Private Tutor

Private Tutor, Pitta Kotte, Sri Lanka

Student: A boy, 10

Overview
An able and experienced educator is required for a long-term assignment in Sri Lanka.  The Tutor will be responsible for the after-school support and general educational enhancement of one boy.  Ideally, this Tutor will have the academic perspicacity to be able to support the boy through the remainder of his schooling, or at least for the first three years.  The initial appointment will be for two years from September 2014 - August 2016.  If the ideal applicant is available earlier then the role could start sooner, with the end date remaining unchanged.

Student
The student is 10 years old.  He is a bright, engaging and inquisitive youngster, energetic with plenty of enthusiasm.  He is well-mannered young man, empathetic, thoughtful, witty and open-minded.  He has excellent English.

The boy is currently in year 6 at the British International School in Sri Lanka, where he is doing well enough without making much of an effort.  His educational experience up until now has been rather lacklustre; to date he has never had a teacher for whom he felt any admiration, and this has resulted in a student who knows what to do and how to manage the educational system, but who is yet to have a passion for learning ignited.  His willingness to work with an interesting and broadly capable Tutor makes the boy into the kind of young learner that a talented and creative Tutor will really enjoy teaching.  The boy enjoys a challenge and will benefit immensely from the intellectual and sporting encouragement of an able and intellectually agile Tutor. 

Role of the Tutor
This position requires a youthful, energetic, enthusiastic and interesting teacher who has experience working with children of the boy's age.  They must be able to teach all traditional school subjects up to and including IGCSE level, and also demonstrate a passion for learning and knowledge that far exceeds that of the school curriculum.  The Tutor must be able to build good working relationships with the teachers at the British International School in Sri Lanka. The boy's teachers will know of, support and communicate with the Tutor in order that the tutoring remains on topic.  However, the Tutor must not overstep the mark by pre-teaching the work covered in school - the boy must be stretched academically, but should not be educated to a point where he becomes bored in school and starts messing around in lessons.

The Tutor should have the expertise and understanding to design a safe program that encompasses the local resources, but also introduces a global outlook.  As the boy is likely to complete his studies in Sri Lanka (albeit through the English curricula of IGCSE and A level) the Tutor is required to bring a global element to their teaching.  The family is open to enriching the boy's education through travel, and the Tutor should be mindful of opportunities outside their immediate locale - for example, a project on Shakespeare could culminate in a whole family trip to Stratford to see an iconic performance by the Royal Shakespeare Company.

The student is IT savvy, and is quick to turn to the Internet (especially YouTube) for answers to his questions.  While independent research is to be encouraged, he needs to be directed towards more appropriate sources so that the information gleaned is more balanced.  The Tutor should discourage overreliance on the Internet while promoting broad, balanced and unbiased research.

The student speaks English as a second language, so the Tutor must have an exceptional command of English in order to boost the boy's chances of academic success.  This is particularly important in terms of writing - he faces an increasing workload over the next few years and the Tutor must ensure that his language use and the structure of his essays and science reports are optimised. It would be beneficial if the Tutor were fluent in French or another second language.  They should also be sporty and active, encouraging such behaviour and incorporating it into tutoring time where appropriate.  Competency with a musical instrument is also advantageous, as is an inquisitive mind and a willingness to immerse themselves in the local culture and language.

Hours and Holidays
The Tutor will typically work for about 40 hours per week.  The timetable will follow an established pattern with tutoring beginning immediately after school (usually at 1.30pm) until the family evening meal at about 6 or 7 pm.  The family are happy to respect normal school holidays, but there may be pre-arranged occasions where the Tutor is required to work during part of these holidays.

Accommodation, Travel and Miscellaneous
The Tutor will be provided with his or her own apartment in Sri Lanka.  It should be noted that although the accommodation is suitable for a couple, the role itself only requires one Tutor - joint applications will not be considered.  The Client will cover all bills on this apartment except the Tutor's personal telephone use.  There is also a provision for a personal cook and cleaner at the Tutor's apartment.

It is not expected that this role will include significant amounts of travel.  However, if there should be any, then the Client will be responsible for all the Tutor's work-related expenses incurred while travelling.  In addition to the flights at the beginning and end of the contract, the Client will provide a return economy class ticket back to the Tutor's country of origin every three months.

The Client will provide medical and life insurance, but the Tutor will be responsible for ensuring that this is adequate and for arranging additional cover if required.  The Client will also provide the Tutor with a driver and a car. 

The family is very private, and the Tutor must maintain complete confidentiality both during and after their appointment.

The successful candidate will be able to offer more than the minimum requirements of this position and will need to have been raised in a socially appropriate background.  He or she will not only be an excellent educator, but also a good role model: educated and polished, with excellent manners and personal values.  The Tutor must be fit and healthy, a non-smoker.  He or she must be a confident swimmer and able to encourage a love of sports and fitness in the boy.

For a full job specification and instructions for how to apply, please visit www.tutors-international.net.  Click the tab for 'adverts'.