Dedication and influence
Your achievements with your learner may seem small and short-term at times, but you may never
know what far-reaching influence you may have on your learner and his family.
Perseverance
Not all adult learners become successful readers. Some never do. You will confront problems. Don’t
give up too easily. Working with you may be the learner’s last hope.
Commitment
By making a real commitment to tutoring, you may greatly influence the life of another.
A survey of learners has produced this list of qualities they want their tutors to have.
- are kind
- talk with the learner
- are open
- encourage questions
- go over things several times
- don’t try to do too much in one lesson
- turn failures into victories
- are sincere
- are prepared
- let the learner make suggestions and
then use them
- go over the work and review
- work on just what the learner needs
- treat you like a grown-up
- respect and encourage the learner
- don’t yell
- are patient
- are committed and show up on time
- should listen
- don’t make light of it
- shouldn’t be phony; they don’t put on
airs like they care when they don’t
- are honest and let the learner know if
they do not agree
- are honest and don’t praise everything
- are not all work and no play
- include some learning games to show
learning can be fun!
Red Deer Adult Literacy Program tutor handbook. (n.d.). Red Deer, Alberta: Red Deer Public Library. Adapted with permission.
Handout 2.4