As a teacher, I've witnessed my students make unfortunate decisions about their education. Dropping classes and neglecting writing assignments aren't so bad but going along to get along can be disastrous. One such case comes to mind; a pair of friends signed up for English lessons from a language study business in town.
They soon found the courses didn't suit their needs. When they asked for their money back, the school said that was impossible and the contract would remain in force. Now they were both out the money with nothing to show for it. Their parents were furious at having to pay for worthless English classes.
Take a lesson from those two. Beware of slick sales pitches and don't let your eagerness to learn - or need for help misdirect you. Consider all the pros and cons of what you want to do, even if that's hiring a private tutor to guide your IELTS preparations.
IELTS Private Tutor Experience
Taking the IELTS test is a major ordeal. Thus, it's no wonder that many exam candidates pay top dollar for IELTS courses and materials. But what if we told you that you didn't have to drain your bank account to pay for more information than you need?
For-profit language schools, including those that offer IELTS prep courses, have the same problem that public education does. They follow the one-size-fits-all, teacher-led instruction model. In such a learning environment, it's up to students to fit themselves in however best they can.
Nobody's saying it's a bad system. How else can we educate legions of learners, all at the same time and so they all receive the same information? We are, however, saying it's an inefficient system. It doesn't take students' learning needs and abilities into consideration, and it puts a lot of pressure on teachers.
But we're not here to talk about educational theory. We only point that conundrum out to ask: why would a student seek out an ineffective teaching model to study an elective subject? Especially when alternative learning experiences abound.
Let's state the obvious: you choose your IELTS courses. The Australian government does not tell you to take IELTS courses or take the exam. You don't have to report to IELTS classes and have your attendance counted. You can prepare for your IELTS test at home, at your local library or even online.
Likewise, you don't have to have a teacher who stands at the front of the room and follows a set curriculum. You can revise with a private tutor. Such a mentor knows the IELTS exam and materials. They have the experience and skills to assess your English language strengths and how to enhance them.
An IELTS tutor can devote the time you need to build the skills you're weak in. For instance, if your reading or writing isn't up to par, your teacher will focus on them more than on listening and speaking. Or they might leave you to practise listening to American and British English on your own and test your progress each session.
Personalised attention is the most beneficial part of one-to-one IELTS tutoring. Your private tutor won't have to consider other students' needs; their attention is all on you during your sessions.
They put their teaching experience to work not just with the knowledge they have but with the individual guidance they give you.
Prepare for your exam with IELTS courses Perth on Superprof.
Can an IELTS Tutor Online Meet My Needs?
Reading over students' testimonials on tutoring websites reveals that tutees most appreciate the learning partnership their tutors develop with them. That suggests warmth and camaraderie; the type of relationship that can only develop during in-person sessions. Can online learning create the same experience?
The coronavirus-induced phase of online learning might tempt you to say no but the learning situations are not the same. You can probably figure out most of the differences; did you think about little kids versus adult learners? We'd point to the contrast between voluntary learning and compulsory learning.
You're taking IELTS courses because you want to, not because you have to. We'll leave aside the fact that, if you want to study or work abroad, you must provide an IELTS score. But that's still your choice; nobody is making you sit IELTS or study (or work) abroad.
Unlike elementary school students trying to learn in pandemic times, you are invested in your IELTS success. Therefore, your online tutor's teaching skills will be effective, probably more so than before the pandemic. They had two years of pandemic teaching to hone those skills, after all.
Your IELTS tutor online can deliver the same IELTS preparation and study tips that an in-person tutor can. And they'll probably do better than expensive IELTS classes.
Advantages of an IELTS Tutor Online
Let's say the weather is such that all you want to do is stay home. If you signed up for IELTS preparation courses, you'd have to either waste that lesson fee or drag yourself to class. You wouldn't have to make such a choice if you prepared for your exam with an online tutor.
Unlike teacher-led instruction in the classroom, IELTS tutors can use online resources to make their lessons more engaging. They use interactive whiteboards and other web-based applications to present information in new ways.
They might call up tutorial videos on YouTube if you're having trouble grasping a particular concept. And, as everything happens via the internet, you can record your tutoring session for later reference.
Find a qualified tutor and study in an IELTS course online on Superprof!
Preparing for IELTS with a tutor online means you're not limited to the tutors in your town or city. You may choose a tutor in the US, Great Britain or New Zealand if you're so inclined. That's why IELTS candidates living in non-English-speaking countries prefer online IELTS preparation lessons.
Today's students have never known a world without personal electronic devices; they are more comfortable operating in a digital environment.
Teachers often say "You have to reach them to teach them"; how better to do that than where they feel most at home? That's why many tutors and teachers work hard to keep their lessons and online teaching style fresh and innovative.
Now, for perhaps the greatest advantage online IELTS tutors present. These sessions may cost less than in-person lessons, which is good news for those worried about tutoring fees. Neither tutors nor tutees have to commute to a meeting place, which saves both of your time and money.
Lessons with an In-Person IELTS Tutor
For all the benefits and advantages online tutoring brings, it presents one major downside. It's much harder to 'read' someone when you're not in the same room with them. Let's say you had a bad day and see your upcoming learning session as a slog you'd rather not endure. An online tutor might miss your tone of voice being slightly off or your slumped shoulders.
An in-person tutor will notice these signs right away. They don't have to rely on high-quality headphones to hear that you're speaking slower than usual. They don't need a high-definition screen to realise your eyes aren't sparkling with their usual verve.
They probably won't put you on the spot by interrogating you. Instead, they will change their tone and alter their posture such that they appear less authoritative.
They'll use their teaching experience to ease you into the lesson and guide your learning efforts with care and skill. Towards the session's end, they may then ask how you feel.
You might be surprised to find that you feel much better. Sharing a space with another person and immersing oneself in a demanding task help to refocus the mind.
Prepare with a qualified tutor in IELTS classes Sydney on Superprof!
Of course, the inverse is true, too. You might be having such a great day that putting your lessons off sounds like a fine idea. But you can't afford to waste the lesson fee and besides, nothing ruins a good mood better than thoughts of a bad test score. Your IELTS tutor is as invested in your success as you are; they'll help bring your mood in check to get your reading and writing practice done.
If you're still having trouble deciding whether to find an online or in-person IELTS tutor, think about which test you'll take. Should you take the test online, revising with an online tutor might work best for you.
You can train your ears to pick up on the various English accents you'll hear when you test. And you can practise the speaking part with an online interviewer, just as you will during exams.
On the other hand, if you plan to head to a testing centre, an in-person tutor might work better. You'll have the same exam components but they won't filter through a computer. And you will sit opposite an examiner for the speaking portion so it's a good idea to get used to that format.
Finding the right IELTS tutor is the most important takeaway from all this. It only matters that you take lessons - online, in person or a hybrid of both, and find the right tutor for your needs.
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