You have no items in your cart. Want to get some nice things?
Volunteer Spotlight – It’s a great process to learn from the person you are teaching!
Michael, a long-time communication and marketing professional, turned to volunteering with GT Scholars during the pandemic as a way to give back while working remotely. With a love for literature and a genuine interest in helping young people grow, he discovered the joy of learning alongside his scholar. In this interview, he shares the rewarding moments, challenges and lessons he’s gained as a volunteer tutor.
How did you get started as a volunteer tutor with GT Scholars?
I was in the design sector for many years, which was very rewarding. Once the pandemic happened, everything stopped. I began searching for something that I could do remotely and came across GT Scholars. This was the beginning of it.
What did you enjoy most about tutoring your scholar?
I enjoyed the two-way dynamic between tutor and scholar. It’s lovely that you can talk to the scholar about books, and they can talk back to you about their ideas about language. You find that the things you thought you knew you didn’t know so well, and the reasons for that are sometimes, you know, startling. It’s a great process to learn from the person you are teaching.
What challenges have you helped your scholar face?
He’s always tempted to read summaries or online material rather than pick up the book. And, you know, picking up the book is the first thing to do in any circumstance. It may seem that something like Shakespeare is tremendously daunting, which it is, but you don’t get your knowledge by reading summaries on the internet. You get your knowledge by reading the text and by talking about it.
What challenges did you face while tutoring your scholar?
I was a little bit concerned. I’m not a teacher, after all. I’ve always been very fond of literature and haven’t had any formal training since my degree all those years ago. So I was a little bit worried – and thankfully the students helped me out.
What qualities does the scholar have that make them a good tutee?
A willingness to learn, first of all. His willingness to invest his time is the first principle. It hasn’t always been straightforward. The scholar might feel frustrated when I’m going over things for the third time. After some debate, he comes out the other end with really good ideas.
What do you think is the most important skill to have as a volunteer tutor?
A willingness to talk to young people on their own terms. They may not have the experience that you have. They may not have the knowledge that you have, but if you start talking down to them, saying “this is the way it is” just because it is, you’re going to be on a highway to nowhere, really. You’ve got to be able to accept feedback. The more feedback you get, the better.
What was the experience as a tutor like?
Rewarding, really. Any learning that you do keeps your mind open. This is an excuse for all kinds of learning – learning about young adults, learning about yourself, learning about books, learning about the way English works. Extraordinary! It’s a great experience.
Would you recommend becoming a tutor with GT Scholars?
Oh, I really enjoy it. It’s only an hour a week, you have to maybe do a little bit of homework, a little bit of planning.
What would you say to anyone thinking of becoming a tutor/mentor with GT Scholars?
I’d say: Don’t worry. There are all kinds of resources you can call upon, and they’re easily accessible. You should be able to make a great start if you’re any kind of, you know, 20th-century, 21st-century person, really.
GT Scholars is an award-winning education company and social enterprise. We run high-impact tutoring, mentoring & enrichment programmes for young people aged 11-18. If you’d like to give your child the support, skills and strategies needed to achieve their academic and career aspirations, you're in the right place!
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Latest posts by GT Scholars (see all)
