There’s quite a lot that goes into becoming an experienced tutor. The good news is — an average university student usually just needs a push in the right direction to get there.
First things first, there is no formal qualification you need to bring to the table to become a tutor in Australia. Of course, you still need to undergo a Working with Children Check, as anyone who wants to work with children is required by law. However, what this means is private tutors don’t need any specific national tutoring qualifications.
What you do need is the right blend of hard and soft skills to add to your credibility and make students come back to your next lesson. We’ll have an in-depth look at how to become a tutor in Australia, be it through a tutoring agency or on your own, through private tutoring.
Subject Knowledge
In general, tutors should know what they’re talking about – they should have a strong understanding of the subject they are covering. The most effective tutor will know most concepts, theories, and problem-solving techniques within an area. Tutors who specialise in test preparation should have experience with NAPLAN, HSC or VCE and know how standardised tests work. This means they have an in-depth knowledge of test formats, content, and scoring criteria. What’s more, they should be familiar with effective test-taking strategies their students can use to reach a certain goal.
However, this doesn’t mean you have to take every test there is and cover all curricula in order to feel comfortable tutoring. Most of these skills are transferable. You might not know a particular test or it might be a while since you‘ve picked up a pencil and sat down for a formal evaluation, but fear not! You can still figure it out. As long as you’ve taken standardised test before and did your best to stay informed about new developments – you can fill in the blanks.
Soft Skills
Having the necessary subject knowledge is only the start. What sets an experienced tutor apart from someone starting out is how they build their relationship with a student and how they make learning feel. Most tutors need to hone their communication, interpersonal and organisational skills. Then there are patience, empathy, and adaptability. These qualities make it easier to adapt to a student’s unique needs, and they play a big part in how to become a tutor.
In short, there shouldn’t be any obstacles to learning. Information should be clearly and effectively conveyed, concepts explained in a down-to-earth kind of way. Be present, listen to questions and concerns. When you’ve built enough trust, start offering constructive feedback. And never forget – there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to tutoring. You need to be able to adapt to different learning preferences. Through figuring out these specifics is how you develop a teaching style.
We’ve all spent quite a lot of time in classrooms, and yet most of us are unaware of any teaching methods the teacher might have used. Soft skills are sometimes hard to put into words as they’re developed by doing, so we’ll take more time to really understand and pinpoint them.
Quite a few students may struggle with concepts or need extra time to grasp new material. The only way around this is to be patient. With being patient comes understanding, and if you do it long enough, you’ll create a non-judgmental environment that encourages students to ask questions. Sometimes you have to sit in silence so that students can learn at their own pace.
Other students might need a more direct approach and actually thrive when given direct feedback. An experienced tutor will know the difference. By putting the students first, tutors learn how to think on their feet and adapt to the situation.
One major upside of private tutors is that they have the time to get to know their students. Having teaching experience can help a teacher out to a degree, but with a full room of students and no time to individualise learning, quite a few students are left to their own devices to figure things out. A tutor, however, should focus on getting to know their student. Part of the tutoring process is taking the time and showing you care.
It comes as no surprise that empathy is at the very core of the soft skills we’ve covered so far. Tutors who build a supportive environment know part of their job is to motivate and inspire students. An effective tutor builds trust and offers structure. This is where organisational skills come into play.
Going by their subject knowledge, tutors should be able to identify the most important topics in a specific area and set clear goals for each lesson. This in turn makes it easier to cover more ground and manage your time well. A well-structured lesson is an effective one.
Last but not least, apart from having any type of formal qualification or what kind of teaching style they develop, tutors, in general, rely heavily on problem-solving skills. There are quite a few elements that go into a lesson. Identifying as well as addressing learning gaps, finding alternative explanations, and adjusting strategies as you go along takes quite a lot of problem-solving. Tutors who can think on their feet are usually those who feel comfortable tutoring.
Gaining Experience
While not mandatory, gaining experience will set you apart from other tutors. By gaining experience, tutors learn to carry themselves. Being reliable, punctual, and maintaining appropriate boundaries with both students and their parents is what goes into building a long-term relationship. None of that is possible without building trust and behaving in a professional manner.
Trying something before you start doing it is always a good idea. Some tutors try finding opportunities themselves, others turn to tutoring organisations and online tutoring. If you search for something like online tutoring jobs Australia you’ll find quite a few ways to gain some tutoring experience. Through tutoring, you’ll hone your soft skills and deepen your subject knowledge. If you manage to get a few references, there’ll be no stopping you.
Conclusion
Apart from a Working with Children Check, which is a screening all tutors must undergo, there is no formal qualification you need to obtain to become a tutor. What you do need is some subject knowledge and certain soft skills. You can use a tutoring service or turn to online tutoring to gain experience. That way, you can develop important soft skills, like thinking on your feet, how best to organise your time, or motivate a student. On top of that, adding a reference to your credential will take you one step further.