What kind of learner are you?

If you are looking for a tutor, you are looking for someone to help you with your English. In other words, although self study is valuable, you think you need additional input from an experienced professional. Tutors can certainly help with the four skills - speaking, listening, reading and writing - and, if you have an exam coming up, they can teach you exam techniques, but you will still have to do most of the work yourself.  

Have you ever thought about how you learn?  For example, are you a visual learner? Does seeing things written down help you to remember them?  How do you learn new vocabulary?  Do you write a sentence including the new word, do you draw a picture or diagram to explain it to yourself?  Maybe you prefer to listen to an explanation of a text and discuss it, or read a text aloud to help make sense of it. If so, you may be an auditory learner.  The third kind of learner, known as a kinetic learner, is someone who has a hands-on approach to the subject and likes to move around.  Does that reflect the way you learn?

You can find out more about these three learning styles, known as Fleming's VARK model, by going to www.wikipedia.org.  Identifying the kind of learner you are, and you may recognise aspects of all three styles in your own learning methods, will help you decide how best a tutor can help you.  Telling the tutor how you like to study, as well as what you want to study, will enable them to design the most appropriate  course of lessons for you. Then, you will be working positively together towards your success.