How to Be an Effective Tutor for Adult Students
English Tutoring Businesses that Edit and Proofread Assignments
Nov 27, 2008
For those who have a Bachelors, or even better, a Masters in English Literature, running a tutoring business can be an enjoyable, flexible and profitable way to make a living. Many degree holders don't necessarily want to hold a job in an institution like a high school, college or university. Especially if one is primarily an artist, doing jobs like tutoring, editing and proofreading can be paths to making money while retaining time and energy for art projects.
Getting Started as a Tutor
The best way to start a tutoring business is to begin by working at one. The tutor not only learns valuable skills in relation to teaching students of different ages and abilities, but will develop a student base this way. While there are legitimate tutoring schools like the Oxford Learning Centres, many tutoring agencies overcharge their students, make them pay in block amounts and take their fee even if students cancel with notice. Students at such businesses are often glad to be given other options.
The tutor can also advertise at colleges and university, online or using notice boards. Tutors can put up posters around town or use local newspapers to promote their services. Handing out business cards at events is also a good way to get noticed. Once the tutor has a few students who are happy with his services, word of mouth usually works to assist him in obtaining more business.
What a Tutor Needs
A tutoring business can be run in a variety of ways. Setting up the business in one's home is the most economical and flexible. Buy a table, chairs, a good lamp and a receipt book. Collect a receipt from each student in order to claim these fees at tax time. An up-to-date grammar guide and a book of ESL exercises is also essential. If the tutor decides he will teach the SAT or other placement tests, he needs all those materials at hand too.
Tutors can also tutor online at the same time. Students can send them papers or projects for proofreading in any subject that uses the English language. They can then edit them and return them after the student pays the fee through an online banking system.
Conversely, tutors can teach students at their homes, at cafes, or at the local library. Usually, this mode of tutoring requires the tutor to have a vehicle and a cellphone.
What a Tutor Should Remember
Always be polite and courteous to students. Learn their names and clearly explain the information they require without being condescending. They are paying for these services and are educating themselves as adults. Write down their phone numbers/emails or msn's so one can stay in contact with them when necessary.
Obtain payment upfront. Students will often say that they will pay at the end of the semester, course or assignment. Once they receive the edited work, it is too easy for them to forget to pay, to take a long time to submit the fee or, sometimes, to deliberately choose not to pay at all. Don't accept personal cheques. Only if the tutor has known the student for a lengthy period of time and trusts him should he negotiate alternate arrangements other than online, upfront payments. The tutor should also have a cancellation policy so he doesn't lose too many funds from students not showing up at the last minute.
Don't shortchange one's abilities and education. Some students will want the tutor to charge less than he is worth. The tutor should have a set hourly or per page (s) rate and stick to it. Twenty-five to thirty dollars an hour/up to five pages of writing is the going rate for tutors with a Masters degree.
Do what the student asks of one, within reason. If he just want his paper proofread, don't waste time giving him detailed grammar pointers. On the other hand, if he wants research advice, don't tell him to come back when the has the paper written. Students will always ask private tutors to write their papers for them. Don't do it. It's academically dishonest and only shortchanges the student in the end.
Be financially flexible. It's difficult at times to make a living as a private tutor. This is due to the way students come and go according to the assignments required by each course or their own personal schedule. The summer months and over the Christmas season are particularly slow as school is out for the holidays. Save money while it's coming in and undertake other sources of employment such as copy editing, running workshops or freelancing to supplement any tutoring income.
Have fun! Working with people in a scholarly sense is usually enjoyable. Students want to learn and succeed. The tutor can make it seem possible. Joke a bit, smile, be friendly. Running a private tutoring business can be extremely rewarding.
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