Tutor profile: Alan K.

What advantages does an SAT tutor offer in addition to other methods of preparing for the exam?

A tutor working with an individual student can quickly help to determine a student's analytical processes in a manner not achievable in a classroom setting. For example on the Reading sections, a tutor may have a student read passages out loud, dissect passages out loud, and give reasoning out loud as he or she reads. The tutor may also give the student prompts about how to find key information as he or she reads. Through a close review and discussion of answers, a tutor can help each student understand his or her answers. A tutor can walk through a question, paraphrase, point out context clues and look at facial clues to ensure a student truly understands the question and answer. Additionally, the tutor can develop an individualized study plan. For example, a student may have difficulty completing the Reading sections in the allotted time. A tutor can teach strategies to speed up reading and work through the questions in the most efficient manner. Further, one-on-one tutoring allows the tutor to help each student with self-discipline, setting goals to meet deadlines, and understanding and working with the inevitable anxiety which comes with studying for and taking the Test.

Why do students learning English as a Second Language benefit from one-on-one tutoring?

I have (and continue to) work with many ESL students. Many students come from different cultures, and knowing the importance of having some familiarity with a student's culture is critical to effective tutoring because it influences learning styles. In particular, pronunciation, sentence structure, and emphasis of certain concepts may be very different from English. In fact some sounds in English do not exist in other languages and must be taught through mimicking. I have found that this is best done one-to-one because mastery may require multiple approximations of a sound to accurately pronounce it., This knowledge is quite difficult to acquire in a classroom setting, Also, many of the students i have worked with have particular anxiety about learning ESL. However, I remind them, that very often I cannot speak their language at all.

Why is English best taught one-on-one?

Many disciplines require unique skills; however one-on-one learning of English, with so many exceptions to pronunciation, grammar, spelling, sentence structure and so on, is particularly effective, A tutor can specifically focus on individual learning objectives without worrying about other students in the classroom. Additionally, a tutor can tailor educational materials and lesson plans to suit each student's unique needs and adapt each session appropriately to ensure each of their students achieve their full potential. Working one-on-one also allows a tutor to more quickly target weaknesses and build on strengths. At least as important is the tutor's attention to a student's anxieties and the ability to show kindness and compassion in return.