Private Tutor

Students: A boy aged 10 and a girl aged 8

Overview

An experienced and capable educator is required for a home schooling assignment, working primarily with a boy aged 10 and partly with a girl age 8. This is a full time position providing after school support. The Tutor will be responsible for ensuring the children are fully prepared for entry exams to top UK schools. The role is based in Hong Kong, but there may be travel to other domestic and international locations.

Students

There are two students - a boy aged 10, and his sister, aged 8. The boy currently attends a good school in Hong Kong, but for the last three years has been suffering from selective mutism while in attendance. There are a range of possible causes, all anxiety-related, and it is clear that in more relaxed or familiar settings symptoms subside. He also suffers from low self-esteem and occasional unwillingness to try due to fear of failure. The Tutor must have a positive and highly motivational demeanour to be effective in adjusting the boy’s behaviours for the better.

The boy previously had a Tutor who was an inventor and scientist, and used science games such as building experiments and models in his teaching. This approach clearly worked with the boy who very much enjoyed this style of tutoring. The ideal Tutor should therefore have a science or engineering background, and be comfortable devise interesting experimental play-learning activities that captivate the boy.

It is understood that the boy’s reading in English is approximately three years behind the standard of his British peers. Last summer he had seemingly disengaged with school subjects and was not very cooperative. He has an interest in computer games, and has recently discovered a passion for diving. The main focus of this role is to re-engage the boy in the art of learning, helping him to ignite a passion for education for its own sake, as well as to ensure his health and wellbeing are monitored in relation to his experiences in the school environment. In an ideal world the boy is being prepared for the 13+ Common Entrance exam, but entry at age 17 for A levels might be a more realistic target.

The girl is a very different child. She is bright and engaging, polite and can be charming when it suits her. She can also be quite demanding and likes to challenge her teachers. The Tutor needs to be highly knowledgeable, able to answer questions patiently while remaining lively and fun, and while maintaining discipline. The girl seems to be doing well in school, and has a fondness for fun and interesting teachers who make lessons come alive. She does not like teachers who are unfair and who don’t explain themselves clearly. She does not like to feel foolish. She enjoys piano, ballet, art and equestrian sports, as well as outdoor activities in general. The ideal Tutor will share some or all of these interests.

Role of the Tutor

This role calls for a broadly able, calm and well-qualified educator who has experience working in top-level British private schools and is up-to-date on teaching pedagogies and values. The Tutor must be able to deliver the full range of primary subjects, and should have an exceptional track record in preparing students for the 11+ and 13+ exams. The Tutor will need to be comfortable working at the standards expected by the best London private schools. This Tutor will be one of a team of three Tutors, two from Tutors International and one sourced locally.

The Tutor must have a proven track record of working with children who need careful nurturing. They must help the boy to improve his confidence both academically and socially. The Tutor will likely spend their afternoons helping the boy with his homework, ensuring it is completed to the highest standards and that he has fully understood the day’s lessons. On completing the schoolwork, there is certainly room to explore other subjects. The Tutor should start slowly, learning what motivates the children before introducing increasingly targeted tasks. It is essential that the Tutor be highly organised with excellent record-keeping skills. He or she must be able to build good working relationships with both the children, their parents, the other Tutors, and with other members of the family’s staff. The boy is the clear focus of this assignment, but the Tutor will also work a little with his sister, helping her Tutor to provide a balanced and varied education for both children.

The Tutor will be a superb educator and a good role model: educated and polished, with excellent manners and personal values. The Tutor will be partly responsible for the children’s character education. It would be a bonus to find Tutors whose personal interests encompass art or sports, and who can share their passions with the whole family. This role is suited to someone with a strong spirit of adventure who is not fazed by new cultures. They will have been raised in a socially appropriate background and speak clear English without any discernible regional dialect, as a mother tongue. The Tutor must be a qualified teacher, with at least three years’ appropriate experience. It would be helpful if he or she has experience teaching the Asian market in any context. EFL or international experience would also useful.

Hours and Holidays

The Tutor is expected to work for an average of up to 40 hours a week with preparation time in addition. The regular schedule is likely to be 8-12 hours contact time on Saturday and Sunday, plus 6 hours contact time on three weekdays. The Tutor is entitled to two consecutive days off per week, but will need to be flexible in this regard. The Client will try to give the Tutor at least a week’s notice of any variation.

The Tutor will be entitled to a minimum of 45 working days paid vacation in addition to the 17 days of public holidays per annum. The 45 days off should be taken at times convenient to the Client. Untaken ‘weekends’, paid vacation, or public holiday that have accrued will also be compensated by a pro-rated payment in lieu at the end of the contract.

Accommodation, Transport and Miscellaneous

The Client will provide accommodation suitable for an individual Tutor (this role is not suited to tutoring couples or families) and will cover all bills on this accommodation, except for the Tutor’s personal phone bills. The Client will cover all travel expenses associated with this role, plus meals and food during any periods of travel. The Tutor should not expect to have a car while in Hong Kong.

The Tutor must be fit and healthy, a non-smoker. The Tutor needs to ensure that he or she has the requisite travel and health insurance, has received the required vaccinations, and has the necessary visas.

For a full job specification and instructions for how to apply, please visit; http://tijobs.net/456 

EMPLOYER INFORMATION 

Tutors International recruit private tutors for private clients. We are the only agency specializing in full-time placements. We offer an exclusive, bespoke service and employ outstanding educators for a range of educational circumstances.