Why did you want to be a Teacher?

Answer 1

Tutoring can be a great job whether you are still in college or have recently graduated. It is typically flexible and pays a decent hourly wage. Here are some tips for becoming a tutor.

1. Identify what subject(s) you would like to tutor. What subjects are you particularly good at? What subjects do you enjoy? Asking yourself these questions is an important first step in identifying what you would like to tutor.
2. Decide where/whom would you like to tutor.There are many ways to be a tutor. Before searching for tutoring jobs, it’s important to decide whom you want to tutor (what age students, etc.) and where you would like to tutor (on campus, at a coffee shop, at someone’s home, etc.).
3. Seek out tutoring opportunities in your community. Check with your college’s tutoring center to see if they are hiring (sometimes you have to check with individual departments because they hire their own tutors). There are also professional tutoring agencies in the community that hire tutors to work with school-aged children and/or adults.
4. Stay organized. Since tutoring typically involves working with a variety of clients in different places, it’s important to stay organized by keeping a calendar so that you don’t miss an appointment. Also, be sure to keep your clients’ contact information handy in case you need to cancel or change an appointment.
5. Communicate with your client and be clear about expectations. Before you start tutoring someone, take some time to understand his or her goals and expectations about the tutoring process (are you helping your client prepare for a specific test, for example). You should also be clear about your own expectations (timeliness, payment arrangement, etc.).
6. Prepare so you can exceed your client’s expectations. Spend some time between tutoring sessions preparing materials to help exceed your client’s expectations. This is key to solidifying a positive tutoring relationship.

Answer 2

Do you have a passion for teaching and enjoy working with students? If so, consider becoming a tutor. A tutor is responsible for teaching a specific subject area to one or more students. Tutors help students to improve their knowledge and academic skills. Many tutors find their job to be exciting and rewarding. However, there are a few things that you must do before you can become a tutor. Read on for more information on how to become a tutor.

Credentials

If you are interested in working as a tutor, you must first demonstrate that you have the proper knowledge and abilities to successfully help students with their academic problems. Many tutoring agencies require tutors to meet the following criteria:

• Hold a bachelor's degree in the subject area that you want to tutor
• Have previous teaching and/or tutoring experience (a teaching internship or relevant volunteer work experience may be acceptable)
• Be a certified teacher/tutor (or willing to obtain certification)
• Have an updated resume displaying your relevant credentials
• Professional references
• Pass an academic skills test (typically administered by the tutoring agency)
• Pass a background check

Please note that some organizations and institutions may allow you to tutor students even if you do not have a college degree. For instance, if you are currently enrolled in college and you have earned college credits in the subject area that you want to tutor, then you may be able to work as a tutor. However, that organization or institution will carefully evaluate the courses that you have completed (along with your current Grade Point Average) before hiring you to work as a tutor.

Work Environment

Tutors work in a variety of settings, such as colleges, universities, school districts, churches, libraries, literacy programs, community centers, summer enrichment programs, online (via a tutoring agency), or in the student's home. However, not all tutors have the skills, training and knowledge to work in all of these settings. Therefore, it is important that you properly identify the age group that you want to work with and choose an appropriate work environment that matches your skills and abilities.

Some tutors prefer working with elementary students, while other tutors enjoy teaching older students or adults. The choice is yours, just as long as you can prove that you are qualified to tutor that particular age group and subject.

There are several reputable tutoring agencies that typically hire tutors on a regular basis, such as Sylvan Learning, Huntington Learning Center and Kaplan. You may contact these specific tutoring agencies for information on becoming a tutor.

If you are interested in providing tutoring students online, then you may contact agencies such as Brainfuse, Tutor.com and SMARTHINKING.com, to learn about their tutoring opportunities.

Certification

Completing a tutor certification program can greatly enhance your resume. The National Tutoring Association (NTA) is a nonprofit organization for tutoring professionals. The NTA offers tutor training and certification programs for a variety of subjects. You can learn more about becoming a certified tutor through NTA by visiting their website at ntatutor.com.

You may also contact the continuing education department at local colleges to inquire about tutor certification programs. In addition, many tutoring agencies offer certification programs, as well.

By obtaining the appropriate educational credentials, work experience, training and certification, you should have no problem finding the right tutoring job.

Answer 3

Not everyone learns in the same way or at the same rate (speed). Some need more or different guidance. This is what a tutor does.