Examination season is getting close, and your child might be studying hard to ace their exams.
You might be considering other options to try and help them, and one of those options might be registering them for tuition.
What Is Tuition
According to Cambridge Dictionary, tuition is teaching a small group of people or just teaching one person.
Usually, tuition is considered an extra class conducted outside of school hours by tuition centres that are most of the time not affiliated with any schools.
There can be many forms of tuition, such as:
- private sessions
- group tuition
- online classes
- home tuition
However, before you choose to register your child for tuition, there are a few things you need to consider.
Benefits of Tuition
There are a few pros of attending tuition for your kids, and that includes:
1. Enhanced Understanding of Subject Matter
Tuition can provide a personalised learning environment, allowing your child to focus on areas of weakness without feeling left behind in a larger classroom setting.
With individualised attention, this can lead to an enhanced depth of knowledge in challenging subjects.
In a study, it shows that personalised learning has a slight positive effect on learning.
2. Better Grades
With focused study sessions, additional practice problems, and comprehensive materials provided by tutors often lead to better grades and a clearer understanding of complex topics.
According to a study, the academic performance of students that go for tuition is significantly higher than that of students without the extra classes.
3. Development of Learning Skills
Aside from academic knowledge, tuition can also help develop important learning skills like time management and effective study techniques.
The skills mentioned can prove beneficial long after the tuition sessions end, as they are skills needed later in life.
4. Additional Academic Support
Some kids might understand what teachers at school teach, but some might not.
With tuition, the tutors can help provide tips and also clarify confusing concepts of a subject.
Disadvantages of Tuition
If you’re considering enrolling your child in extra classes, do take consideration of the possible disadvantages of tuition and that includes:
1. High Costs
One of the drawbacks of tuition is the cost of it.
The fee for a month can be high if you are opting to hire a private tutor, depending on how many subjects your child is enrolling in and their level of education.
The fee for an hour of primary school students’ tuition can range from RM25 to RM60. As for secondary school students, the range can go from RM35 to RM85 for an hour of tuition.
If your child goes to 20 hours of tuition a month, the fee can add up to RM1000.
2. Overdependence
Some kids might become overly dependent on the tutors, discouraging the development of self-learning skills.
This dependence can become a problem, especially when your child might be expecting to be spoon-fed information rather than learning to study independently.
3. Increased Pressure and Stress
Tuition can add extra workload to a student’s already busy schedule, leading to increased stress levels.
Some students go to school in the morning, and they might have additional classes to attend from the afternoon until night.
Apart from that, after a session of tuition ends, the tutors might assign homework they need to finish before the next session.
This may cause stress to children as they are expected to finish homework given by their teachers at school and their tutor.
4. Limited Free Time
As mentioned, if they are enrolled in extra classes, your child might find their free time significantly reduced.
This decrease in free time can impact their social life, physical activity, and overall wellbeing.
5. Potential Mismatch of Teaching Styles
Every student has their own unique learning style, and there’s no guarantee that the tutor’s teaching method would align with your child’s learning style.
This difference can reduce learning efficiency and may even lead to a decline in interest in the subject.
Not only that, but the method taught by a teacher at school and a tutor might be significantly different and would further cause confusion to your child.
How to Know If Your Child Needs Tuition
According to Verywell Family, there are a few signs you can check to see whether or not your child needs extra classes.
Your child did the best they could, but sometimes they just can’t do well in a particular subject.
This might not be due to lack of trying but because they have trouble understanding the things they are taught.
If your child is struggling in one or more subjects in school, they might reach a point where they fall behind as their peers move forward.
How You Can Help Them Study Better
If you think that it might be better for them to study at home than with a tutor and that you are equipped to supervise them as they study, then go ahead.
Prodigy shared a few ways you can help your child to study better, and that includes:
1. Eliminate Distraction
Make a dedicated study area for them, somewhere with minimal distractions.
Make sure that they don’t have their phone with them.
You can either have them give it to you or have a dedicated space for them to put away their phone for the time being.
Make sure that it’s not close to other distractions and that it’s quiet for them to focus better.
2. Set Regular But Short Breaks
Sitting and studying for an hour straight without taking brain breaks will likely produce poor results.
Many people use the Pomodoro Technique to increase productivity.
Have them study for 25 minutes and then take a five-minute break.
3. Stay Involved and Follow Through
Supervise them when they’re studying, but don’t be too involved if they don’t require it.
Be there for them if they ask for help.
Their Options Lie in Their Hands
Talk with them about it before deciding anything.
Take into consideration what they think about the options they have and decide from there.
Good luck, my fellow parents!
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice from Motherhood. For any health-related concerns, it is advisable to consult with a qualified healthcare professional or medical practitioner.
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