Tutoring Techniques That Get Results

Tutoring is a great way to earn money and make a difference in other lives. Tutoring techniques are a key ingredient to becoming an effective tutor. There are many books and courses on tutoring techniques that may be useful to you.

Ultimately, a great tutor is one who communicates well with his or her students. To help you on your way, here are some practical techniques to help you become an effective tutor.

Explain. Tutoring is not the same as teaching, but there may be times when you need to introduce, or review certain concepts. As a tutor, you can avoid lecturing by speaking directly to your student, and engaging him or her in the lesson. Have the student repeat what you’ve said in his or her own words and ask guiding questions along the way. If the student has classroom notes and textbooks, have him or her use these to teach you the lesson—this will give the student a fresh perspective on the material.

Ask. Asking questions is one of the most important tutoring techniques because it helps challenge students and gives you a chance to identify problem areas. Effective questions will be guiding and open-ended. Questions can be as simple as asking for the definition of a term, or can probe deeper to follow up on a student’s answer. Even if the student arrives at the correct answer, you can reinforce understanding by asking how they came to the answer, or asking what makes the answer correct. If a student struggles with a particular question, try rephrasing it in simpler language.

Listen. Listening may seem like a given, but many of us are not great listeners. Active Listening is one of the essential tutoring techniques to learn and practice. Listening actively means making eye contact, encouraging the speaker with engaged body language like nodding and affirmations like, “Yes” and “I see.” An active listener asks guiding questions like, “Why do you think this is difficult for you?” and summarizes what he or she has been told as in, “So you are frustrated with this problem because you are not sure how to set it up.” This will help you understand your student’s thought process, as well as demonstrate your respect.

Reinforce. Positive reinforcement is a great way to show encouragement as well as to help students recognize when they’ve done well. Verbally reinforce success by congratulating students, and specifically explaining what they have done well. While a simple, “Great job!” can be helpful, a more specific affirmation like, “You really thought through every step carefully,” will also remind the student how they were successful. Non-verbal reinforcement, like facial expressions and supportive gestures can also be effective. Always keep in mind that your student is working hard and deserves support.