5 Tutoring Locations You Haven't Thought About

By Alicia Geigel on October 31, 2017

As a student, tutoring can either be a drag or rewarding. As a tutor, it can be the same way. If you are struggling in a math course that is completely blowing your mind and you have a tutor that is focused less on your pace and more about hastily writing down all the answers for you, that’s a drag. On the contrary, if you are a tutor, you might have a student that is dozing off while at the same time expecting you to do all the work for them, which is also a drag.

One of the golden rules of being a tutor, according to the State University of New York is to be flexible, noting that this means, “being willing to adjust techniques and approaches to meet the learning styles of the student.”

Though there is no changing how someone wants to learn, you can change their perspective on it by changing the location of where they learn! Sometimes students prefer learning in a library, under the harsh fluorescent light during late hours. Others like to switch it up and take their learning outside of the physical school building, which can make you wonder, “what are the best places to tutor someone?”

Though unconventional ways are not for everyone, these recommendations can definitely help to spark an interest in your student and perhaps make them want to learn and study!

1. Coffee shop: This may be totally basic tutoring 101, but a coffee shop is certainly a great place to tutor someone outside of the standard school library or a dorm room. Coffee shops are known to have great atmospheres, with light and calming music, dim light, and plenty of tables and seating. Coffee shops can also be a great place to study because it’s a public space, which can not only make you and your student more comfortable, but it can also be a great excuse to grab a cappuccino!

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2. Outside in a park/On campus: If you are not much of an outdoor person, then this option may not be the best for you or your student. But if you love the outdoors or even just occasionally like it from time to time, studying with a tutor in a park or on locations outside on campus is a great way to boost your motivation and increase the success of your learning!

In fact, according to Healthline.com, exposure to sunlight has many benefits including, “reducing stress, boosting focus, and inducing calmness.” You can study anywhere outside and go about it any way you want. Perhaps you want to sit on the ground with a blanket and study that way, or maybe you want to sit on a bench overlooking campus — whichever way works best for you is totally in your control!

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3. Skype/Facetime: People typically think of tutoring as a face-to-face, personal session in which one person teaches and the other learns. However, in the growing age of technology, there is a definite increase in the amount of online communication via social media and particularly through virtual meetings with Skype, Google Hangouts, or Facetime. If you are not comfortable with tutoring in person, have a schedule that does not permit you to travel, or just work better online, tutoring through these applications can be a great way to increase flexibility as well as availability.

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4. In an apartment/dorm: Though this is perhaps the least unconventional place to study, an apartment/dorm is not the worst place to do so! Some people (both students and tutors) are not comfortable with public spaces or virtual communication, so why not make it simple and meet in a dorm/apartment?

Doing so will not only increase the level of comfort for both but also make sessions more fun/personal. Furthermore, most dorm buildings and apartment complexes have common areas, so even if you are still in the building where you live, you can still get out of your dorm/apartment and get a great tutoring experience in a common area.

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5. Off-campus public library: Libraries can get a bad rap as being places that are boring and dull, but they’re great places to tutor, learn, and study. Public libraries for tutors and students serve as a great opportunity to not only travel outside of the comfort of campus but also as a great resource for any information you may want during your session. Libraries have plenty of tables, seating, lighting, and books to make the best of your time there. Despite what others may argue, go ahead and be a bookworm! It will be to your benefit!

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Tutoring for some is not always the most positive of experiences due to a variety of circumstances. However, location is an important indicator of how successful a session can be. Whether you want to bask in the sunshine while learning statistics or listen to Bon Iver in Starbucks while tackling Shakespeare, you have the world at your feet and a multitude of options when it comes to learning. As always, good luck and happy studying! 

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