Or you child don't seems to be improving at the tuition centre for months after tutoring there?
Fear not! Help is here!
Let me give you some tips on finding the right tuition centre for your precious ones.
1. The tuition centre's settings - lessons.
How are the lesson(s) held? Topical lessons? Is there notes and homework given every lessons?
If the lessons are not well planned, no notes and homework given, say good bye to them! Don't waste your time longing for those result from them. They just want your money.
Well planned lesson is part of the key to improvement. It shows that there is consistency in their teaching and making sure that the student keep up and understand within the time frame before they move on. It might not be the same as what the school has taught, but it will be covered soon by the school then.
[Make sure that your child understands what he/she is learning by constantly looking at their marked homework. Check out for the notes and constantly get feedback from your child on the work and topic taught at the centre. Photocopied notes from books are alright as long as they don't repeatedly teach the child after awhile.]
2. Frequent cancellation of classes.
If your lesson is once a week for that subject, I don't think it is very nice to miss it nor have it shifted (by the centre especially) as might be too long a gap for the child as they might forget what they have learnt. And not wanting the lesson to be 2 weeks later. That's too long!
Do you remember things that was told to you 2 weeks ago? Definitely not! So how do you expect the child to do so right? It the centre keeps shifting the lesson, it also means that their tutors are the one affecting it (see more about the tutor part next).
Centre which usually reschedule the lesson frequently shows that they do not have a fixed schedule for the lesson. This may means they don't have a proper setting for the lesson (as mention in the above point). It all works together. How can they have a fixed schedule for you (when you enquire with them on the lessons) but keep changing thereafter right?
[Make sure the centre calls and tells you the reason for the change of the lesson. Other than make-up lesson for public holiday, there should not be any other changes to the lesson from the centre. Learning consistency is important for the child's improvement.]
3. Frequent change of tutor(s).
Do you know who is teaching your child on the subject? Is there a frequent change of tutor for no good reason?
This is very important. I don't think you like your child to go in to a lesson still have doubt with their previous lesson's work nor want them to start a new chapter by not finishing the previous one. By doing so, 2 lessons will be wasted, time of 2 weeks gone and you're paying for it with no result seen in that month for sure! Don't let this happen!
The tutor is very important (take a look at Tip on choosing the Right tutor). If they consistently change the tutor, your child will have to adapt to the new tutor's teaching again (every tutor have different style of teaching). And the tutor will have to get to know your child's strength and weakness which takes time too!
[Make sure that the centre don't change the tutor more than once (hopefully not at all). But if they do (touch wood), you gonna know why, that's your rights. Ask your child for feedback or update on the tutor's teaching once in awhile.]
On last note, do take note of the centre you're signing up with, some are really a BUSINESS ONLY tuition centre that are looking for profit instead of PASSION ONLY tuition centre. Don't be fooled by their posters and marketing. Look for real results and get feedback from other parents and children of the centre. Maybe they can give you (positive/negative) feedback of the centre, who knows!
Cheers,
