Questions to ask a tutor.
All parents want the best tutor they can find for their child. More parents choose to save money by screening tutors themselves and hiring them directly rather than dealing with a company or agency.
The most common question received at findAtutor.ca from parents is "How do I know if the tutor is qualified?" The following questions serve as a guideline of questions to ask when contacting a tutor for the first time:
- What is your education background?
- How long have you been tutoring?
- When was the last time you tutored someone in this subject/at this level?
- How much do you charge?
- What method of payment do you take/when is payment due?
- When are you available?
- What is your cancellation policy?
- Where do you meet with students?
- Have you had a criminal record check done?
- Do you have any references I can call?
Other helpful tips:
Take your time: Spend time talking with the tutor on the phone to get a sense of the kind of person they are.
Look around: Call a few tutors. You can also have your child try out a few different tutors and then decide who to meet with on regular basis. This way you will also have a back-up tutor available if your regular tutor goes on holidays or is sick.
Trust your instincts: Listen to your inner voice, it's usually correct!
Listen to your child: If your child is unhappy/uncomfortable, consider changing tutors or backing off from tutoring. Students must be willing to accept help for tutoring to be beneficial. Also, personality match can be more important than the tutor's skill. It won't matter if the tutor has a Ph.D. and 20 years experience if your child doesn't like the person.
Remember that you are investing in your child's education and future, make the best choice!
