Tutors and tutoring are subjects with many mixed messages. Using any of the big four search engines with the words "Canada tutor" will obtain a variety of results.
MSN provided 10 of 10 Canada tutor search results. DMOZ provided 5 of 6 sites about tutors in Canada. Google gave us a page with 4 Canadian, 2 UK and 10 USA sites.
Yahoo's top 4 "ad" links were USA with 7 of 10 results from Canada.
Some Canada Search Engines were even less usefull.
Amray had 0 zero tutors in their first 10 sites.
Canadaone had 2 resources & zero search results.
Categories had no matching links
When we searched for Canada Tutor in Directories:
This tutor listing service charges $25.
There are 41 tutor(s) that meet your criteria.
You searched: Any level, ESL, Any in Ontario
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There are 60 tutor(s) that meet your criteria.
You searched: Any level, ESL, Any in BC
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This UK site promised rates of pay.
BAND 1 CAN$22 - CAN$26
BAND 2 CAN$24 - CAN$31
BAND 3 CAN$36 - CAN$43
BAND 4 CAN$36 - CAN$43
Then they told you
Tutor Registration fee $50 payment
no promise of students
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This USA site was hyping their "certificate" The best a private tutor can do is read books on tutoring, talk with other tutors, and practice. Though all of these are worthwhile activities, none lead to any sort of certificate that the private
tutor can show to prospective clients.
Listen to this hype
Want to place yourself "a cut above" your tutoring competition? Want to improve your confidence and tutoring skills at the same time? Want something tangible to show clients that you're the best? No promise of students and no national recognition by any educational organization. This guy should go back to selling used cars.
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There appears to be a real need for certification of Canadian tutors who train ESL students.
It is time to organize a national "Tutor Organization" with representatives from the provincial Ministries of education, the various teachers unions, the various faculties of education and the Federal CIC LINK program.
This org would require a team that approves existing education programs, materials and tutors and assemble tutor training program standards. Having a website that promotes standards, professional development opportunities and lists contact information would be a real boost for the individual members.
