私人家教業的利與弊就是百百種的老師,不同種出身背景、文化、經歷都是老師的資本,但你找到適合你的老師了嗎?找老師過程像是找Tinder Date或工作,除了好奇過往來歷,對未來的計劃也很重要。問對問題可以幫助你管理期望,因為老師本身的英文強度不一定決定學習的成敗。
以下整理出一些我身為家教老師被學生問過最棒的問題,也順道給予較建設性的句型,幫助你形容自己的英文能力找到適合的老師。
注意粗體字的句型和註腳!
1/ 詢問專長與教學經驗
私立補教業長期下來培養出不同領域的英文老師,例如專攻職場面試、移民接軌、商業寫作、留學考試、護士執照等等,如果老師在你的目標領域有經驗必定加分,這也相對地反應在收費上。如果你很喜歡這老師但他沒有相關經驗,可以追問他可以如何幫助你,給予越多細節越好:
Have you had any experience with Taiwanese students in the US medical industry? I wonder how you could help with my conversations at work.
I got an offer to work for an airline in Singapore so I need a tutor who can help me with fluency to cope with1 the fast-paced environment. How do you help students like me?
2/ 詢問建設性的教學方法與變動彈性
要求看教材或範例是很正常的事情,你的程度、需求可能會隨著時間改變,探測老師的變通對時間和預算有限的上班族來說很重要,以最大化學習效果。一昧地追從,老師可能要亂槍打鳥不斷嘗試才有可能找到適合的內容:
Let’s say2 I have questions from a work meeting, such as not understanding a question. How can you help me with it?
I think my coworkers can’t understand me due to my pronunciation. Do you have any thoughts about that? Do you find that I have this problem?
I need to start writing emails in English for my new job. Do you have ways or materials for this?
I have tried YouTube and podcasts but I lose interest quickly. How do you recommend an adult with 9-5 job3 to study on his/her own?
If my speaking becomes better, what would be the next thing I could do?
3/ 直接考老師請他舉一反三或解釋某字
擁有舉一反三多種解釋能力的老師能幫助不同種學生。之前我面試過一位母語老師無法明確解釋「globe」和「world」的差別,也無法用例句解說或換句話說,如果你遇到的老師在這方面有困難可能是一個警訊了:
I would like to know how you explain the difference between “globe” and “world”.
I’m not sure what you meant by “discrimination”. Could you explain it in other words?
I think I understand “discrimination” but, could you use it in a sentence? Could you spell it for me?
I don’t know the word you used after positive, “dis” something? Would you paraphrase4 it please?
4/ 闡述痛點、情緒經驗並給予場景範例
學生最常說問題第一名是~單字量不夠~,但背後埋的問題通常不這麼簡單,如果能更加闡述能幫助老師了解狀況:
I find myself lost for words5 when my coworkers ask me “how are you”. What can I do in this situation?
I get embarrassed when I can’t understand the questions in a meeting.
I have tried online tutor before but I always lost steam6 halfway through. I didn’t find the topics interesting. How do you choose topics and keep students engaged7?
5/ 老師的口音與教學能力不一定畫等號
英文好的人並不代表會教英文,雖然我們能夠跟英文好的人學習,但並不代表他的方法適用於你。在多位老師之間決定的同時,以教學方針、默契和認知來作選擇的基準點最重要,別因為老師的口音聽起來「很厲害」而蒙蔽其他重要層面。
以我自己為例,本身遇過有菲律賓或台語腔卻有相當強大解釋能力的老師,也遇過母語者但只想要撈一筆的老師,在這兩者間我個人絕對選擇前者。
What kind of learning methods have you personally tried8 over the years?
In terms of9 English ability, what were the most important things that led to where you are today? Is there anything that would work on me?
I noticed that you speak with a neutral accent, what has contributed to10 that?
Wanna talk more? Join my livestream this Saturday at 22:45 Taiwan time over on YouTube
本周六直播主題~Halloween~
cope with 處理、應對
Let’s say… = if 假設、如果
9-5 job (nine-to-five job) 指朝九晚五的工作
paraphrase (v) 再次釋義
lost for words 啞口無言、說不出話
lose steam (figure of speech) 「失去蒸氣」指失去動力
engaged (adj) 有參與感
指老師本身自己是過的學習方法
in terms of 至於、在某方面
contribute (v) 致力、導致