If I look back on my time at school, its not the 2pm physics classes that dragged on for what felt like 4 hours, nor the wave of relief that I felt after “Pens Down!” rang out in my final HSC exam or even the canteen’s cheese and bacon rolls (which were still pretty damn good) that I reminisce on, but rather the relationships I cultivated day-in-day out over the course of my schooling. Whether that be with my closest friends, who I still see weekly 4 years out of school, my teachers; especially my year 12 maths teacher and even my tutors, I can say with full confidence that these people have molded me into the person I am today.
That is the type of approach I take with my tutoring, because I know that trig formulas end up fading into the abyss after school but the impact consequential people have does not.
Whilst of course, ensuring that my students DO understand why they need to know that the hypotenuse is equal to the square root of (a^2 + b^2) is still very important, it’s the way they approach learning, problem solving, and even challenges that really lasts. I always try my best to foster an environment where students can feel supported to ask questions, and confident in their abilities, and thats not just to ace their exams, but to develop skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
As a tutor, I really strive to help students grasp the confusing and occasionally convoluted content but also to instil a sense of curiosity to get them to ask themselves why are they learning, for example, that a simile can manipulate the readers’ mood. Whether it’s breaking down a tricky concept, giving the real life application of the importance of media literacy, or simply being someone they can rely on to find advice and support in, I want my students to leave each session knowing that they are more than capable and understand the reason WHY they are learning what they are learning. Not only does that help clear up their understanding and spark interest in the content, it also assists in students connecting the dots between theory and real life; an invaluable skill.
Because in the end, schooling is not just about memorising facts, it’s about learning how to think, adapt, and grow and that is something that doesn’t just simply fade with time.
Teg Philmara
