As tutors, there are many things we need to think about during a session. From connection with the tutee, to making sure they actually understand the material, it’s a lot to manage. And sometimes, figuring out how to make sure that a tutee has the best possible experience they can is daunting. When it comes to working with the material, there are many ways to do this. Such as quizzing them on questions (low-stakes of course), asking what they feel they are struggling with, and giving them techniques to take with them. While that is all very important, as growth of knowledge is the foundation of any good tutoring session, there is another piece to this puzzle. Earlier I mentioned connection with the tutee, and that is just as (if not more) important in enhancing their experience. You could be the world’s best tutor, but if you take no time to make a connection with this person, you won’t really be getting anywhere. “But how can I do this?” That’s a great question, and exactly what this blog post is here to help you figure out.
When we talk about points of connection, often, we think of making conversation. Some like to ask about the person’s interest, ask how they’re feeling about this class, or even Skyline in general. Others may connect the tutee’s feelings about a course/teacher to their own experiences to create relatability. The point is, there are many ways to do this. While all of this conversation is important to establish a positive dynamic, there’s something else you can do that’s just as important. And that would be with your body language. “But what does my body language have to do with their experience?” At first, the connection between these two may seem far-fetched, but in reality they are deeply related. As people, we are very receptive to body language, whether we realize it or not. Facial expressions can cue us in on someone’s true opinion, tone can set the mood of a conversion, and whether or not someone is sitting facing you may greatly impact how you feel about being there.
Now, when it comes to application, this is all easier than it may seem. Given that non-verbal communication is a part of our everyday lives, you probably know more about it than you think. With that, how you talk with your body language is individual. But, there are some things I always like to do in a session:
- Mirror their body language a bit. This is one of the biggest things to keep in mind. However, note that there is a difference between mirroring and coping. After all, this isn’t a game of Simon Says. So don’t match their every movement, instead, if they shift in a certain direction, follow suit. Or if you notice they are sitting with a more closed off disposition (arms crossed/slouching), match that energy a little bit, and vice versa.
- Face the tutee. You don’t need to be making intense eye contact the whole time (that will just make you and them uncomfortable). But even just partially facing them will make them feel that you are involved in the conversation and happy to have it.
- Your facial expressions are key! Make sure that you’re smiling, nodding, and being encouraging. As we all know, asking someone for feedback on a piece, especially one that’s personal, can be really vulnerable. So sometimes, if a tutee can’t find the words, giving them a thumbs up or smile could be just the encouragement they need.
Of course, there are more things you could do. This is my second year in the center currently. In my first, it took me a bit to figure out how to do these things myself. But with practice, I swear it will get easier.
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