Each student is unique, and different students have different needs and preferences when it comes to learning. Our Twisted Tutors are well aware of this, so they always come prepared with a variety of teaching strategies to ensure that every learner receives a lesson that works for them. This post will outline some of the most effective tutoring techniques we use with students every day.
4. Build Confidence by Encouraging Miss-takes
Traditional schooling rewards students with good grades when they answer questions correctly, but it punishes them with poor grades when they answer questions incorrectly. This often results in students lacking the confidence to take a chance and make a mistake for fear of receiving a low grade. In turn, these same students become less likely to ask for help when they don’t understand something, and the institution in which they are meant to be learning ends up teaching them nothing.
Our Twisted Tutors know that encouraging students to make mistakes is a great way to promote learning, and they allow students to become comfortable with making mistakes and asking questions. Tutoring is a low-pressure environment where students don’t need to fear poor grades or frustrated teachers, and this allows students to build the confidence required to become lovers of learning.
Our Twisted Tutors relate the journey of learning to the process required to create a movie; a movie requires many takes before the final product is released, and each “miss-take” is essential in developing a masterpiece.
3. Listening is an Effective Tutoring Technique
As valuable as it is for a student to listen to their tutor, it is equally valuable for a tutor to listen to their student. Open dialogue allows a student to hear their thoughts out loud, 
strengthening their understanding of the subject they are studying. If a student can successfully teach what they have learned back to their tutor, it proves that they have achieved a high level of comprehension, and this is exactly what our Twisted Tutors strive for.
Listening is an especially effective tutoring technique for those students who function best as auditory learners. As beneficial as it is for auditory learners to receive information with their ears, it’s even more important for them to say it out loud themselves. Learn more about the different learning styles by clicking here!
2. Healthy Relationships Make Healthy Students
The best tutors make sure to build strong relationships with the students they teach. When a tutor shows genuine interest in a student and learns about their personal preferences and goals, a mutual trust and respect is born. It becomes easier for the tutor to relate the subject matter to things the student actually cares about, and the student will thrive as a result. Our Twisted Tutors strive to learn as much from their students as their students learn from them, and this has proven to be a successful approach to tutoring. Click here to learn more about the difference our Twisted Tutors can make in your student’s life!
1. Patience is Key
As previously mentioned, every student is different. It’s important to remember that a particular tutoring technique might work well for one student, but have no effect for another. That’s why our Twisted Tutors exercise patience in all they do.
When a student doesn’t understand a concept, it’s up to the tutor to remain calm and approach the situation from a fresh new angle. This is one of the main differences between school and tutoring. When a student can’t connect to the subject matter in school, it’s up to the student to figure out how to grasp it. With tutoring, it’s the tutor’s responsibility to find the best way to teach the student, and this always leads to success.
We Pride Ourselves on Using Effective Tutoring Techniques
At Tutoring…With a Twist*, our Twisted Tutors ensure they are always using the best strategy to teach your student. If you would like to see what the “twist” can do for your student, make sure to contact us!
Do you have suggestions for more effective tutoring techniques? Head over to our Facebook page to let us know!
*Services provided by With a Twist Education Ltd.
Comments 3
Hi
I am looking to find some help for my 17 year old son who is currently studying A levels in Economics, Business Studies and Media.
Though he is doing well at college the only thing letting him down are his writing techniques.
Please can you help him gain more confidence in his writing skills.
Regards
Preeti
Heya.
I teach French and German to children aged four to eighteen years old. My teaching method varies each week in order to liven things up. I have acquired old exam papers in addition to see what my pupil strengths and weaknesses are. I tend to use a small number of teaching techniques during my lessons. All are tried and tested ones however. Best of luck. We have experimented with Duo lingo in the past. They have composed emails in French on my behalf. They have written thank you letters in French. It depends.
One classic technique I prefer to use is role play situations. Other techniques I’ve trialled are colour coding and mind mapping to teach words. I have alternatively even used games to allow my pupils to have fun at the end of term. We also do a mini recap or a fun starter task. There are such a vast number of teaching approaches that are available.
I like to get all of my pupils to use a pen and whiteboard. We do role play and translation to change things up a lot. From time to time I mix in a healthy dose of grammar and exam preparation. Otherwise my go to technique varies from lesson to lesson. We do oral listening and speaking activities.
We have used exercise books too in exam classes. And I prefer to set them homework tasks at least once a term. I always do this to measure their progress and identify their weaknesses at the same time. I now use this information to my full advantage. The trick is to explore which kind of techniques will work and which will sadly not. All my current pupils know me quite well. I include writing exercises to model pen control skills and teach decent handwriting.
They know I have a box of teaching methods which I use for optimal results. I tested out new techniques a while ago. These are listed as follows, fill in the gap, essay writing, spot the odd one out, lists and flip charts. More techniques I have come to depend on include a word bank and revision games. I like to try revision cards, quick recall method and the like.
I love to teach them to love poetry and plays. We do sentence starters and translation tasks. They have recently done a lot of reading and spelling exercises in preparation to work hard on both skills. Mix it up. This is my advice. It beats exam papers too. My top tip is to experiment carefully. Next term we are hoping to move on to harder stuff.
Sounds amazing Thara – thanks for the tips and tricks to add to this post!