What Do I Need to Become a Private Tutor?
A private tutor is a person who provides academic lessons to an individual or small group outside of classroom. Tutors can teach in a number of areas, from traditional academic subjects such as English and math to test preparation strategies for standardized tests such as the SAT and the GMAT.
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Types
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There are two main types of tutors: those who are regularly employed by a tutoring company and those who work on a freelance basis. To become employed by a tutoring company, tutors must generally present a resume and sit for an interview. In exchange for the tutor's services, the company will provide you a fixed rate of compensation -- often per hour of lessons taught -- and a steady stream of clients. Freelance tutors must find their own clients.
Education
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There is no set educational requirement for a tutor, other than a deep knowledge of the subject he is teaching. Often, however, in order to be hired by a company or attract clients, a tutor will need to demonstrate some independent verification of his mastery of a particular field. For example, a tutor teaching English would likely need to present a college degree or a writing sample. Similarly, a tutor teaching the GRE would likely need to have taken the test and scored highly.
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Instruction
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In addition to understanding a particular subject, tutors must be able to effectively communicate this knowledge to students. According to the website Online Tutoring World, tutors should be able to explain difficult subjects, empathize with people on an emotional level and be comfortable speaking to small groups. For these reasons, many tutors benefit from having previous teaching experience.
Clients
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One of the advantages of being employed by a tutoring company is that it is generally the employer's responsibility to find new clients for the tutor. One of the difficulties of freelancing is having to constantly seek out new students to tutor. However, you can accomplish this through various forms of advertising, including online postings and through word of mouth.
Rates
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Rates for private tutoring vary tremendously, depending primarily on the services offered by the tutor himself and the area in which the tutoring is being offered. In some well-heeled areas, private tutors with excellent qualifications can command in excess of $100 per hour. However, in other areas, a private tutor may make a far more modest rate, one that, if the tutor lacks a sufficient number of clients, will need to be supplemented by additional income to earn a livelihood.
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