pieces of me

A great day being a private tutor

sunday was one of the greatest day in the year 2006: i tried being a private tutor. this is what happened on that day:

in the morning i went to a family, was suppose to give tution to a P1 boy, teach him English and Chinese.. the day before (saturday) the agent told me and re-comfirm me at least three times that i am supposed to go to that family at 8.30 in the morning.. so i woke up really early (7am, on a Sunday!) and i reached their place before 8.30.. and guess what the mother (aka my employer) said to me when she saw me?

"i thought i want the tution to start at 9 o'clock, why you come so early?"
i was shocked to hear that, and after telling her the agent asked me to go at 8.30am (she gave me doubtful look when i tell her that, as if i'm lying.. but what good will it do me if i come earlier than required?), she shot me again,

"is that you? yesterday i waited for you for more than an hour but you never turn up for the tution, why you didn't come?" i was confused; the agent was the one who asked me not to go to her house, she called me again around 1pm and asked me to go her house the next day, so why is it that she's scolding me for not turning up? it's not my fault at all; i wasn't informed! but she looked doubtful anyway, most probably thought that i was lying.

and then, she "shot" me again, after i asked her if i can start tution at 8.30 instead of 9 (because that irresponsible, evil agent gave me two assignments at a go, and i have another one in bishan at 10.30am, which clashed with this one. i told her this problem, and the agent actually asked me to tell the parents myself instead of arranging it for me, how nice of her right?)

"i am the one paing you, not the other way round. so you suit my timing, not the other way round. you understand? so if you cannot suit my timing, then must well don't start the tution! right?" and i gladly obeyed her..

can't imagine giving tution in this kind of family.. i can't imagine what she'll say or do if next time if something cropped up after i go university and i can't make it for tution.. better don't risk teaching this kind of people just for the money (and it's not like she's paying me lots: 8 lessons, each 1.5hr for $120, and she's staying in semi-detached! so stingy yet so demanding)

i went home, then after awhile, i left for the other tution.. i have to tution a K2 boy English and Maths! never did i imagine people hire private tutor for their K2 children..

that boy is so naughty! he couldn't sit still for more than 15 minutes, all i did in that 1.5hr session was to teach him his spelling.. and he kept forgotting the things i taught him.. he just couldn't concentrate and focus in his word.. kept running to his bed and play doll.. his family is of no help at all.. they kept walking in and out of the room monitoring us, and that gave that boy a really good excuse to drift off.. the mother told me he's really bad in maths, and i was speechless when i saw his word: maths in K2 is just counting numbers, and yet he couldn't do it. how am i suppose to teach him?

luckily they cancelled the tution.. they informed me through the agent.. was relieved to hear that also.. my tution fee's gone, of course, but i can't care less; all i want is to drop that tution and never see that family again.. i really don't know how to teach K2 count and spell..

so it's not so easy to be a private tutor after all..

posted by +abrac[A]dabra+ @ 21:48