For most tutoring companies you come across you’ll notice that they offer both one-to-one sessions and group classes. In today’s blog we’ll take a look at both and compare the advantages and disadvantages of each.
One-to-one sessions:
One-to-one sessions, otherwise known as 1-2-1 sessions are classes where one student is matched up with one tutor. You’ll notice that these lessons are generally priced at a higher rate than group classes. The fundamental reason for this is because the sessions are completely tailored to one individual student. The tutor will take into account their learning style, the topics they’re struggling with and will also get to know the student on a much more personal level.
The pros
+ As mentioned, 1-2-1 lessons are completely tailored to the learning style of the student
+ The student will be able to pick the content taught in each lesson and so can target areas of difficulty
+ The student benefits from instant feedback on their work
+ There will be more flexibility on lesson times; it’s much easier to rearrange a class for one student than for five.
+ There will be better feedback on homework; in a group class there won’t be time to provide personalised feedback for the mistakes every student makes
The cons
- The cost of 1-2-1 lessons is nearly always higher than that of group classes
- Students will be less independent in their learning
- Students may miss out on valuable insights made by other students in a group class setting
Group classes:
Group classes will be an environment all children are familiar with; they will be working in classes of at least 2 students with one tutor. This is a popular form of tuition as the prices tend to be lower than those of 1-2-1 sessions
The pros:
+ These lessons will be more affordable than the 1-2-1 sessions
+ Group lessons allow the use of group activities which can help make a lesson more fun and interactive. Furthermore, they promote brainstorming
+ Students can benefit from good ideas or questions raised by another student in the class
+ Group lessons can also help promote healthy competition. As is often the case in my group classes, the students want to show that they’re just as good as everyone else in the session and so strive to complete questions promptly and get them correct
The cons:
- In group settings a tutor won’t b
e able to provide each student with as much individual attention as they would get in a 1-2-1 lesson
- Students won’t be able to request certain topics be taught in a class. To make things fair for all the students, the tutor will often follow a rigid scheme of work
- Group lessons won’t cater to every student’s individual learning styles
Overall, none other than yourself will be able to better determine what is best for both your child and also you as a parent. Both types of classes have their pros and cons and it is mostly down to the context of your situation. If you’re still struggling to decide, we can always lend a helping hand and provide some recommendations. Feel free to either contact us directly via our phone line or fill out our application form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
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