How to find a tutor?

When a child cannot cope with the curriculum, and exams are approaching, parents begin to sound the alarm about how to find a tutor. And it happens that adults themselves who want to learn something new need a tutor. Today, to find a good teacher, you don’t even have to get off the couch, but making a choice can be difficult. We'll figure out where to find a professional and what to pay attention to.

Why do you need a tutor?

The reasons may be different. Most often, parents turn to a tutor to improve their student’s performance and prepare for exams. Adults also need the services of specialists, for example, to learn a foreign language or master singing.

Even the most prepared students, who are confident that they know the subject by heart, would do well to contact a tutor - this will allow them to identify possible errors and correct them in time.

Before choosing a tutor, it is important to decide what exactly he is needed for - this way you will quickly find a specialist with suitable experience.

Where can I find a good tutor?

You have several options at your disposal. Let's look at the most popular of them:

Specialized Internet resources

You can find a good tutor on special websites, for example https://nice-tutor.com/.

The operating principle of such resources is similar and differs only in details. After you fill out your information, the service shows suitable candidates, and you call the one you like. When choosing an educational Internet platform, first of all, pay attention to the presence there:

• Questionnaires of tutors, which contain detailed information about each: their specialization, education, format of future classes.
• Real reviews from graduates and students.
• Information about the cost of classes, availability of subscriptions, discounts and other special payment terms.

Pros:  a very wide choice of specialists, and unsuitable candidates are eliminated automatically. It is also important that each applicant for employment undergoes a strict selection process.

Cons:  some top resources may inflate the cost of services. Therefore, it is better to compare prices on several sites.

Word of mouth

Asking other parents in the class, friends, or neighbors is an affordable and reliable way to find a teacher. However, you shouldn’t completely trust someone else’s opinion: your friend may like the tutor, but he won’t be suitable for your personal goals. Therefore, do not rush to conclude an agreement - first, take a trial lesson.

Plus:  the chances of getting caught by an amateur are significantly reduced, since you are getting a recommendation first-hand, and not from an anonymous person on the Internet.

Disadvantage:  the search circle is limited to your friends.

Social network

Many tutors actively use social networks and maintain their own pages. If you decide to look for a teacher there, pay attention to the following:

Plus:  social networks allow you to evaluate both the level of professionalism and how the tutor communicates.

Minus:  you do not rely on the teacher himself, but on the image he conveys and the comments of unknown people. So be critical about this.

• Professionalism of the teacher. The best indicator is student success. It’s good if the tutor posts the results of his work: client reviews, scores and diplomas.

• Communication style. This also cannot be ignored - it is important that you or your child find a common language with the teacher. See how the expert responds to comments and how he reacts to criticism. If something worries you, it is better not to contact such a specialist.

Personal qualities. The closer in spirit a person is to you, the easier it will be to interact. Pay attention to what topics the expert raises on his blog and what his interests are. This will help you make your choice.

Free advertisements

Tutors often post information about their services on free classifieds websites .

When choosing, be sure to pay attention to the reviews and ratings in the applicant’s profile. Some teachers offer to attend the first lesson for free or for a minimal fee - this allows you to get to know the teacher and decide whether it is worth continuing further cooperation or not. But if an expert demands payment for several lessons in advance from the very beginning, be careful: perhaps this is a scammer.

Plus:  unlike word of mouth, the choice of offers is much larger.

Minus:  it is possible that you will run into scammers or unqualified specialists, since free ad sites are available to everyone. In addition, you will have to call or write to each candidate yourself and check his competencies.

What to look for when choosing a tutor?

There are many specialists, but to choose the right one, consider the following factors:

• Realistic deadlines. You should be wary if the teacher promises to raise your scores in one week  - don’t expect a miracle. Let the teacher outline the work plan and the results he plans to achieve.
• Experience. What is important is not so much the experience of the teacher, but whether he has experience in solving your specific problem.
• Price. Please note that many truly talented teachers charge inexpensively, while others, on the contrary, inflate prices due to their extensive experience, although they themselves have not improved their qualifications for a long time.

First of all, start from your budget: in any price category there is a chance to find a professional.

What is important to discuss with your tutor before starting classes?

Even if you can't wait to start classes, it's a good idea to start by asking your teacher about the learning process. Points to discuss:

• Has the tutor had a similar experience? It’s great if the teacher has already faced the same problem as you, for example, preparing for an international exam in a foreign language. In this case, he knows about possible difficulties and imagines how to solve them.
• The results of the tutor's work. Ask the specialist about other students. Believe me, a good teacher is only happy to share his successes. 
• Selecting a program. Tutors study either using traditional textbooks or proprietary programs - both options can give excellent results. But if the teacher cannot clearly answer a question about the program, this is a bad sign.
• Hometasks. Homework is treated differently: some teachers place a lot of emphasis on independent work, while others prefer to do more in person. So, check in advance what strategy the tutor follows, what format you consider comfortable for yourself, and select the appropriate option.
• How the teacher will track progress. During training, it is important to monitor the student’s progress and adjust the program. You should not trust those who ignore this point.

How to save money on a tutor?

The terms of cooperation are set by the teacher himself based on his experience, level of education and other criteria, so bargaining is not always appropriate. However, if you are satisfied with the specialist’s qualifications, but the price for his lessons is high for you, try the following:

• Online classes instead of face-to-face classes. Ask if the teacher can conduct classes remotely - this way he (and you too) will not have to waste time and money on travel, which means he will be able to give a small discount.
• Group classes. In this case, the teacher will charge the amount for one lesson, and not for each student, so the total cost of classes will decrease. Yes, not all teachers recruit groups, but parents can look for like-minded people themselves and offer the tutor a new format.
• Let the teacher choose the time. Let's say a teacher only has free time early in the morning, but clients rarely agree to it. If such a schedule suits you, you can ask the tutor for a discount for studying when it is convenient for him personally, and not for you.
• Class subscription. Find out if you can buy classes in a package - this usually works out better.

How to find the right tutor: conclusions

• Before looking for a specialist, clearly formulate the problem that he will have to solve.
• You can look for a tutor through friends, on free classifieds websites, on social networks and on specialized Internet resources.
• Before concluding a contract, be sure to ask the teacher about how the classes will be held.
• If you are satisfied with the teacher, but the prices for services are too high, ask for a discount: offer an online format or group lessons.
• If you have been studying for a long time, but there are still no results, it’s time to think about changing your teacher.