Hong Kong (HK 0916 W)

The boy currently attends a good school in Hong Kong, but has been suffering from selective mutism while in attendance. There are a range of possible causes, all anxiety-related, and it is clear that in more relaxed or familiar settings symptoms subside. He also suffers from low self-esteem and occasional unwillingness to try due to fear of failure. The Tutor must have a positive and highly motivational demeanour to be effective in adjusting the boy’s behaviours for the better. The boy’s parents also want their children to learn proper manners and etiquette at a young age., and the Tutor should have experience delivering such lessons to children.

The boy previously had a Tutor who used science games such as building experiments and models in his teaching. This approach clearly worked with the boy who very much enjoyed this style of tutoring. The ideal Tutor should therefore have a strong sense of adventure and be comfortable devising interesting experimental play-learning activities that captivate the boy. Ideally, the Tutor should have had experience teaching through non-traditional ways.

The boy’s reading in English is approximately three years behind the standard of his British peers. Last summer he had seemingly disengaged with school subjects and was not very cooperative. The main focus of this role is to re-engage the boy in the art of learning, helping him to ignite a passion for education for its own sake, as well as to ensure his health and wellbeing are monitored in relation to his experiences in the school environment. The boy is being prepared for the 13+ Common Entrance exam, but entry at age 17 for A levels may be more realistic.

This role calls for a broadly able, calm and well-qualified educator who has experience in tutoring and is up-to-date on teaching pedagogies and values. They must be able to deliver the full range of primary subjects, and should have an exceptional track record in preparing students for the 11+ and 13+ exams. The Tutor will need to be comfortable working at the standards expected by the best London private schools. This Tutor will be one of a team of three Tutors, two from Tutors International and one sourced locally.

The Tutor must have a proven track record of working with children who need nurturing and display special educational need (SEN); they should have received training or undertaken courses on SEN to this effect. The Tutor must help the boy to improve his academic and social confidence. The Tutor will likely spend their afternoons helping the boy with his homework, ensuring it is completed to the highest standards and that he has fully understood the day’s lessons. On completing the schoolwork, there is room to explore other subjects. The Tutor should start slowly, learning what motivates the boy before introducing increasinglytargeted tasks. The Tutor must be very organised with excellent record-keeping skills. He or she must be able to build good working relationships with the boy, his sister, their parents, the other Tutors, and other members of the family’s staff. The boy is the main focus of this assignment, but the Tutor will also spend time with his sister, helping to provide a balanced and varied education for both children.

The Tutor will work up to 40 hours a week with preparation time in addition. The Tutor is entitled to two consecutive days off per week, but will need to be flexible in this regard.

The Tutor will be entitled to a minimum of 45 working days paid vacation in addition to the 17 days of public holidays per annum. Untaken ‘weekends’, paid vacation, or public holiday that have accrued will also be compensated by a pro-rated payment in lieu at the end of the contract.

The Client will provide accommodation suitable for an individual Tutor and will cover all bills on this accommodation, except for the Tutor’s personal phone bills. The Client will cover all travel expenses associated with this role, plus meals and food during any periods of travel.

The Tutor must be fit and healthy, a non-smoker. The Tutor must ensure that he or she has the requisite travel and health insurance, has received the required vaccinations, and has the necessary visas.