I started tuition when I was in Primary 3. My mother was concerned that I was unable to cope with my school work, and yet, she was unable to help me. Like all mother, she wanted all the best in me. At my end, I dreaded attending tuition. I disliked having an adult watching over my shoulder on everything I did in those evenings, and skipping my favourite television programmes. I do not see the benefit of tuition.At primary 3, my tutor conducted her lessons at home. There were many children, of different primary levels, cramped into 2 tables in my tutor's kitchen. There were 2 tutors, who were friends, one of whom taught English and another taught Maths. My recollection of those evenings were that I was made to copy lots of problem sums from a primary 4 book. And I were unable to do any of the questions. I do not think I benefited from the lessons.
At primary 4, my tutor was a school teacher. There were about 7 students cramped in my tutor's bedroom. Ironically, my tutor was not at home throughout the year. He returned home at 9pm with a stench of liqour in his breath. We spent our time chatting. Our parents paid our tuition fees blindly.
At primary 5, my mum engaged a home tutor. She taught my 2 sisters, who were in the secondary levels, my brother and myself in the primary levels. I was shy having a visitor at home. I recalled that I sat quietly doing my work all the evenings.
At primary 6, my mum changed the tutor again. He was Edmund. He taught my brother and myself. Both of us were very fond of him. I could still recall him teaching me grammar, explaining to me the questions in my Science and Maths assessment books. After that year, he sent greeting cards to my brother and myself on every Christmas.
I am a tutor now. I want to be a tutor that change my students' results. And hopefully, they have a good memory of me, many years later.
