Tuition centres, tuition agencies, private tutors, online tutors, home tutors all in Singapore. There is a whole bevy of options available for students and parents to choose from for junior colleges, secondary schools, or primary school students.
According to Todayonline, the number of tuition and enrichment centres have risen from about 700 in 2012, to more than 950 in 2019. And that’s just the number of registered tuition centres! The statistics barely account for the hordes of freelance home tutors.
For a majority of Singaporeans today, tuition is deemed as beneficial to children’s education and their learning experience. But with such a daunting pool of tuition services to choose from, selecting the best tutor for your child can be overwhelming. Where do you even start?
Well, this article provides you with a general guide on choosing the most suitable tuition option for your child.
1. Have an open discussion with your child.
The first step is to know what exactly your child needs in their tuition classes.
Explore the fundamental root of the problem. Talk through the various subjects, detailed questions and levels of difficulties they are struggling with, as well as those they find easy. The best way to determine the help they need is by simply asking them.
Note that your child might react unfavorably to the idea of tuition-classes. Having a discussion might make your child feel more included and empowered in the decision-making process. A student’s understanding and receptiveness to tuition is crucial in promoting effective teaching and learning.
2. Find the right class size.
Consider what class-size might work best for your child’s learning process. Will he or she need 1-on-1 private classes, or are there more benefits if they opt for group tuition of small class sizes?
As a former student of various kinds of tuition-classes, I’d say small group-classes are much more impactful.
Once everyone overcomes the initial awkwardness, students find that developing friendships in class makes the learning environment much more comfortable. These friendships may even be motivation to attend classes! This is of course provided the tuition teacher maintains a conducive learning environment.
Furthermore, smaller groups have been proven to promote greater learning and productivity in the classroom. To illustrate, this study by the University of Minnesota showed how group dialogue promotes critical thinking about concepts.
Learning in a group definitely promotes more active learning, and it would be wise to consider tuition services that offer this. Sophia Education Tuition Centre offers both Group Lessons as well as 1-to-1 Lessons
3. Consider the centre/teacher’s Credentials.
This is the first way you can gauge the quality of a tuition teacher. You want to be certain that the tuition centre and/or teacher has the right type of qualifications to teach and has had many years of experience in teaching.
Inquire on their expertise, as well as their level of expertise. You need to ensure they have certification at a higher level than the current level they are teaching. Expert mastery in the subject will allow the tutor to provide deeper insights, as well as more effective techniques to study, providing quality teaching materials and supporting materials like quizzes and practical exercises.
Moreover, don’t be afraid to ask for proof of certification. Honest and reputable tuition teachers are more than happy to give you that peace of mind when you opt to learn through tuition in singapore rather that from only your school teachers.
4. Assess their Experience & Knowledge.
While paper qualifications are important, they are not the only way to determine if you’ve found the best tutor for your child. An individual might possess commendable competency in the subject, but it takes a distinct skill and experience to be a good teacher with effective teaching strategies and teaching methods.
Ask yourself this: Does the tuition agency in Singapore or teacher have the experience to support their asking price? If not, do consider sourcing for a teacher or centre that does.
Furthermore, you will need someone well-versed in the demands of the MOE syllabus and system. A former MOE-teacher or a teacher who has had years of teaching experience is knowledgeable on the ins and outs of the system, and can give your child useful advice in tackling major examinations.
Experienced teachers are also able to spot problems areas effortlessly as they have taught a large repertoire of students. They are aware of the most common misconceptions, and can quell these issues more efficiently.
Aside from this, you also need to find someone who is flexible and knows how to respond well to changes in the syllabus. As many parents know, long-standing national exams like PSLE are going through major overhauls by MOE.
There is an ongoing trend of change that may affect the different curriculums, and you want to find teachers that are open-minded and receptive to change.
5. Weighing Price VS Quality
As a general rule of thumb, go for the best possible option.
You might be saving on tuition rates by getting the cheapest option, but at what cost?
You don’t want to run the risk of your money and child’s time coming up futile if your tutor fails to help them improve. Time is of the essence, especially during the crucial years of their O Levels or A Levels.
Consider what you spend on private tuition or tuition classes as a long term investment: You intend to receive high returns (i.e. improved grades, top scores, brighter futures) for the money you put into your child’s education. To make sure you are getting your money’s worth, it would be best to spend a smidge more on tuition teachers of top quality and experience.
6. Selecting a tuition location nearby
For greater convenience, locate tuition centres that may be near your child’s school or your residence. This would allow greater ease of travelling for your child, especially if you intend to send them for tuition classes right after school or on the weekends. A simple “tuition centres near me” on google will provide you with a cursory scan of the best centres near you.
Up and coming tuition companies like Sophia Education have 8 centres spread island-wide, and situated right beside MRT stations. Our centres are highly accessible and convenient for students all across the country.
7. How does your child respond to the tuition teacher?
Most tuition centres and tutors have what we call ‘trial lessons’ for parents and students to gauge a tutor’s ability. This first lesson is crucial, and you should consider your child’s opinions in the process.
If your child dislikes the tutor from the onset, be it due to incompatible teaching styles, personality or types of supporting materials provided, they might not be a worthwhile investment.
Finding a teacher and environment that your child prefers will encourage them to become more receptive to the lessons. Oftentimes, a students’ learning corresponds to the relationship they have to their teachers, and a good relationship typically results in better academic performance.
8. Track your child’s progress.
Make it a point to monitor your child’s improvements with the tutor, if any.
Do request monthly reports on your child’s work from the tutor, and routinely compare their past scores with their current scores.This will act as an indicator of your child’s progress, as well as your tutor’s performance.
If your child’s progress has been unsubstantial for a while, it might be best to begin your search for a new tutor.
Understand that while this might be a frustrating outcome, it is important that your child is receiving the right help he/she needs.
Conclusion
Choosing the right tuition teacher for you and your child is a tedious process that requires plenty of deliberation. You want to make sure you’re investing in the right people to help your child reach their goals.
Read our article about how tuition teachers under Sophia Education centres meet and exceed these expectations here. Do consider registering your child with us! We provide personalised tuition that offer various subjects like chemistry, math, biology, physics, english, economics, general paper and mother tongue languages like chinese.
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