Life as a Tutor

I have been a tutor for nearly 2 months. I was offerred such a job by my former tutor, Mr. Ooi. Currently, I am teaching Physics and English. In Sabak Bernam, I am teaching Physics to four Form 4 students; in Sungai Besar, I am teaching English to 1 Form 4 student and 2 Form 5 students.

Well, I do not have any teaching experience. So, I just follow what I think that is right to teach the students. So far, everything is just fine. No one complains that I cannot teach well or he/she does not understand my lesson. Maybe you might think that the students dare not to voice out their dissatisfaction, but I have to stress that, there used to be a tutor (who is a friend of mine) being complained by the students and he was stopped by Mr. Oos to teach those students. Then, I replace him instead and am teaching till now. I do not mean that I teach better than my friend. I believe that it is simply because I am talkative. Because I am talkactive, when I am teaching them a particular concept, I can talk like hell till their faces are fully engulfed by my saliva. This might be the reason that the students think I can probably teach them well and hence, I can continue my life as a tutor.

Giving private tuition is not easy, especially for me, who is a STPM leaver and waiting for entering institutions of higher learning. Many people might think that it is just "give and take", but in actual fact, it it much more than that. You have to do revision to recall everything you had learnt before; you have to ensure that they really understand what you attempt to deliver; you have to convince them that you can help them; and more importantly, you have to make sure that you know how to solve every question, so that you will not be embarassed by your inability to solve a question in front of a few pairs of eyes, sparkling with amusement. Most of all, you must have the courage to speak in front of a group of students.

Life as a tutor so far is not that good for me, because the income I get is too little. Of late, I have been frequently bombarded by my mum that I could have earned more if I could listen to her advice and go to work part-time in KL... Indeed, I am slightly regretted for not listening to my mum. However, I do get an invaluable experience that many people might not have till they die - teaching. And I enjoy the process to make the students understand a particular scientific fact and to see their improvement. Teaching, bravo!