Rules

Myth-busting: What English tutoring at Action Tutoring really looks like

Have you ever felt unsure about what’s required from our English tutoring sessions? Want to find out what a session really involves? Read on as we work on myth-busting common misconceptions our tutors may have.

The first myth

Reality: Of course, we can definitely see this would make total sense. We’d like to reassure you, this is not the case!

At Action Tutoring, we provide detailed extracts along with an outline of how to explore the text. We always want tutors to be free of doing the heavy lifting.

Each session includes key vocabulary for both pupils and tutors to focus on. This greatly prepares you to unpack the text’s meaning and context. To hopefully reassure you, if English is your second language, this is totally fine with us. Our sessions focus on comprehension and reading fluency, meaning there is plenty of support in the workbooks to guide you. 

The second myth

Reality: We totally understand it would feel like this. Thankfully, in no way is this all on you, our tutor.

We design our resources with model responses and scaffolds that give pupils a starting point for their creative writing. These models are fantastic tools to springboard the pupil’s own ideas, enabling them to gain confidence and independence. With prompts and structured support, the pupils have a foundation to build on, helping them develop their creativity without feeling overwhelmed. This means you won’t feel overwhelmed either!

The third myth

Reality: Thankfully, we’ve got it covered, meaning there’s no need for you to be an expert!

The tutor workbooks are packed with answers, model responses, and step-by-step scaffolds that guide both you and the pupils. These resources help you explain difficult concepts and give you the tools to address misconceptions effectively. To hopefully reassure you, we don’t require tutors to have every answer memorised. The workbooks and materials are simply there to ensure you can guide the pupil to the correct answers together. This helpfully creates a learning environment where mistakes are part of the process (allowing pupils to learn from them).

The fourth myth

Reality: We’re delighted to go myth busting once again! English certainly is a wide and varied subject including much more than just rules and long written responses. 

At Action Tutoring, English sessions also explore comprehension, vocabulary, speaking, listening, and critical thinking. Pupils learn how to approach a variety of texts, express their ideas clearly, and understand the world around them through language. We know it’s not all about essays! Ultimately, it’s about developing confident communicators who can engage with all forms of written and spoken language.

The fifth, and final, myth

Reality: English sessions are engaging and exciting!

We enable sessions to be interesting, vibrant and fun, by:

• Using a variety of texts
• Exploring creative activities
• Allowing pupils to express their opinions and ideas
• Providing interactive activities, discussions, and opportunities for pupils to share their voices

Essentially, pupils often become more excited about learning when they feel like they’re actively participating rather than just passively receiving information. The sessions are also a mixture of written and spoken responses. We truly believe in the research that proves learning can also be done through discussion, as well as written answers. 

Myth busting: In summary

By myth-busting and breaking down these misconceptions, we aim to show that tutoring English is a lot easier than it may seem.

With the resources, tools, and support provided, tutors can feel more confident and prepared to help pupils succeed. 

Remember: you’re not alone, and you don’t need to have all the answers. You’re there to guide, support, and help your pupils grow in their English skills.

Convinced and want to sign up?