Korean Job Discussion Forums

koreaking · Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Location: Omokyo, Seoul

Hi guys!
I've been in Korea for a while and like many here, I have some tutors I do on the side.
Now I don't wanna go into the whole debate over prive tutoring like some threads I have read in hte past on here. I just wanna know what some of your opinions are on the subject.
For example, most of my tutors are only once and some twice a week at most. Also, they are only an hour long. The students are busy like most, and can't study any longer than that.
I don't have any daily tutors or ones where I teach three times a week. So my questions are, since the time is so limited, how much do you guys think a parent can expect to come from a class where it is not on a regular basis and such a short time? It is a weekly basis though
I mean the 60-65 minutes go by so fast that even though I teach my best, but I'm afraid it just isn't enough time. Of course, I don't mind since I still get paid, but does an hour a week REALLY help that much??
The mom's keep asking me, is my son or daughter getting better so much? And I'm like, it takes more than an hour a week to get better. I'm not a magician. But I don't usually say it like that. I just try and tell the mom's their weak points. It's like they excpect that the student will totally improve over night since he or she is studying with a foreigner. Rolling Eyes

I also understand it's a lot of money so I would probably act the same way. Who knows?
Now I'm not saying the students aren't learning or something like that. Some learn fast, others don't. The student has to try as well.
Anyway, I'm just wondering other people's thoughts on it in similar situations
Thanks!

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

No, it doesn't help that much on its own.

koreaking · Joined: 05 Sep 2006 Location: Omokyo, Seoul

the_beaver · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

depends on the student and what you teach them.

I've tutored kids that were a bit slow (I thought I was wasting their time and parent's money) and some that were genius level.

One kid I used to teach and joke around, but it got boring. One day he shows up and says we should play a computer game together. I called his bluff and called his mom. She said "it'll be fun and he'll learn differnt stuff from you than from books". Yes a Korean mom said that.

Anyways we played stuff (2 computers) then we would talk and joke around and chat in the game.
His English improved a lot and it was good from the start.

Best class ever. That and the Dungeons and Dragons class 3 times a week.

Call me a geek and I will slay you with my +5 pen!

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

For some kids it is way better than a classroom situation, for example if they are shy in front of other kids. That student might really open up in a one to one situation.

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

I noticed kids with privates are very good at english compared to haqwon/public educated ones.. Well there are exceptions but not many.