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If you're currently a high school student, or the parent of a student, living in Hobart or elsewhere in Tasmania, you will probably already know all about the Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE). However, for those readers who are not in Tasmania, or who are still in the early stages of compulsory education, the TCE is a qualification designed for students who are completing the senior secondary phase of their education and is then used to gain entry to university, or to apply for the jobs of your choice.
Is it important? Yes.
Gaining a TCE requires students to achieve proficiency across 5 standards:
- 'everyday adult' English — reading, writing and communication
- 'everyday adult' Maths
- 'everyday adult' computer and technology skills
- minimum level of participation in education
- future education planning requirements.
Notice that English is at the top of that ranking. Why? Because English skills filter through every part of your life, every future course of study and all jobs.
What if your English skills are not where they should be? Or, what if English is not your first language — but you have to sit the TCE?
Relax. It is possible to find a TCE English tutor and Superprof is here to help you get started.
Finding an English Tutor to Meet Your Needs
There are a few questions you should ask yourself before you jump in and try to find a private tutor or a tutoring agency.
- Do I want a private, one-on-one lesson or group lessons?
- Will I be okay with online tutoring, or do I want to meet face-to-face?
- How often do I need to work with my tutor?
- What type of tutoring do I need?
The first two questions are more a matter of personal preference, and your location and time flexibility. The third question may also depend on your time flexibility, but it will also be determined by the amount of help you actually need — i.e. a brushup of essay writing skills or intensive English grammar and reading comprehension work for a second language learner.
When you get to the fourth question — what type of tutoring do I need? — there is a little more to it. In a nutshell, there are three types of tutoring you should be aware of when it comes to looking for a TCE English tutor:
- Academic Intervention
Intervention tutoring is ideal for students who have specialised learning needs or difficulties and can be accessed by a student at any school year level from primary school through high school and into university. The needs may be centred around diagnosed learning challenges or due to long periods of absence due to illness or other reasons. Intervention tutors can also help non-native English speakers who need to build their foundation English skills in reading and writing.
- Academic Extension
Many school students, in both primary and high school, benefit from extension learning to broaden their skills, not only in English but in other subjects as well. This does not refer to vertical extension, like moving up year levels. Rather, tutors work on taking students more deeply into concepts and applying skills across a variety of subjects. Extension tutoring can be particularly useful for students who wish to learn how to apply existing skills, or who have a special interest in one particular aspect of the English language or a specific genre.
- Academic Coaching
Tutors who offer coaching are perfect for high school students who are studying towards their TCE. A tutor will ascertain exactly what their student needs and are particularly skilled in focusing on essay writing assistance and exam preparation.
All types of English tutors, whether they specialise in intervention, extension or coaching, can modify their approach to cater for ESL (English as a Second Language) students — although, you might wish to extend your search to include tutors who have experience and qualifications in ESL teaching.
Now that you have narrowed down your search and know exactly what you are looking for, where can you find an English tutor in Hobart?
Where to Find English Lessons: Hobart and Surrounds
No matter where you live, there always seems to be an abundance of people offering private tuition and an ever-increasing number of tutoring agencies, particularly for English and Maths.
A good place to start looking is online — put English tutor Hobart or English lessons Hobart (or wherever you happen to live) into your search engine. You could perhaps refine your online search further by using the phrase TCE English tutor Hobart.
You will find a number of online tutor platforms, such as TutorFinder, Tutoroo, High School Tutors, LearnMate and, of course, Superprof. All of these platforms connect you, in some way, with a teacher or tutor in any of the subjects you happen to be looking for, including English lessons for ESL. The great thing about Superprof, in particular, is that to help you make an informed decision, you can read all the information you need to know about each tutor — qualifications, experience, lesson types etc. — as well as their fees, availability and whether they do online lessons.
Other face-to-face tutor agencies you may want to check out include:
- Learning Boosters (private teaching, both in person and online, primary–high school and university)
- Breakthrough Tutorial Services (private teaching, in person, primary–high school and university)
- Educate Tutoring (private teaching, both in person and online, primary–high school).
Of course, you can also check community noticeboards at your local university, library or shopping centre. Many senior high school and university students offer lessons in a range of subjects as a way of earning extra cash. While a student may not have extensive teaching experience, they are more likely to be familiar with current teaching methods, exam techniques and testing regimes — and for this reason, they can tend to be perfect as a TCE English tutor.
Other Alternatives: Apps and YouTube
Online learning has turned a corner in the last decade, with many of today's teenagers turning regularly to Apps and YouTube when they want to learn new skills or gain up-to-date information.
For a student who is learning English as a second language, downloading an App or two is an easy way to make sure you practise daily, wherever and whenever you want.
Some popular and reliable apps for learning and practising English include:
- Duolingo — English is not the only language on this app either, there are dozens to choose from. Best of all, the app is free.
- Memrise — there is a free version of Memrise which, according to many reviews, is all you need. Depending on your native language, there are anywhere from four to about ten different languages covered in lessons, including English.
- Talk English — another free app where the emphasis is on speaking and listening.
If you're more of a YouTube learner, you will be completely spoilt for choice. A word of caution, though — be selective. Unless you're just on there for fun and a laugh, you may wish to select a more well-known lesson host like British Council or ABC Australia.
Ultimately, however, while apps and YouTube are great for revision purposes or the initial phase of learning, they cannot replace a live teacher or tutor who can answer your specific and individual questions and provide tailored lessons.
What Can a TCE English Tutor Do For You (and What Can't They Do)?
Even with the best tutor available, at the end of the day (or lesson), you still have to do the work. Having a tutor or a private teacher will not automatically see your marks improve, nor will they guarantee you a great TCE ranking.
What can't your TCE English tutor do?
- Force you to practise and revise
- Provide you with a sneak peek at the actual exam (even if they've done it)
- Write your essays for you (or even with you)
- Guarantee an 'A' or 100% or top student status
What can your TCE English tutor do?
- Provide you with a repertoire of exam techniques and preparation strategies — and practise these with you until you become confident
- Help you prepare for exams and other assessment items so you feel confident going in to them
- Identify the gaps in your foundation skills and knowledge, and help you fill them
- Extend your skill level and boost your ability to apply it widely and effectively
- Respect you as a learner and encourage you to respect yourself
Good luck with your studies. We know you'll do well.
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