Ask Micki: My tutor is moving!

© lusi

Question: Hi, Micki. This question is a little bit different than your usual tutor question.  You see, I'm not a tutor, I'm a tutee, and I have a problem. 

I started tutoring with my current tutor when I was in the 6th grade.  She tutored me in junior high level math back then, and continues to tutor me in math now that I'm a Freshman in college.  Needless to say, she and I have become pretty good friends, and (besides learning a lot about math) we have a lot of fun together during tutoring sessions.

Well, I just found out that she has been offered a job on the East Coast (I live in OR), and will be moving at the end of next month. 

Help! I don't know what to do about this. She has been my only tutor for 8 years, and besides feeling like I'm losing a good friend, I'll be losing a great tutor.  Are there any options for how we could work together long distance? She said that she'll still be tutoring once she moves, and that she's open to the idea of long distance tutoring, but has no idea how to do it.

Thanks for your help!
Janie, a tutee from OR

Answer: Hey, Janie!  Sorry to hear about the impending move, but it is great that you and your tutor have such a great working relationship! Once you have a rapport with a tutor it is definitely something to keep going, and it sounds like you are both enthusiastic about the idea of long distance tutoring.

You know, back when I started tutoring, I would have said "no way."  Long distance tutoring, back in the olden days, was just not very possible, particularly with a visually learned subject like math.

Nowadays, though, long distance tutoring isn't just a possibility, it is a reality for a ton of tutors and tutees around the globe.  Tutees are getting tutoring from countries halfway around the world, so cross-country tutoring is definitely something that you two can do. 

Plus, you'll be in good company as you join the thousands of happy tutors and tutees who long distance tutor.  Long distance tutoring is typically loved by people who do it, partly because of the convenience and flexibility in schedule coordination, partly because of the convenience in tutoring location. 

So how do you two work together and have effective tutoring sessions while living at opposite ends of the country?

The key, as with in-person tutoring, is good communication.  It sounds like you two already have that mastered, so I'll move on to the technological aspects.

I have worked with tutees all around the world, and it has usually gone very well.  I tend to use video chat fairly frequently, partly because I can read the body language of my tutee, I can show my tutee concepts visually, and I can have my tutee show me the work that he or she has done so far. 

So far, video chat is my favorite method for long distance tutoring.  I also appreciate the fact that there is little to no specialized equipment for either of us to purchase, making it more affordable for my tutee and/or my tutee's family.  Most of my tutees have built in cameras on their computers, or have bought a small external camera for a few dollars at a local electronics store. 

For things like essays, or other written assignments, I will have my tutee email me the work a day or two in advance so that I can review it before our tutoring session.  This also works well when I need to send my tutee a document or assignment to review before our tutoring session.

I am also fond of using online document sharing sites so that my tutee and I can share work back and forth. 

How about the rest of you readers? Any long distance or online tutors out there who have tips or techniques to share?

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Photo Credit:
© sxc.hu/lusi
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Good things are coming!

*** From Jess, Tech Support here at ITA ***

Hello, everyone!
Recently we've received quite a few emails from you asking about the possibility of adding some links on the ITA site that will take you to relevant products and services.  Places that ITA recommends and trusts to do business with our tutors.  Well, great news!

We are in the process of doing exactly that.  Over the next few weeks you will be seeing pre-screened, pre-evaluated products, services, companies, and advertisements from selected partners.  These will be companies and websites that ITA trusts with our business, so you can feel confident using their products and services, too. 

The companies, products, and services that will be offered through the ITA website are from partners that we have contracted with specifically to bring you the best, most relevant links possible.

What does all this mean for you?

It means that the next time you are looking for a respected, ITA trusted company that can provide you with a quality learning aid, software, or even a background check, you won't need to look any further than your own ITA website.

Stay tuned for these exciting changes, they will be happening soon!

Ask Micki: How to handle problem billing

© Rob Owen-Wahl

Question: Hiya, Micki, I was hoping that you could help me with a problem I've been having on the billing end of things.  

Here's some background: I've been tutoring for about 5 years now, and have been loving every minute of it.  The problem is, when I got started, I took on a few unpaid tutoring jobs to get my feet wet, and gain some experience.

I talked things over with the 3 families, and we all agreed that I would provide 6 months of free tutoring.  No problem, I was happy to do it, excited about gaining the experience, and glad that I could help out some friends.

I think you see where this is going.  Now it is years later, and while 2 of the families began paying me for tutoring (and have kept me on as their tutor), the other family is still not paying me a cent.

At first I thought maybe they forgot about the agreement, so I brought it up, and they just kind of laughed it off, and moved on to scheduling our next appointment.  I brought up the topic a dozen more times since then, and they completely ignore the conversation every single time.

I love helping out friends, but I can't help but feel that I am being taken advantage of by tutoring every week, free of charge.  Also, it's not like they aren't able to afford tutoring.  I know this because they pay for 2 different sports tutors every week.

Is there a nice way to approach this subject without damaging a friendship or making things awkward? 

Thanks, Micki!
Ali, CA

Answer: Hey, Ali.  First of all, I'm happy to hear that after half a decade of tutoring, you still love the work - that's great!

Second of all, and please take no offense at this - you are definitely being taken advantage of right now, and real friends don't take advantage of one another.  It is definitely time to sit down and have a talk with the parents about billing, etc.

The most important thing for keeping the mood pleasant, and keeping the awkwardness out of the room is to remain friendly and upbeat as you talk with them.

I know you may understandably be a bit frustrated, but try not to get defensive or angry - talk to them with a smile on your face, and present the whole situation as nicely as you can.

Let them know that as much as you love helping them out, and as much as you enjoy the work, you have expenses/bills, and paid work is important for keeping up with those expenses/bills.

Also, you may want to mention that, as your tutoring appointments increased, you don't have quite as much free time in your day, so every tutoring appointment really needs to count financially so that you can continue to make ends meet.

Let them know up front that it is nothing personal, and that you truly enjoy working with them, it's just that you need to be able to make a living with your tutoring.  

If they are reluctant, and you really enjoy working with the family, perhaps you could offer them a deal on your tutoring services.  Offer a package deal of a set number of sessions for a set dollar amount, or offer to give them a discount on tutoring.

Whatever you decide, please stop back by and let us know how things went!

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http://www.sxc.hu/profile/lockstockb