Tutoring/Mentoring - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

NickCraggs · Guru

Tutoring/Mentoring

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

The surpise should not be that we went off topic but rather that we stayed on topic so long. :)

-- Edited by Shamus on Thursday 11th of October 2012 06:06:38 PM

Spamkebab · Expert

Hope someone from one of the Training providers can help.

What are the first steps one should take if one was to pursue a career as a tutor?

Is there anyway of working with Training providers remotely on a voluntary basis?

Would any training providers even consider this from students?

This interest of mine has come from a post over on the AAT forum and i am a little more than interested in hearing how you, yourself broke into the training and

tutoring world. I hope i am not asking for any masonic secrets, or for you to share with me the location of the golden fleece lol.

Taverymuch,

Neil.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Neil,

see this page http://www.aat.org.uk/deliver/become-an-aat-tutor-assessor-or-verifier

to get the assessor / verifier qualification you need to have access to two trainee's in your chosen field.

My impression is that to be a tutor training companies are actually looking for people with the full set.

There are plenty of companies out there offering the training but seem to be no sites equivalent to this one to identify the sharks from the good training providers.

Costs vary wildly from a few hundred to a few thousand!

HTH for starters,

Shaun.

Spamkebab · Expert

And of course, i expect it takes a special kind of person to become a tutor, an abundance of patience is a must lol.

I was wondering how some of the players on here fell into tutoring rather than bookkeeping/accountancy.

I'm happy with tutoring my sorry a**e for the moment and damn i'm hard work, but i wouldn't mind mentoring lower level students.

Neil.

Spamkebab · Expert

That's pretty cool Nick. I was under the impression that you could only teach the level below which you are qualified.

I'm glad you enjoy it and i agree that you should, as a tutor, be able to offer that little extra in terms of advice to students.

I was just looking up the A1 and V1 qualifications (it lead on from the link Shaun posted, as usual) and it seems to be a bit of a minefield out there as far as these go.

Neil.

NickCraggs · Guru

Hi Neil,

I think the AAT just require you to show "professional competancy" i.e. you can do the job for you to be able to teach, but i think you should be qualified to atleast the level you are teaching.

I had an assessor when i was on level 4 who had only got to level 3 themselves! The assessors award are a requirement for some modules such as spreadsheets and work based evidence, but if you show a spark a training company should be willing to put you through them. They only take a couple of months to do.

Most tutors i know have all come from different backgrounds so i couldnt say there is one sure fire way to get your foot in the door.

Spamkebab · Expert

I have had tutors that could talk a glass eye to sleep, i thought "if i'm going to listen to anyone droning on, i may as well listen to myself" hence the distance learning lol.

I don't usually use the word "passion" when describing a job, role or position ie must have a passion for accountancy, it strikes me as just weird for some reason???. I do think

that the word passion is a good word to use for anything teaching related though. I think students must see that sparkle in their tutor, the one that makes the subject fun to

learn.

Neil.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

My idea of a great tutor is Mike little from the Opentuition lectures.

If you aspire to be like him Neal you won't go far wrong.

As for passion for accountancy. Welcome to the club matey. Personally I'm espechially passionate about ethics and management theory (so perfectly armed for certain debates on the site!).

I think that everyone has some element that they are better at than others.... And conversely some subject that they may understand but they will never love and would be unwise for them to try to teach. (my downfalls on that one are financial instruments and cashflow statements).

Shaun.

Spamkebab · Expert

I'm surprised Mike hasn't been arrested by the flirt police lol. Very very good tutor, and he knows it.

Neil

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

I have noticed that.

Does put his foot in it occassionally but redeems himself with the quality of his lectures.

I liked the one in the P5 lectures where he caught someone texting during a lecture. These people may be advanced level big four accountants but to him they might as well be first years at secondary school.

Just surprised that I haven;t heard the clunk of a blackboard rubber bouncing off anyone yet... Oh, just informed by my boy that apparently tutors are not allowed to do that anymore.

Actually, another great reason to listen to the lectures is the female students speaking English with that sexy Eastern European accent.

Ding Dong...

Spamkebab · Expert

Shamus wrote

Actually, another great reason to listen to the lectures is the female students speaking English with that sexy Eastern European accent.

Ding Dong...

And with that, we are now well and truly off topic lol.

Spamkebab · Expert

God help us when we hit our 70's Shaun, imagine the meandering then? where was i? lol.

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

suspect with our cynical senses of humour we'll be very much like steadtler and Waldorf off the Muppets (you know the two old guys with the balcany box)

Spamkebab · Expert

Hahaha i aint seen those two for years.

I hope some more training providers/tutors reply to my post lol.

I don't think i do myself any good with my posts on here, i know if i was an employer and i read half of what i wrote, i wouldn't employ me either.

He must be mad, they say.

Neil.

EagleEducation · Senior Member

Hi Neil. I Like what has been said so far. Its great you are intereted in mentoring. I can add to this post but I'm absolutely exhausted So I'll try tomorrow. :))).

Spamkebab · Expert

Looking forwards to hearing from you Sonya.

TRAINING LINK · Senior Member

Hi Neil

Sorry mate not been about really, interesting reading. Training Link are more than happy to receive your CV as we will be eventually looking for more tutors. Please email CV to claire@training-link.co.uk

Hope your well and look forward to hearing from you.

Have a good weekend.

Dave

Spamkebab · Expert

Wooo look at that.

This could be the making of me.

Cheers Dave, what exactly would Training Link be looking for in a candidate for the position of Tutor?

Have a good weekend yerself,

Neil.

TRAINING LINK · Senior Member

Hi Neil

Well the fact you are well known on BKN and make posts of both a serious and fun nature show that you already have a an apptitude for dealing with people, that is half the battle believe me!!! However not my department so if you are interested in getting your foot in the door please contact Claire with details of experience and qualifications attained so far?

Dave

Spamkebab · Expert

I will not stand accused of posting in seriousness!

What have i ever done to you?

TRAINING LINK · Senior Member

Now you dont want to be upsetting the Training Link Tea Boy especially after I have put in a good word for you. lol

Dave

KTC · Veteran Member

Just want to note that if you intend to teach in actual colleges, then you'll need to study for various Teaching in the Lifelong Sector qualifications. It appears one can't enter one of these courses unless you are teaching, but you need them to teach so I'm not sure how that work in reality. Alternatively, one must have PGCE or similar.

-- Edited by KTC on Saturday 13th of October 2012 01:04:08 AM

Amanda · Expert

DAve,
So you have remote Tutors or are they all office based? I see you are in the Midlands and I am down South.

This is something I have been thinking about for a while now, but don't really know where to start?

TRAINING LINK · Senior Member

Amanda wrote:
DAve,
So you have remote Tutors or are they all office based? I see you are in the Midlands and I am down South.

This is something I have been thinking about for a while now, but don't really know where to start?

Hi Amanda

Our tutors are both office based and remote, being a remote tutor is common when it comes to Distance Learning, I would suggest contacting as many providers as you can who offer courses in subjects you are already qualified for? We already have a couple of CV's from BKN members and as I understand it a position will be offered as soon as we are up and running, but please feel free to send your CV to claire as mentioned above? Have a great weekend.

Dave

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi KTC,

I've looked at the V1 and A1 courses in the past and often these have links to teaching in the lifelong learning sector.

It appears that the keys are teaching in a field that you are qualified in (so, say accountancy) and then they will provide the rest, including where necessary any students needed to pass certain courses.

Of course, the more that the training companies need to do for you the more expensive it becomes but excalated cost aside my impression is that you do not have to be a teacher to take the courses,

kind regards,

Shaun.

EagleEducation · Senior Member

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr my response disappeared!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

actually, your reply to the other message fits in with this one. I think maybe your Ipad's conspiring against you.

I think that you may have misunderstood my statement above.

The training companies that I am talking about are the one's offering teaching courses and the reference to escalating costs is down to the companies needing to provide students to pass the teaching qualifications.

Just want it to be clear tha I'm not actually complaining in any way about any of the training companies here or indeed the one's offering the teaching qualifications where the escalating costs are quite justifiable for the expense of providing the required students.

On the messages disappearing quite often if you hot the back button on your browser your message may still be there (been there, done that, got the T shirt, writing the book).

When I use that one the most is usually where I've deleted someone's post but forgot to copy and paste it into the report that I need to fill out (thankyou for that feature Mozilla).

kind regards,

Shaun.

Spamkebab · Expert

Was it one of those that take ages to write too?

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

They always are Neil... And generally also when you're inflamed about something so losing it you can never get back what you wrote as you are not doing it from the heart but rather trying to recall from memory and it's never the same.

Another problem I've had is hitting something around the cntl and shift key with my chunky fingers that just deletes your message

EagleEducation · Senior Member

It's my blimmen iPad! I got disturbed then when i went back it was gone! I've not had that many drinks yet Shaun lol. The other message was for the other post.

Ok I'll write but shorter and I'm not proof reading lol

Answers will vary depending on who you talk to because FE colleges private training providers awarding bodies often have different requirements. Also internally they even argue amongst themselves and not always follow their own guidance. And some just ignore the guidance!

What I know is (and it could be out of date) is to teach in fe you have to have a recognised teaching Qual or be working towards one. To do a teaching Qual you have to have teaching hours chicken and egg situation here as some colleges won't employ without a teChing Qual.

No I'm not breathing Neil! Lol

Private sector you don't ave to have a teaching Qual

More to come....

EagleEducation · Senior Member

Now in my opinion teaching and assessing are two different things. Not all teachers assess but Sime disagree.

To assess or quality assure you have to have other Quals. a1 and V1 I think are out of date now as they were related to NVQs and a nightmare to get if you were an aat assessor because on of the requirements was o assess by observation which we generally don't do in aat

But I believe they've been replaced by alternatives now.

Omg I've just noticed paragraphs on my last post!!! :)

With regards to Quals AAT say you need to hold AAT l4 or Ccab Qual. They say they consider extensive work experience but actually they will encourage (strongly) the staff member to work towards...

.....

EagleEducation · Senior Member

Qualities to be a good teacher - passion about the subject and facilitating learning are essential. This might sound weird but I no longer assume somebody with a Qual has the understanding! Strong communication skills are also essential and a creative mind. Ive known some amazing accountants that struggle to teach because of weak communication skills.

Oh I forgot work experience! Tut essential. I was 'taught' by someone who came straight out of uni who'd never worked in the environment??? Hmmm

Finally lots of patience, persistence, understanding

And a very thick skin!

So....it would be great if you could find some P/t work. Working in education really does develop a new/enhanced set of skills to add to your collection. It's very rewarding.

Where are you based in the uk Neil?

Donna CBK · Senior Member

Definitely require PTLLS as the least for college, this includes adult education. A few years ago it was possible to find a position without this requirement but believe it is now part of requirements for post 16 sector (around 2 years ago). PTLLS (Preparing to teach in life long sector) can be taken without any teaching experience, a lot of adult education colleges provide this training, approx 3 hours an evening over 12 weeks. City & Guilds qualification costing around £ 180/£249. Depending if its AAT, tutor can often be the IV or EV and therefore additional assessor qualification required. My own original experience came from 1 to 1 training of clients.

Thanks Dave for confirming Training Link info on distance learning tutor - will look into it.