Tutor-Private Teaching and Learning

Learning process takes a huge part of our life, because first of all we have to learn how to live. And then in the childhood and juvenility learning is the major activity according to the psychological researches. And people who do not cope with studies being a child loses many things he or she could catch just unconsciously. That is why so many learning centers were opened by the government to help those kids who cannot get enough in schools and need some more preparation in studies. And Sylvan Learning Centers are among those.

Learning centers. The company was founded in Portland, Oregon in 1983. At the present day Sylvan Learning Centers is a chain of franchised centers. In the very beginning, when Sylvan Learning Centers were founded by a former school teacher, the company was rapidly developing. Educational programs that where suggested by the founder of the company were very successful and effective. In addition to the programs, Sylvan Learning Centers offers Laser Grade Computer Testing. For those students that have some financial difficulties, the company offers tuition financing. Today, Sylvan Learning Centers has hundreds of franchises all over the country.

Services of Sylvan Learning Centers. These educational centers offer professional instruction and assistance in learning process. The company has developed some additional tools for the students to have the immediate growth in knowledge. Besides, Sylvan Learning Centers provides special enrichment programs for those kids who are highly achieving. The company employs professional tutors who are able to teach, because some people can be very clever and educated but the cannot teach. Sylvan tutors have developed a number of programs that should help students to catch what they have missed in school. At learning centers tutors provide personalized assistance in reading, writing, math, improving of study skills and make students ready for the state exams and college entrance. Numerous programs include Beginning Reading, Academic Reading and Writing, Math Essentials, Advanced Math and so much more.

Almost every home, office or school has a computer of some kind these days. Many people feel that these machines are now an essential part of our lives and they are quite right. I believe that education will continue to be one of the important areas for computer applications.

How can computers be used in the area of language instruction? Throughout the 1970-s and the 1980-s far-reaching claims were made for the potential for computers to improve education. The efforts of computer companies were concentrated mostly on working out special Computer-aided Instruction. Such a long phrase cannot describe all current applications of computers to the process of education. In practice computer-aided instruction stands for one possible use of the computer – namely, as a substitute teacher. Students sitting at computer terminals can receive instructions in a wide variety of subjects. As for language instruction, it can consist of vocabulary, grammar and spelling drills. The computer may provide words in English, for which the student is supposed to give synonyms in his native language. Each student can proceed at his own speed. If a student has difficulty with a given topic, he can branch out to another program and be provided with remedial instructional material. As a result the process of learning proves to be more individualized.

A machine or a man-teacher? The computer has certain attributes which in special situations makes it superior to the teacher. The computer has infinite patience and can simultaneously drill a large number of students. The completely impersonal relation between the student and computer appears to be an advantage. But no matter how helpful a computer may be it is only a machine, a useful addition to our fast-moving world of high technology. It must be remembered that computers are here to serve us, not to replace us.

The need to individualize becomes urgent in our society in its present stage of development. One may think that study is an individual matter and the methods which suit some individual will not suit others. It`s true. Different methods are appropriate to different subjects. The best methods of learning Maths will not necessarily be the best methods of learning Chemistry.

What does success in study depend on? Study still remains an art. Although methods of learning different subjects can differ, there must be certain general principles of learning appropriate to different subjects. Both students and teachers shouldn`t forget about these principles, because they enable a person to work out his own personal methods of study more effectively with less trial and error. Every teacher knows that success in study depends not only on ability and hard work but also on effective methods of study. Some students can do more work in a given time than others and do it more easily. No doubt that this is a matter of ability. Important study skills such as note-taking, revising, making plans and time-tables have to be learned and practiced by students but as a rule very few students get systematic instruction in these matters. Most students rely on the traditional study techniques they learned at school. If a student works out his own methods of study and practice new study skills he will be able to enjoy his learning and to succeed in it. A teacher`s task is to explain his student that he can become efficient in learning through proper organization and method.

What is the most effective method of learning from textbooks? Nowadays students spend a great deal of time preparing their individual tasks. They read a lot and learn a lot from their textbooks. There is no wonder that the question of the most effective method of learning from textbooks concern all students all over the world. The method of reading and then making brief outline notes proves to be the most effective. In this situation some training in note-taking is absolutely necessary, because without practice this method may be inferior to the traditional method of reading and rereading. Whatever method a student may use he must first of all understand what he is studying. To understand doesn`t mean to remember easily, because the important thing is not what you know, but what you can do with what you know. To understand thoroughly is to be able to apply your knowledge in new situations.

According to the recent research modern methods of language teaching require a more sympathetic relation between student and teacher. As for the language classroom, there is no doubt that it differs fundamentally in character from the Biology or Maths classroom. These differences influence the relations between students and teachers.

The need of individualization becomes urgent in our society. Nowadays there is the danger that the individual may become lost in the crowd. This danger has led in turn to the questioning of the very basis of authority by students and in some cases by authority itself. Schools and universities constantly need to examine and analyze the relationships that exist between teachers and students. Practice shows that in today`s climate of opinion it`s impossible to continue operating on an authoritarian basis.

What do we mean by discipline? In order to make progress in learning English or any other foreign language the atmosphere in class is to be open and friendly. It sounds very good but the question arises: how to keep order in class under these circumstances? It is obvious that a qualified foreign language teacher will never base his relations with students upon ”Do as I say and argue afterwards“ approach. Good teachers are making much effort to understand the pressure under which children are operating or failing to operate. They base their relations with students on mutual trust and understanding. The teacher should keep in mind that his desire to help, to guide and advise is not always accepted by today`s child. The teacher has to prove himself through a period of apprenticeship, during which time he will be assessed by the students themselves. If during this time he reveals a genuine he will be accepted in both a tutorial and a counseling role.