Posts Tagged ‘private tutors’

From the student’s mouth: How my private tutor helped me. (Case study)

Thursday, August 4th, 2011

My family (older sister) had used a private tutor before, but always from recommendations from friends, etc. In January 2011 I felt I needed a private tutor immediately for Psychology A-level and asked around, but no one had any ideas/recommendations. “Various ‘Revision Schools’ were recommended, for attending during the holidays, but we wanted a personal, one-to-one tutor on a weekly or more often basis, especially one who would come to our house. I did not want to have to drive miles after a full day.”

Finally I came across First Tutors. You offered several tutors for psychology at A-level and I could pick and chose. Some lived too far out of my area and others did not indicate that they would travel to me. However, I quickly found Charmaine’s profile and made contact. Charmaine lived locally, she would travel to me and her profile showed that she had plenty of the right kind of experience and knowledge (degrees and so on).

After exchanging details through your site, I talked with my mum and we decided that she might be just what we were looking for. We paid the introduction fee to First Tutors and within literally minutes Charmaine was in touch with us. She was immediately interested in and really keen to understand me and what my needs were. She was so kind and understanding. We arranged an appointment for the next day and when we met I felt that I had known Charmaine for years. “She is so warm and friendly. She has a family of her own and really understands teenagers. She also has a massive knowledge of her subject and is so enthusiastic about it that you also feel that Psychology is really worth studying and how useful it is in every day life and the world of work.”  Read the full story here

Hooray! Exams are over!

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

Hooray! Exams are over! Now is the time to de-stress, chill out, sleep and enjoy the summer. Much has been written about pre-exam anxiety, lack of sleep and high stress levels during the exam period, but few think about the after effects of those symptoms.

You will have been slouching over books, straining your eyes and probably drinking more caffeine than usual. Your body has been in upbeat mode for many weeks, you may have neglected your diet and also your exercise routine. Mentally, you could be feeling exhausted and perhaps still a little worried until you receive your exam results. STOP! As the Dalai Lama quoted in the past – “If there is a solution to a problem there is no need to worry and if there is no solution, there is no need to worry!”

There are many ways in which you can wind down slowly and recharge batteries for the new Academic term.

  • Join a Yoga class and learn to relax. If you enjoy Yoga, this will prepare you for when exams come around again. You will learn how to deal with stress BEFORE you reach unbearable stress levels.
  • Learn something new. Perhaps you are going on holiday to a foreign country and would like to have a basic understanding of the language and the country. We have plenty of language tutors who can provide relaxed casual lessons and make them fun too! If languages don’t appeal why not take up cooking classes or learn how to knit/crochet (another stress buster!)
  • Find a job. If you are over 18, why not consider teaching a couple of times a week? There are plenty of  parents looking for extra tuition for their children’s 11 plus exam preparation! Register here and start building 5 star feedback on your profile.
  • Go backpacking! Backpacking is more than a vacation, it’s a form of education. Backpackers want to experience the “real” destination rather than the packaged version associated with mass tourism. Here you will find all the information you need to prepare your backpacking trip.

Whatever you decide to do during the holiday period, make sure it’s different to your normal routine. Sleep as much as you can, take time to visit family and friends but above all, ENJOY -  You deserve it! Happy Holidays!

Creative writing, talent or skill?

Saturday, June 4th, 2011

Writing of any sort is not easy but perhaps creative writing is the hardest of all. Creative writing falls into the fiction/non-fiction or poetry categories, but essentially it’s purpose is to express thoughts, feelings and emotions, rather than to simply convey information. Perhaps you have noticed that your child has a vivid imagination and loves reading books and inventing his/her own stories?

Perhaps you are an adult and have always wanted to learn how to transfer your thoughts and emotions to paper but don’t know where to start? Although there are many websites about creative writing, dedicated to both adults and children; a private tutor can provide invaluable help to boost the imagination and master the techniques of creative writing.

There has been much a debate on whether creative writing is an inert talent or learned skill. Most experts would agree that it’s a bit of both – skill and talent can work together. If English was always your best subject at school and you also enjoyed the lessons, this could be an indication of what you wish to study for a future career.

Creative writing is a skill and that’s why we have this category in our Arts & Crafts website together with many other skills: drama, painting, photography to list a few. Just like other artists, musicians and other creative people, they all follow a similar path – a passion hones through years of learning and practice. True dedication will result in truly wonderful writings.

Exam anxiety

Saturday, April 30th, 2011

With exam time just around the corner, many students will begin to suffer with exam anxiety during the next few weeks.

There are four main areas that can contribute to exam anxiety: Test Anxiety SOS

  • lifestyle issues
  • information needs
  • studying styles
  • psychological factors

You may have tight muscles, constant low grade headaches, insomnia and/or an upset stomach. These symptoms can in turn affect your behaviour. You may find that you are unable to concentrate or focus when studying. Many students neglect their normal routine near exam time. Some may turn to binge eating or constant snacking. Others will drink coffee or take other stimulants thinking it will help them concentrate for longer periods of time. Fear, worry, frustration or panic are all symptoms revealing that you maybe under exam stress.

Anxiety reduction techniques can help reduce the above symptoms. If you find yourself confronted with constant negative thoughts, you can use thought replacement techniques to overcome this problem. Try interrupting negative thoughts with the following statements:

  • I can do this!
  • I will do my best
  • I can pass this exam
  • I will focus only on the question in front of me.

Irrational thinking is not reality. It is your preconceived perception of yourself or your abilities. Put yourself into a positive frame of mind by imagining how you would LIKE things to go. Imagine yourself turning up for the exam feeling confident and relaxed.

A good private tutor can help you organise your study skills, focus on aspects that need the most attention and also boost your confidence in your own abilities. If you know you will start to panic near exam time, talk to your tutor, explain what issues are worrying you the most. Experienced tutors know too well what students go through near exam time; not just because they have other students who suffer similar issues but from their own personal experience!

If you have studied hard for your exams but feel you lack confidence and need that extra boost until exam time, click here to find the perfect tutor for your needs. Best of luck!

Obtaining a place at Grammar school.

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Obtaining a place at Grammar school is not easy, much depends on the number of places apportioned to each school. Local Authorities confirm their decisions in February before the beginning of the new September term, so there is time to appeal a decision.

Many pupils take the 11 + exams but sadly only about half succeed in securing a place at grammar school. An increasing number of parents are turning to private tuition to help their child pass the entrance exams which consist of verbal reasoning and English/Maths tests.Although a private tutor can maximise the chances of your child obtaining a place at grammar school it is also important to remember that if your child is one of the lucky ones to enter grammar school they may need further private tuition to help them maintain the required level of academic performance, unless they are exceptionally bright. This aspect is often overlooked by many parents who are only concerned about securing a place, not what happens afterwards. Most educational professionals will agree that a child needs to be academically able but a private tutor can motivate and boost a child’s interest to learn.

There has been much a debate on how stressful the atmosphere can be for a child pushed by the parents, to study for grammar school entrance. A tutor outside the family environment can reduce stress both for parents and children.

If you are thinking of trying to obtain a place for your child at grammar school we advise to prepare well in advance. A good tutor will be able to evaluate your child’s academic ability well before it’s time to sit entrance exams.

First Tutors can help you find a dedicated tutor to help your child pass grammar school entrance exams or simply boost your child’s academic ability.

 

How to deal with exam stress

Monday, March 29th, 2010

It doesn’t matter how old you are or whether you’re taking SATs, GCSEs or A-levels – exam stress can affect everybody. It is completely natural and understandable that you would suffer from stress: after all, there’s a lot of work to be done, and your exam results can have a huge bearing on your future.

At the same time, there are some things you can do to reduce your stress levels. It’s so important to keep a healthy mind and healthy body during exam time, so try these stress-busters out for size. If you’re a private tutor, pass these tips along to your student(s) to help them feel more confident about their forthcoming exams.

Ask for assistance

If you’re stuck on a topic, or unsure about any of your exam content, don’t struggle alone. It sounds obvious, but your school teachers and home tutors are there to help you. Ask them to schedule some time to go over any material you don’t understand.

Excellent exercise

Exercise helps to reduce stress levels and create endorphins, your body’s “happy hormones”. Make time for 30 minutes of exercise at least three times a week, even if it’s just a walk round the block and through the park. It will help to refresh your head too.

Organise to revise

Trying to work in a clutter – both physically and mentally – will make you super stressed. Create a workspace that will help you to revise in a calm and happy manner – clean and tidy your desk, file your papers and make sure you start and end the day on a tidy note.

How to prepare for your SATs

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

A revision timetable helps students and their tutors plan out what topics they will revise and when. SATs and GCSEs place similar demands on students in terms of revision because they involve the study of a number of subjects. Within each subject, there are a number of topics, which means there’s a lot of ground for students and their private tutors to cover between now and exam time.

Here are our top tips for creating an efficient revision timetable for SATs:

1)    Write a list of each subject that will be tested within your upcoming SATs. Underneath each subject, write down each topic that will be covered in the exam. Your teachers should be able to tell you which topics you are likely to be tested on; if you are unsure, do check with them.

2)    Next to each topic, write a 1, 2 or 3. A number 1 is for topics that you know really well and feel confident in at this stage. A 2 is for topics that need a bit of work. A 3 is for topics that you need to do some serious work on. In your timetable, you’ll devote 15 minutes to your number 1s, 25 minutes to your number 2s and 35 minutes to your number 3s.

3)    Create your timetable, making sure that you’ve got a good mix of subjects and topics to study each day, with evenly spaced out breaks occurring at sensible points. You might put your favourite topics at the start and end of each day so that you feel positive and motivated when you begin and finish your work.

Debate of the week: Education needs an early start

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

According to new research, children growing up in the poorest fifth of families in the UK are already nearly a year behind children from other families in vocabulary tests by the time they are five.

The research was published by the Sutton Trust, which aims to promote social mobility through education. In it, 12,500 British five year olds were surveyed with reading and vocabulary tests. The results found that good parenting and a supportive home environment were the most important influencers, with children who benefited from both scoring more highly in their tests.

Just under half of children from the poorest fifth of families were read to daily at age 3, compared with 8 in 10 of children from the most affluent families.

Often, children find it difficult to catch up after such a poor start and their parents cannot afford private tutors.Whilst at First Tutors, we have sought to make private tutoring as affordable as possible (some of our tutors charge as little as £9 per hour) we acknowledge that it can be difficult, particularly in a recession.

That’s why we support the principles behind the government’s initiative to provide one-to-one tutoring for those struggling the most in class. As most families who have tried tutoring know, one-to-one tuition is a very effective way to learn and the government’s funding of this scheme endorses that perspective.

But what if tutoring isn’t an option? Try reading together as a simple way to get their education off to a great start. If you have small children, try reading to them every day – even if it’s just for ten minutes. If you don’t have children of your own, why not volunteer to help teach reading at your local primary school?

5 online resources for Cantonese tutors

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

With China fast becoming one of the world’s most dominant economies, it makes sense for tomorrow’s business executives to learn its languages, particularly Cantonese. Combine the increasing demand for tuition in Cantonese with the many Chinese students and professionals who live and work in the UK, and it’s no wonder the Cantonese tuition industry is thriving! Certainly, there are plenty of Cantonese tutors advertising their services here on First Tutors.

Here’s our guide to the best online resources for private tutors of Cantonese to use in their lesson plans:

1.    Learn Cantonese does what it says on the tin: this is a great website full of reference sheets and revision aids.

http://www.cantonese.sheik.co.uk/

2.    So You Want To Learn a Language brings together a wealth of resources for Cantonese students and is a considered introduction to the language.

http://soyouwanttolearnalanguage.googlepages.com/cantonese

3.    Another site called Learn Cantonese, but this one is Canadian in origin. Cantonese words are grouped by theme and there’s lots to here that can be incorporated into lesson plans.

http://cantonese.ca/

4.    Chinese Bay allows learners to listen to key phrases in Cantonese and become familiar with what the language sounds like.

http://chinesebay.com/cantonese/basic.asp

5.    First Tutors carries a number of books and resources for Cantonese tutors to utilise.

http://www.firsttutors.com/uk/learning-resources.php

5 online resources for Arabic tutors

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

Arabic is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world. It’s also one of the most important languages for commerce, especially in banking and finance. More and more students in the UK are getting to grips with the subject with the help of private tutors and two weeks ago the Government announced that primary school children would soon be able to learn Arabic and Mandarin.

Here are 5 great online resources to help home tutors teach their pupils Arabic:

1. Happy Child has a real wealth of free resources such an impressive range of subjects. As well as worksheets focusing on Arabic verbs, there are wider vocabulary worksheets to download.

http://www.happychild.org.uk/freeway/arabic/index.htm

2. Arabic-Language.org brings together historical and linguistic resources and is a great starting point for those new to the language, especially with their common phrases page.

http://www.arabic-language.org/arabic/phrases.asp

3. Test your knowledge in a fun and interactive way with these English-Arabic vocabulary quizzes.

http://iteslj.org/v/a/

4. Exam Papers online has an eclectic mix of Arabic language and Arabic related past papers to work with.

http://exams.st-and.ac.uk/exams/viewByModule?schoolID=50&Submit=Select+Subject

5. First Tutors recommends a range of resources for Arabic learners. We also have many talented home tutors to help with the subject.

http://www.firsttutors.com/uk/learning-resources.php