I dug out my old microscope and brought simple slides to go over biology concepts and make them more interesting.

In other words, any tutoring tool I could get my hands on (that related to the subjects I tutored), I brought with me to tutoring sessions.

The results were amazing, and I noticed that not only was I getting more excited learners, but I was getting happier parents.  One mom told me that I was the only person who had managed to get her son excited about science.  He had hated the subject before our tutoring had started.

An unexpected benefit to this new technique were the referrals I was getting from other parents.  I was known as the fun tutor who could actually get kids to learn boring subjects.  I was honored, and thrilled to have the "title."

So, if you are looking for a way to spice up your sessions, thrill parents, and garner referrals, look no further than tutoring and learning tools!

~ Charlie