15th January 2014 9:00
By Blue Tutors
Last September, plenty of tutors saw their students up sticks and begin university courses, saying good-bye to weekly lessons with their tutors and going out into the world of higher education. They have now completed their first term, and have had time over the Christmas break to consider their progress. Many tutors will receive messages from their students telling them how they are getting on, and thanking them for their help preparing them for university. But what happens when those messages say that they are not feeling confident, and would like to continue lessons with their tutors? It is more common than many would think for ex-students to call their tutors after beginning university, and request extra help as they begin their courses. The question becomes, when is the right time to let go?
First of all it is important for the tutor to establish the situation with the student. Many students feel uncertain when they begin at university and are living away from home for the first time. It could be that they are perfectly capable of coping with the course, and the issue is not academic but one of missing the familiar. Usually, taking time to settle in and ensuring regular contact with family can help ease this transition, and there is no need for a tutor. If it is the case that the student is struggling with the course, again it would be useful for the tutor to establish what the particular issues are. Unfortunately, some students do come to rely on tutors to give them one-to-one help, and could be thrown when they do not receive this in a university setting. Adjusting to working independently is an important step, and tutors may feel that continuing to provide academic support may not be the best way of preparing their students for the rigour of a university course.
If a student is struggling with the course, the first step should always be to discuss the issue with their university advisor, and this is the first step that tutors should recommend. University advisors should be able to suggest ways of catching up, and assign suitable exercises if necessary. However, if it is decided that extra tuition is necessary, then a tutor may be a good solution to help students find their feet. Tutoring for university courses is becoming a common request, and many students do benefit from one-to-one tuition to ensure that they keep up with the course. But is going back to a student’s old A level tutor the way to go? There is definitely an argument for continuity, especially if the tutor and student had a good working relationship. However, there is also the risk that the student comes to rely too much on the tutor, and in attempting to help the student, the tutor may risk holding them back from flourishing in a university environment. Ultimately the decision should be taken by the tutor once they have properly assessed the individual requirements of their student.