G: The First Lesson

If this is your first tutoring experience, you may feel a bit nervous about meeting your learner. Remember that your learner is probably even more nervous than you. For some learners, just enrolling in the tutoring program takes a lot of courage!

Throughout your first meeting, it is important to focus your attention on learning as much as you can about the learner. Make your learner feel comfortable, and ensure that, by the end of the session, your learner feels a sense of accomplishment.

The following are some tips for your first meeting:

Start with an introduction

Let the learner know who you are and a bit about your background. This will help the learner feel more comfortable when talking about herself. While chatting, focus on the learner. Show interest, but do not ask too many probing questions. Open-ended questions are generally the best because they allow the learner to offer whatever information she feels comfortable providing.

Meet somewhere neutral

Try to meet at the local library or a quiet coffee shop for the first meeting. Ensure that the lightning is appropriate and there are not too many distractions at the chosen site.

Discuss expectations and goals

Be up front about how you would like to see the tutoring sessions progress. Let the learner know that the sessions are intended to be learner-centred. You are there to help her learn whatever it is she wants to learn. If there is something from home or work with which she would like help, she should bring it to the session.

Being upfront about how you would like the lesson to progress could also include "housekeeping issues." For example, you may want to provide the learner with your contact information and ask your learner to call you if she cannot make a session or will be late.

Near the end of this first meeting, you may want to ask some of the questions found on the assessment sheets provided in Session 3. However, do not take notes unless the learner is comfortable with this. If your learner seems uncomfortable, you may even want to leave the assessment until the next session.