A private tutoring session by a student from Hue.

The pressure doesn't lie in the difficult lesson.

Dao Xuan Tien, a third-year student in the Mathematics Department at Hue University of Education, rushed from her dorm to Tay Loc after classes ended. “Sometimes, when it rains heavily, the water almost reaches the wheels, and I have to get off and walk through several narrow alleys to make it on time. Being late makes me feel guilty,” Tien said. She started tutoring in her first year of university through an acquaintance. Initially, it was just a trial period, but she became involved without realizing it. Each month, Tien earns about 1-1.2 million VND per student, which helps her cover her living expenses away from home.

But earning that money isn't just about a few hours in the classroom. "Some classes lasted almost two hours, and more than half that time was spent reminding students to focus. Some students lacked the basics, so I had to teach them from scratch," Tien recounted. The pressure wasn't about the difficulty of the lesson, but about finding an effective way to convey the information within a short timeframe.

Not everyone has such a smooth start to their tutoring career as Tien. Tran Thi Van, a third-year student at the University of Foreign Languages, still clearly remembers her first experience looking for tutoring classes: “Back then, I saw an advertisement online for a center that introduced students to tutoring jobs. When I arrived, it looked more like a rented room. They took 50% of the first month's fee and promised I would receive my salary at the end of the month. Believing them, I paid the money, but when I returned at the end of the month, the address was gone. I asked around, but no one knew. At that moment, I was both angry and hurt, and I didn't know who to turn to,” Van expressed.

If finding a tutor is difficult, keeping one is even harder. Thanh Tung, a third-year student at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, took on a math tutoring job for an 8th-grade student. The first assessment surprised Tung when he discovered the student had almost completely lost their foundation from 7th grade. Meanwhile, the semester exams were approaching. With no other options, Tung increased the number of tutoring sessions and tried to provide more close supervision, but things didn't go as planned. "They studied with me in the morning, but then went out to play in the afternoon. They didn't do their homework. I felt a lot of pressure because I didn't know how to explain it to the parents if the results didn't improve," Tung recounted.

The pressure on tutors sometimes lies in the inability to control their students. Thanh Tuyen, a second-year student at the University of Economics, faces a different kind of pressure. “There are parents sitting right behind me throughout the entire lesson, observing. I feel stressed while teaching, and I have to be cautious about what I say.” I'm hesitant to offer feedback, but I feel uncomfortable if I don't. “Sometimes I just want to quit the class, but I feel bad about the effort I put into finding them.”

When considered a friend

Beyond simply teaching, tutors often become friends with their children. Ms. Oanh, a parent on Phan Boi Chau Street, Thuan Hoa Ward, shared: "Sometimes my child doesn't tell me, but tells the tutor. I'm often surprised." She explained that her family doesn't prioritize academic achievement, but they still hire a tutor because they "fear their child will fall behind their peers." In this relationship, the tutor not only teaches but also acts as a bridge.

Many families treat tutors like family. Ms. Nguyen Thi Xuan (Thuan Hoa ward) said: "Seeing these students working while studying makes me feel sorry for them. Sometimes I pay them early or give them an advance."

For many students, that kindness is a motivation to continue the work. It's a small joy, but Thanh Ngoc, a final-year student at the University of Education, sees tutoring as preparation for the future. "Every time a student understands the lesson or makes a little progress, I feel very happy. It's different from studying in class. Teaching helps me learn patience and how to communicate effectively. Those things will be very useful when I start working," Ngoc said.

Tuong Vy

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/doi-song/vui-buon-nghe-gia-su-166305.html