How to select a tutor

[ocrtech]

I have been self studying Chinese on and off for a while now. I have been through the three Pimsleur Courses as well as the three Rosetta Stone courses. I am part of the way through the FSI courses. I feel as though I know sufficient vocab and grammar to have at least some basic conversations but struggle in trying to produce anything coherent. I assume that this is a side effect of self study and would like to correct this through the use of a paid tutor. What I am now trying to figure out is how to select one. What kinds of things should I be looking for in a tutor that would make this a successful next step? Because of where I live this will likely end up being a virtual (Skype) approach.

[kellys]

1 education background (major, bachelor or master) 2. hobbies (if you and the tutor has the same interest, you two will have more topics, it will improve your speaking) 3.tutoring experience (can she answer most of your questions about the language)

a good tutor not only teach you the language, but also lead you better understand the culture and the people

[Gleaves]

You could try a service like chineseteachers.com. Try out a few different teachers until you find one you like. Craigslist is worth a quick look if you want someone in person.

[roddy]

Sounds like you're looking for practice on what you can already do, rather than teach you new stuff. I'd say the most important thing is someone who points out errors and corrects them - either by making you say it again correctly if you can do it off your own back, or telling you how to say it and then giving you the chance to do so. You need to be coming out of the lesson with your Chinese having been improved, not just used. If you're not getting errors pointed out, either you and your tutor aren't pushing you enough, or mistakes are being ignored.

[ocrtech]

Thanks for the responses! I have connected up with one that I found on the Beijing craigslist. She teaches Chinese fulltime as well as tutors during her downtime. She has access to lots of her own material or will use mine if I like. Her prices also seem to fall within the middle of those listed on chineseteachers.com. After researching chineseteachers.com I thought about using them instead but like the responses as well as responsiveness of the one I choose. However, I can see using chineseteachers.com periodically to get more exposure to different types of speakers, accents, etc. Especially as I get more comfortable in this process of actually starting to use the words and grammar structures that are jumbled about in my brain somewhere. I consider this a big step in my learning process and am keeping my fingers crossed that I picked the right point in time to take it.