Whats your reason for tutoring?

Question

Whats your reason for tutoring the subjct that you teach?

Answer 1

I teach Spanish once a week to a group of friends just to help them out as there were quite a few that were keen to learn.

As I'm currently doing a TESOL course to teach English, I thought that any language teaching practice would be good and it has been great to have a weekly class where I can apply the things I'm learning on my course.

Also teaching Spanish is good for my own understanding because it makes me research things that I might know but don't know how to explain and it highlights areas where I have a bit of an understanding gap which I believe has helped my Spanish to improve.

Meanwhile we all get to enjoy each other's company and my friends get free Spanish lessons so we're all winners

You are right Kiwi teaching helps you better understand what you are teaching as it makes you think of the reasons why things are as they are ie the rules and helps cristalise these concepts in your thinking:) - FELIZ77, Jan 23, 2012

I agree. A big part of the trouble I have with Spanish grammar is because I never really learn English grammar. Sure it was taught in grade school but who was paying attention. I sure wasn't. - gringojrf, Jan 23, 2012

knowing English grammar helps soooooooo much. In class I talked to another English speaking girl and she kept being confused by things and I would say "How is that confusing, it's the very same in English!" and she'd have to think about it. - rabbitwho, Jan 24, 2012

Answer 2

I teach English as a foreign language.

Pros:

1. I like travelling
2. It's the only thing I can do.
3. It allows me to learn about how language works which makes learning one a lot easier.

Cons:

1. I can't spell.
2. I can't do this in Ireland if I want to.
3. Some schools try to control you too much and end up making your classes boring and making you hate your job. Which in turn makes your students miserable.
4. Children.

You should have said, I can't spel. :) - Tosh, Jan 23, 2012

ja ja cons - children, lol - Hey Rabbit I'm just getting started down this track, I've nearly finished my TESOL course and am especially interested in teaching English online - if you have any hints or tips or sites I'd appreciate any info :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 23, 2012

I know nothing about teaching online I'm afraid Kiwi. I guess it's a good way to build experience, anyway come to Europe, you'll get a job in 5 minutes. - rabbitwho, Jan 23, 2012

really? what kind of work is available? - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 23, 2012

what training/certification is required? - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 23, 2012

CELTA is the best I would say, but anything with the same requirements to pass is good, that means at least 7 hours observed teaching practice and 130 or more class time. (They might have changed the CELTA requirements since I did my CELT (irish version)) - rabbitwho, Jan 24, 2012

You can get work teaching easily, mostly teaching kids here in Spain. You'll need to work in a smallish town or city for the first one or two years, as too many people want to live in the big cities, but once you have experience you can work anywhere. - rabbitwho, Jan 24, 2012

Being from the EU I don't have to worry about visas, schools don't want to have to do the paper work for you so you generally have to sort that out before you go. That's the complicated part, but once that's sorted you'll be fine. - rabbitwho, Jan 24, 2012

Depending on where you work and the cost of living beginners salery tends to be 9 euro an hour, but you can supliment it with your own private classes and charge more, or you can do a deal with the school that you get paid more for private classes . - rabbitwho, Jan 24, 2012

13 euro with contract or 15 euro without seems to be the norm wage for working in a school once you have 2 years experience. Again, it depens on the area as cost of living varies widely in Spain. - rabbitwho, Jan 24, 2012