Cyber Monday...and Tuesday!

Hello, everyone!

The ITA Cyber Monday sale was such a huge hit that we've decided to extend it!  Cyber Monday has been extended until Tuesday, 11/30/2010 at 11:59 pm (PST).

Now is a great time to renew your membership, or sign up for the first time, and get 40% off the regular rates!

Ask Micki: My tutee is really bored

Question: Hi, Micki, I need some help with something. 

My tutee is a great kid, she's in grade 6, and really tries hard to get involved in every one of our tutoring sessions. 

The problem is, I can tell that she's really bored.  I am tutoring her in very beginning ESL.  She just moved here from Europe. 

Any ideas for how to make things more exciting for her?

Thanks,
Janie in Salt Lake City, Utah

Answer: Hi, Janie! Thanks for your question. 

I can guarantee that you're going to like my answer!

The short answer is - you have one of the best tutoring subjects when it comes to making things more exciting for your tutee!  ESL lends itself to all sort of worksheets and games that are both educational, and a blast to complete. 

By implementing a few of these fun ideas, your tutee will be able to master the English language without having to muscle through a boring tutoring session.

One idea is to role play.  Now, I know that this isn't the traditional tutoring arrangement with seating, but ESL is a different kind of subject that allows for a bit more flexibility when it comes to the physical dynamic of the session.

Get up for about 5 minutes, and act out a scenario with your tutee.  Maybe she can be buying a train ticket, shopping for groceries, making a phone call, asking questions at a pet store, or making polite conversation with a stranger.  You get the idea - make it a fun learning scenario that focuses on the vocabulary and grammar that you are currently working on together. 

Add even more zest by bringing some props.  I try to have, in my tutoring bag, at least a few props to help out with the visualization portion of the ESL tutoring session. 

Believe it or not, I have some plastic fruit (grocery shopping scenario), some fake tickets (movie passes, train ticket, plane ticket, etc.), play money, etc.  These all come in handy for ESL role playing scenarios, so if ESL is your primary tutoring market, by all means put together a little collection of learning aids.

You may also want to put together some fun activity sheets for your ESL tutee.  Simple crossword puzzles, word searches, and word games can all breathe life into tired tutoring sessions. 

Even better, leave a few of these games as "homework" for your tutee.  She will get some practice, and have fun at the same time!

Good luck, have fun, and happy tutoring!

Field Notes: First time tutoring

Hello, readers.  I just returned from my very first tutoring session, and I wanted to share my real life experience for all of the other first time tutors out there!

I have to admit, a few hours before the tutoring appointment, I started to get nervous.  I had never tutored before, not even my friends in school, and wasn't 100% sure that I'd be good at it.  Yes, I read the book, got some of my training, but that first face-to-face tutoring session had me quaking.   Add to that the fact that I was going to eventually be asking this new tutee (I'll call him Greg) for a tutoring evaluation, and you can see why I was shaking in my boots.

So, I did what I always have done when I get nervous.  I spent some free time preparing.  When I'm prepared, I feel more confident, and the nervousness starts to go away.  It also serves to get my mind off of the nervousness, because I'm keeping my mind active. 

So, I sat at my desk, and started coming up with the ultimate tutoring package.  Greg and I were going to be working on algebra, so I spent some time putting together a few study sheets, mini-quizzes, formula sheets, exercises, etc.  By the time 2 o'clock rolled around, I headed out to meet my tutee, study materials in hand.

When Greg and I finally sat down to get to work, I remembered the proper seating arrangement, made sure he had a few sharpened pencils at his side for the worksheets, and we got to talking for a few minutes. 

Instantly, my nervousness disappeared as Greg and I got to know each other a little better.  We talked about his classes, major, my new career as a tutor, etc.  It may have only been about 10 minutes, but it was enough to break the ice and give the whole tutoring session a friendly, upbeat tone.  It was great!

By the time the tutoring session was over, we had worked through about half of the study materials I brought, Greg mentioned how excited he was to finally "understand this stuff," and we were scheduling in a tutoring session for next week.

As I left the Greg's house, and was driving home, it suddenly hit me that somewhere along the way my nervousness had turned to excitement.  I was so thrilled to be doing what I am doing, and I can't imagine a better job than being a tutor.  One of the most positive experiences of my year.

So, my advice to all you new tutors out there?  Just take the plunge, and be prepared for the tutoring.  Put together materials that will help your tutee study, get there a little early for the tutoring session, and don't be afraid to be yourself.  If someone as shy as me can do it, so can you!

~ Mike, a new tutor in Buena Park, CA