Starting a tutoring career

Although a lot of people in NYC are looking for tutors to learn Spanish, there are also people who are fluent in speaking it. If you are a mother, or a college student who has a talent in teaching, and is fluent in speaking the language, then you might want to consider tutoring. Here are some tips that would help you start out:

KNOW YOUR MARKET:

As with other businesses, it’s best for you to check if people are even interested in the business you’re planning. Make a simple survey of people who might want to enroll in your class, but inform them ahead of time that nothing is concrete yet and that you’re still in the process doing a feasibility study.

ADVERTISE:

Once you’ve established that starting a tutoring class is feasible, then it’s time to advertise to gather enough people to start the class. Keep in mind that you are the only teacher available to teach (if that’s the case), so you don’t want to have too much people. Handing out leaflets is a cheap way to advertise. You can either hand it out yourself or give it to teachers so they could give it out to students. Posting posters is also a good way to let people know about your class, but be sure to ask permission from the right people to avoid being reprimanded from illegally posting advertisements.

PRIVATE VS. GROUP CLASSES

Decide ahead of time if you want to want to have a private or a group class. I suggest having private classes for the inexperienced tutor as having to cater to several people’s needs all at the same time might bring confusion and stress. This is also true for the student. Learning could be accelerated if the students get to speak and practice more in a class. You might want to start with at least three students, so you would have no problem with setting your schedule.

SET A SCHEDULE:

Choose time and days that you can dedicate to tutoring and stick with it. Remember that you your students pay you for your time, so make sure to follow agreed schedules. If you are a student, then you may want to set classes on the weekends so that you won’t be interrupted during schooldays. If you are a mom, you could probably dedicate 10 to 20 hours a week for your classes. Whatever the schedule is, make sure to have it in such a way that both you and your students can stick with it.

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT STUDYING:

You need to understand that tutoring is not all about teaching them Spanish. Tutoring is more often an assistance, so you might want to teach your student good study habits which are sure to help them improve.

EVALUATE:

Each person has their own level, and each would require a different approach to make learning effective for them. Know your student’s level at the very beginning, so you’ll know what to teach and not to teach them anymore. Don’t be afraid to try a different approach if you find that what you’re doing is not effective for them.

IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE MONEY:

Keep your student’s welfare in mind all the time. Be honest. Don’t keep your student if you see that they’re not improving with you. There’s no sense for them to keep paying you if they’re not getting anything in return. Don’t be afraid to admit to yourself that they need a different teaching technique, one that you might not be able to give. Teaching is a satisfying experience, and there’s nothing more satisfying than to your student learn. May it be under your class or not.

SOME TIPS:

• Make an effort to make your classes fun. A boring class plus a bored student is not a good combination.
• Set your fee ahead of time to avoid misunderstandings.
• Give some freebies like a free fourth or fifth session. This is a good way to keep customers for your classes.
• Enjoy! Don’t get pressured. Remember that you’re doing this not just to enjoy money, but to help people as well.

Choosing The Right Spanish Tutor

New York City is one of the best places to learn Spanish in the U.S.A. With its 44 million native Spanish speaker residents, you won’t have to look far and wide to find the best Spanish tutor for you. But we need to keep in mind that being able to speak fluent Spanish is not all that we need in a Spanish tutor. Here are some tips to find the right Spanish tutor for you:

The tutor must be a native Spanish speaker

Of course this is one of the qualifications when you look for a Spanish teacher. As I said, some guy speaking Spanish is not enough. Remember that learning Spanish also deals with proper pronunciation, and teaching you that is just not possible without a native Spanish speaker.

The Tutor must be fluent in English

Learning is not a one way street. How would a student learn if he can’t understand what the teacher is saying? The same also goes for teachers. How would a teacher be effective in answering questions or helping the student if the teacher can’t understand what her student’s are trying to say? Being fluent in English also goes hand in hand with being accustomed to our culture to better relate with the student.

The Tutor must have studied Spanish Literature & Linguistics at College level

It is not enough that your tutor can converse in Spanish. Just like any other language, Spanish is a complex language so you would do well with someone who understands the underlying structure of the language so your tutor could provide you with clear instructions.

Professional Teaching Style

Your tutor should be patient and professional enough to understand that you are still a student struggling to learn. Having a teacher who knows how to correct a mistake with a smile and knows how to encourage you to learn would create a fun but educational atmosphere.

Experience

Having at least a year’s experience in teaching is a must when looking for a language tutor. I got to admit that some people are born teachers which mean that they have the gift for teaching and everything but nobody is good enough on their first time. You are paying good money so I don’t see why you would settle for anything less. Also, you could do a little checking on a prospect. You can ask their previous students how they are as a teacher and you could also ask what their teaching style is to help you decide if they are a fit for you.