when you need additional help outside the classroom.
The British and American school system for academic support have developed differently. Students who go abroad to study in the UK, like at Cambridge, may find themselves pleasantly surprised by the individual support universities give to students. They may experience the benefits of having an official intermediary between them and the academic faculty. This intermediary are called "personal tutors".
Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, USA, has a personal tutoring program for their students. They believe if they accept a student to the univserity then it is their job to help them to pass their courses. College culture is much more intensive than high school, and they are aware of the challenges in making the transition.
Personal tutors are a special form of student tutoring services common in the UK. At the university, struggling students can find private tutors that will be able to help in the area that is giving them difficulty. Their role is to mediate between the student and the academic staff. They are meant to help the student if he or she has any difficulties with their instructors, academic difficulties, or other trouble adjusting to the demands of college life.
This role is a broad one and it takes a special type of person to become a personal tutor. Guidelines from the school help a tutor and student know what to expect. Generally, they are required to meet several times a year or several times a semester.
A university will have a code for practices, making sure the guidelines for behavior are well understood. A student could receive personal tutoring in any of these general subjects: -Maths - algebra, calculus -Physics -Language - French, German -Biology -Chemistry -Computer Studies/ -Information Technology -Geography -English -General science -Combined science -History
Personal tutors help students overcome personal difficulties. Students often find it hard to balance the tough workload with their personal lives. They can experience a conflict with the personality of a key instructor and that can impede their studies.
It’s not uncommon for students to go through relationship difficulties. Without the structure of the family,
students can find themselves adrift. That’s where the system of personal tutors can step in.
Personal tutoring can help mitigate these problems, keep students on track, and help make sure that important studies don’t suffer because of personal challenges.
The advantage of this system is that students know who to approach. The personal tutors are also specially charged with keeping their eye out to spot difficulties even when the student doesn’t come to them.
Here are some of the main warning signs that personal tutors look out for:
--Persistent absence from class
--Failure to meet course deadlines
--Rapid drop in performance
--Compulsive work
--Little work
--Tenseness, sadness, or anxiety
--Loud or aggressive tendencies
--Raid weight loss/gain; disheveled look
Personal private tutors have superiors they can speak with to help understand how best to address difficult situations. They also know how to seek support form Counselors, Psychologists, and other trained professionals on campus.
One thing that can help a student even more than specific personal tutoring services is knowing that someone cares. Often that is enough to help a student over the hump and get them back on track again.
No one wants to feel alone, especially during college years which are meant to be the most rewarding learning experiences of our lives.
Occasionally, personal tutors have to respond to more serious issues. In these cases, they are encouraged to respond as quickly as they can to be of service to the student. They are given training to spot for suicidal tendencies, risk of self-harm or harm to others, substance abuse, or other more severe psychological dysfunctions.
In these cases, they are encouraged to go directly to emergency response stations and not try to deal with the situations themselves.
The British System of personal tutoring has served thousands of students. If you or anyone you know will be studying in the UK, make sure you take advantage of this service. You may not only have a better learning experience, you may also make a friend for life.
