Private tuition, where to begin

[yonitabonita]

Hi folks,

I've decided that the BLCU atmosphere isn't for me and private tuition is the way to go.

I'm thinking that I'll choose some texts and hire a private tutor to check over my work 2-3 times a week.

But where to begin finding a tutor? While it's an inexpensive solution to hire a student at the BLCU, I have a bias against students looking for part time work because I don't think that they'll have a good understanding of the types of grammatical difficulties that I might face (due to lack of experience).

Then again, I'm only at an early intermediate level, and I'm definately not wedded to my biases.

Does anyone personally know of a tutor that's been wonderful? (that is, firm, precise, clear, knowledgeable, experienced) I'm not too fussed on the personality really.

Any thoughts, recommendations,tips would be appreciated.

Y

[roddy]

See if you can track down someone who

1) Has teaching experience - there seem to be so many students doing tutoring now . . .

2) Is either on a CSL or education course - that'll give them some background knowledge and skills, and theoretically an interest in taking the tutoring seriously.

I've worked before with one student on a post-grad CSL course at BLCU, and another on the EU interpreters course at UIBE who also taught (English) at New Oriental - both had great linguistic knowledge - the 'what's the difference between x and y', and 'where do you put your tongue for this sound' stuff. Teaching techniques were also good, but both had significant teaching experience.

If you look for those two things - teaching experience, and that they're on a relevant course - I think you'll massively increase your chances of finding someone decent.

[yonitabonita]

Thanks Roddy for your consistently thoughtful responses. Greatly appreciated.

Y

[againstwind]

Hi,

Frankly speaking, I agree that the BLCU atmosphere isn't perfect for Chinese-learners. Because there are more international students than Chinese students. Besides, both of them lack a real communication with each other. And my Korean friends/tutees often complained about this problem to me.

As to tutors, I have to say that it's really embarrassing, especially for us, students majoring in Teaching Chinese as a Foreigh Language. There are so many students doing tutoring now, indeed. And it's easy to see their ads. in BLCU and to give them a call or msg and then have a meet.

However, most of these students not majoring TCFL.

In fact, they're probably majoring in English, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, or other languages in the Asia-Europe Academy. Objectively, they are helpful for non-English-speaking students who only use their languages. But besides them, students who post ads. are likely majoring in Finance, Accounting, Computers and Zhongwen and even others from other universities such as China University of Geoscience, China University of mining & Technology Beijing and University of Science and Technology Beijing. All of them can probably speak very perfect Mandarine and some foreign languages, but they do not know linguistic knowledge very much, let alone teaching methods.

More, I need explain the major Zhongwen(中文). Zhongwen does't equal to TCFL. Our courses aren't the same. They have more courses on literature, esthetics and journalism, while we have more courses on linguistics, teaching methods and psychology. Although we also take literature and they do take Modern Chinese, Ancient Chinese and a course named An Introduction to Linguistics, our educational aim is different.

Of course, not every TCFL students can do competent tutoring. Roddy is right: they should have experience. Usually, we don't recommend TCFL fresh for doing tutoring.(Perhaps language exchanging is more suitable for them.) Sophomores and juniors are moderate. Seniors are busy finding jobs and postgraduate entrance examination, so they are not firm.As for postgraduates, it depends on their backgrounds in undergraduate courses.

Half of,at least, students in this major can do a good tutoring job. In order to improve the tutoring effects, in my opinion, some indispensable aspects still should be considered, such as students' personality, communication skills and responsibility.

In short, not every student can be a competent tutor. Every time we(TCFL classmates and me) hear a student awkwardly explaining Chinese to an international student in the libarary, we feel embarrassed. We wonder whether she (mostly is 'she') or he is major in our major. If her or his tutor is bad, what the tutee will consider of Chinese students and US? Will they think we are the same with those 'tutors'?

Personally speaking, I can understand your worry(bias). But as a matter of fact, many teachers in those private language schools (typically like Diqiucun) or organizations are also students, undergraduates or graduates who are not always TCFL. I have senior TCFL classmates teaching in a private school at Wudaokou gave me such information. Also, my former tutees, a Korean elder brother and an Australian elder brother told me similar things: one of their teacher was a Politics graduate, the other is a Geoscience graduate.

Can you find teachers in BLCU to be your tutor? Maybe, if you can contact with them and they do have extra time.But I have never heard that teachers in BLCU offer private tutoring service.

Therefore, I suggest that you find an excellent student majoring in TCFL who wouldn't go back home for summer vacation to be your private tutor. And you'd better begin tutoring from the end of this semester.Then both of you won't worry other trivias.And you will begin learning Chinese intently then be immersed in Chinese atmosphere.

BTW,you were born in Hong Kong and speak Cantonese? Maybe you can find Cantonese students in TCFL to help you. However, our major began to take in Cantonese students in 2005. In other words, they are merely fresh.

Well, I sincerely hope this is helpful for you.

[roddy]

Againstwind, thanks for that.

Is there anywhere in BLCU or elsewhere where you could put a note asking for a tutor where it would be seen by CSL students? A 对外汉语系 noticeboard?

Roddy

PS You're also welcome to put an ad in the classifieds here.