The Benefits of In-Person Tutoring
When the pandemic hit last year, lives were turned upside down and many activities, including schooling, were forced to be done remotely and online. With the disruption, many families were looking for additional support for their children that could be delivered straight to home.
As we’ve mentioned in earlier posts, technological innovations have allowed for e-learning. Connecting through technology and the internet has become easy, and even after-school tutoring has evolved to meet our needs. Despite the convenience and advantages (see our previous blog post on the pros and cons of online tutoring), it may still lack the benefits of in-person tutoring.
Attending tutoring in-person allows for the personalization, practicality, and social aspects of learning to thrive. These benefits can oftentimes be tough to set-up when learning online.
Today, restrictions have eased, and families are returning to in-person tutoring. At 5C Learning, families prefer the face-to-face method as opposed to online tutoring. Below are some of the benefits to in-person tutoring to help you decide what is the right fit for your child.
It’s Practical
By attending in-person tutoring with a certified educator, this mirrors the classroom environment that students are accustomed to in school. By working side-by-side, the teacher is able to gain first-hand insight on how much progress their student is making. They are able to detect mistakes and make corrections without any lag. If there is a concept the student is struggling to understand, the tutor is able to demonstrate it in-person, whether the use of a whiteboard or manipulatives is necessary. In addition, the teacher can also pick up on non-verbal cues and body language that can be tough to spot through a screen. This allows for more effective learning as the tutor can actively assess your child’s growth.
Uninterrupted Communication
Although technology has become so advanced that you can interact with one another in real time, it can never fully replicate the feeling of being face-to-face. Being with your tutor in-person means never having to worry about delays, unstable internet connections, and failing technology.
Developing Social Skills
Elementary and high school are years where students are learning to develop their social skills. With the popularity of cell phones and social media, students are having less face-to-face interactions than ever before. Even though social growth is not the predominant goal of tutoring, it is one of the benefits of in-person tutoring. It helps your child form healthy relationships with others, build confidence, practice their communication skills, and create positive and social behavioural mannerisms. In order for these skills to be gained, youth need to be given in-person interactions that allow them to understand body language, personality, and tone of voice.
Personalization
E-learning is great, depending on what kind of learner you are. However, when it comes to in-person tutoring, you can be any kind of learner. Kinesthetic learning cannot be replicated online. The use of flashcards, dice, building material and highlighting are hard to demonstrate over a camera. When in an in-person learning environment, educators are able to immediately tailor lessons to your child’s needs. The ability to personalize learning results in better learning.
Final Thoughts
Virtual learning is a superb option for appropriate learners. On the other hand, when we look at other considerations, in-person tutoring naturally exceeds online tutoring. It is up to you and your child to assess what is best for your situation, including individual needs, time, and money. Despite the route you decide to take, ensure you are choosing a reputable tutoring platform and your child is receiving help from someone who is knowledgeable and qualified to teach.
