Varsity Tutors can help you or your student connect with a skilled foreign language tutor. Foreign language tutoring is an excellent option for those searching for an individualized learning environment that provides easy access to a subject area expert. Private instruction provides a one-on-one experience that can make it easier for students to focus on their learning goals. Continue reading to learn more about what foreign language tutoring can cover and how Varsity Tutors can help you maximize your study efforts.
The Value of Learning Foreign Languages
The globalization of international economies and social networks can make it feel like the world is getting smaller every day. Combined with greater locational freedom and more disposable income for travel, more people than ever have a desire to learn at least one foreign language. Even within the United States, an increasing number of citizens have a native language other than English. The greater linguistic diversity found within our country makes learning additional languages more relevant than ever before.
When you learn a new language it can provide a greater understanding of the history and culture of the native speakers. With greater understanding comes more empathy and compassion for people with different backgrounds and an increased ability to broaden one's international connections. Networking with international peers can lead to career opportunities within the United States and in locations around the world. When you work with foreign language tutors, you can explore the benefits of being bilingual and work on furthering your understanding of the language.
College Level Foreign Language Classes
If you're considering a career in international business, diplomacy, banking, hospitality, or a wide variety of other fields, studying a foreign language as an undergraduate or graduate student may be required. Whether you're taking French I, German IV, or Conversational Japanese, you can expect the standards to be high and the content to be challenging. But as with any great challenge, success comes with great intellectual rewards and the possibility of more career opportunities.
The types of courses you may encounter while studying a foreign language as part of your university career depend on which language you're studying and whether it is a requirement of your degree program. Perhaps the degree you are working towards is directly related to the language.
Foreign Language Degree Classes
- Multiple semesters of specialization in a specific language (French, Spanish, Mandarin, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Greek, etc.)
- Evolution of Language
- World Languages
- Foreign Language for Business
- Asian History
- Diversity
- Japanese Culture
- Italian Cinema
- History of Civilization
- Russian Literature
- Ethics
- Information Literacy
- French Literature
Foreign language instructors can help you work on your studies in any of the courses listed above and any other course related to your foreign language studies.
Can foreign language tutors help with test preparation?
Working with a private instructor can help you prepare for many different types of tests. Students of all ages and language levels find themselves unexpectedly becoming nervous when approaching a test. One of the things your private instructor can help you or your student with is test preparation.
One of the most obvious ways your personal instructor can help you prepare for a test is by reviewing the content covered in the class. Reviewing with someone who is fluent in the language will give you the opportunity to ask questions and clear up any confusion about the information prior to test day.
Your tutor can also work with you to develop and refine the skills necessary to test effectively. Many students think knowing the content on the test should be enough to allow them to reach their academic goals, but knowing how to take a test is equally important. Whether you'll be taking a standardized exam, a chapter test, or an oral exam, your private instructor can help you work on practicing your skills in the appropriate format. They may also help you develop time management skills which can be invaluable if you're facing a timed exam.
What are some careers that require the use of a foreign language?
Once students begin learning a foreign language, many become enamored with the idea of fluency. To gain true fluency, students need to know more than the technical components of a language. You must learn about the culture and the nuances of a language found in slang and cultural expressions that are not always taught in a classroom. Working with a private instructor can help you work on becoming more fluent so you are better able to use the language in real-world situations.
Increasingly, businesses in all industries are looking for bilingual employees. Even if it is not a specific job requirement, knowing more than one language can set you apart from a sea of qualified candidates. Below are a few careers that can rely heavily on knowledge of a foreign language.
- Translator
- Human resource specialist for an international business
- Interpreter
- International customer service
- Government intelligence
- Writer/Editor
- Travel agent/tour guide
- Journalist
- Linguist
- American representative for an international company
- Teacher
- Liaison officer for a business conducting affairs globally
- Importer/Exporter
- Field researcher
- Art dealer
- Product manager
How is foreign language tutoring different from taking a class?
When you take a foreign language class, your teacher must follow a set curriculum at a predictable pace. This ensures students receive the same information by the end of their studies and there are theoretically no knowledge gaps. While this model works well for most students, it doesn't necessarily provide the most comprehensive understanding of a foreign language, and it can leave some students feeling a little lost in the crowd.
When you work with a personal instructor, all of the lessons are specifically focused on you and your learning needs. Your instructor can take the time to get to know you personally. As they discover your learning style, linguistic goals, learning strengths, and the challenges you are facing with the language, they can use that information to create a custom plan of study designed to help you work towards reaching your language acquisition goals.
Because you will be working with an instructor in a one-on-one setting, you are able to ask any questions related to the material and language you are studying. If you're not clear on a point you can stop and gain clarification in real-time. This can help avoid confusion later and make it easier to process and apply what you're learning. Similarly, if your tutor notices you are making pronunciation, grammatical, spelling, or other technical errors, they can quickly offer corrections and tips for how to improve.
You can choose to work with your private instructor in person or in a secure online learning environment. Many people initially gravitate towards working with a tutor in person. When you choose this option, you can work with someone in your home, at a local coffee shop, school library, or other public venues. However, working with a local tutor may mean a smaller pool of qualified candidates or more difficulty finding a time that is available for you both.
When you choose to work with a tutor online your options expand significantly, but the experience remains the same. You will still meet with your personal instructor face-to-face. However, instead of traveling to and from the lesson, you will only need to make sure you have a digital device and a reliable internet connection. You can then utilize our Live Learning Platform and begin working with your instructor as soon as your session time arrives. In this digital learning environment, it will feel like you are sitting across the table from your instructor.
With digital tutoring, you can work with tutors from more diverse locations which can make it easier to schedule sessions for popular time slots. Whether you want to make an appointment for the morning, afternoon, or evening hours during the week or on the weekend, it will be easier to accomplish when working with your instructor remotely.
How can I start working with a foreign language tutor?
Varsity Tutors can help you quickly connect with skilled foreign language instructors nearby or online. With so many benefits associated with mastering a foreign language, it is no surprise that many people look for professional assistance outside of the classroom to help them work towards their language learning goals. Whether you are interested in learning French, Latin, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, or some other language, private instruction can be an invaluable tool in helping you work towards fluency. Whether you want a deeper dive into the culture, history, and expressions of native language speakers or you need help mastering the technical components of a language, private instruction can help.
Contact Varsity Tutors today to discuss your options with one of our professional learning experts who are standing by to answer any questions you may have and assist you in deciding if private instruction is the right solution for you or your student. If it is, we can help you quickly and easily connect with an experienced foreign language instructor who can help you begin working on your language learning goals.
