Gone are the days when only weak students were sent for tuitions. Today, tuition or tutoring is a significant part of education. Coaching classes are part and parcel of school life and act as a supplement, to formal education. The pressures of education and competition are such that parents have no choice in the matter. They explore different options to ensure that their children get into the best tutoring centres.
What are your reasons for opting for extra tutoring?
Identify why you want your child to go for tuition, outside of school hours. Is it because your child is unable to cope and keep pace with their peers? Are their grades not up to the mark? Do you think your child can get better grades if they get extra lessons? Are you hard-pressed for time and unable to spend time with your child and help them with their studies?
Have a legitimate reason for wanting to enrol your child for tutoring lessons. Once you know why you want it for your child, you will be in a better position to decide on the form of tutoring, for your kid.
Group Tutoring Vs Private Tutoring
Everyone seems to have come to terms with the need for extra tutoring. However, confusion remains over the type of coaching, that is the best. Group tutoring or private tutoring, which one is better? Group tutoring has a classroom kind of environment, with many students and a single tutor, for each subject. Private tutoring is more personal and is a one-to-one tuition method. Both styles of tutoring have their pros and cons. We’ll break it down for you, so you can make an informed choice when it comes to selecting a tutoring style, best suited for your child.
Understanding Group Tuitions
Group tuitions have a familiar classroom feel to it. The tuitions are conducted in a tuition centre, at a fixed time. This could be in the evenings, after school or on weekends. Tutorial centres employ many teachers who are responsible for coaching a select number of students. These groups can be as small consisting of a few students, or as large as a regular class of students.
Pros of Group Tutoring
Group tutoring is ideal for students who are academically proficient and quick to pick up new concepts. These students are in the tuition class to improve on the skills so that they can ace standard examinations and tests.
The second advantage is that the majority of students are on par with each other. That helps build a healthy competitive spirit and the urge to outdo others. Students become more focused and keener to learn.
Close net groups build a camaraderie which helps with better learning. Students help each other along the way – they discuss and solve problems together. And there is also an exchange of healthy ideas, which is excellent for the overall development of the child.
Cons of Group Tutoring
Since it is a group, the tutors maintain a steady pace of teaching and do not hold on for slow learners. This is disadvantageous for children who take time understanding and remembering things. The tutor cannot devote time or provide extra attention to every student.
The child is required to keep pace with the rest of the group, which can be taxing for some. Reserved and shy students find it hard to fit into this environment. They may not ask questions or clear their doubts because of their fears and nature.
Lastly, due to the pace of teaching, parents may not be able to become actively involved in their child’s progress. Group tutorials are not meant for all students. Slow learners become particularly affected since the pace of tutorials is too fast for them. Often the tutors shift to the next topic, not realising that some students haven’t got clarity or mastered basic concepts.
What is Private Tutoring
Private tutoring is personalised tuition lessons, where a single student is taught by a single tutor. It is a one-to-one style of teaching. Private tutoring lessons generally happen at home, with the tutor coming in to teach the student, at a fixed hour.
Pros of Private Tutoring
Private tutoring is suited for students who need special attention. Students with learning disabilities or slow learners’ benefit, tremendously, from this kind of teaching arrangement. Special attention helps the child learn better and improves the child’s grades.
A private tutoring teacher spends time with just one child and is hence able to pick up the child’s weak points. The tutor is better equipped since only one child is under their care. They can devote more time explaining concepts and marking the child’s progress. The child thrives under individual attention. The tutor can work with the child at the child’s pace. The tutor can also break down big lessons, into smaller lessons, so that they are easily grasped. It gives the tutor a lot of freedom to bring the best in the child. Parents can also become involved, and they are able to notice the marked difference in their child’s progress.
Cons of Private Tutoring
The student sometimes becomes too attached to the tutor and their style of teaching. This could prove to be a hindrance if the tutor were to go away suddenly. Also, the group studies aspect is missing in private tutoring, and the child can miss on the advantages of the interactions that happen in group tutoring sessions.
What’s the ruling?
What is the ruling of the Group Tutoring Vs Private Tutoring debate? Going by the pros and cons of both styles of tutoring, there is no single winner. Both forms of instruction are suitable, and it depends on the child’s needs.
It is a competitive world out there, and as a parent, you must choose a style of tutoring that benefits your child. Don’t follow others blindly, choose wisely, and give your child the edge that they need. Remember, education is the best weapon that you can arm your child with. Don’t be ashamed if your child is a slow learner; give them the advantage of a private tutor. Gauge your child’s abilities honestly, before making a decision.
Consult a reputed education service, such as SAGE EDUCATION SERVICES. We offer both private and group tutoring classes in Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Business and Economics, English and competitive exam preparation for SAT, GMAT, ACT, and UCAT. Your child will surely benefit from their skilled and professional tutors.
