Punta del Este (URU 0924)

The eldest brother, a bright and curious 10-year-old, attends an international school in Uruguay. He's mature for his age, with interests spanning games, art, technology, sports, music, languages, and martial arts. He enjoys board games, Lego, and Nintendo Switch, often using them to explore themes like the Animal Kingdom. His artistic side shines through sketching and iPad creations. Technologically inclined, he's taken coding classes and participates in online collaborations. Sports-wise, the young man excels in football, possessing encyclopaedic World Cup knowledge, and also engages in rugby, swimming, surfing, skiing, sailing and horseback riding. He's exploring music through piano and various genres, while also studying French and practicing Taekwondo. Academically, he thrives at maths and reading but could use more support in writing. Though occasionally stubborn or emotional, his natural intelligence makes him a pleasure to teach.

His younger brother, who is 6, attends the international school as well. He's a happy, lively child who enjoys toys, games, and shares his brother's interest in board and video games. Trilingual, the younger brother speaks Spanish and English thoughtfully and studies French. He's developing into an engaging young man with an acute intelligence and enthusiasm for various activities. Recently, he has gained confidence and become more expressive, making him fun to be around. He enjoys exploring his surroundings, traveling, and socialising with other children. Like his older brother, he participates in swimming, football, skiing, and karate. Perceptive and adaptable, he balances childlike adventure with growing responsibility.

For the past 2 years, the boys have benefitted from Tutors who have been using travel and play to foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and reflective learning, similar to the Ancient Greek tutoring model. This aligns with their parents' preference for experiential learning over their current school's more formal approach. Both boys thrive on variety and hands-on experiences, showing maturity in new environments and eagerly comparing new discoveries to prior knowledge. They engage best in spontaneous, unstructured settings like car journeys, meals, walks, and local outings and are both already well-travelled.

The brothers have a competitive streak that works well with personal challenges and short-term goals. However, they can be deterred by tasks requiring long-term commitment, making balanced goal-setting crucial for their development. Despite occasional sibling disputes, they generally work and play well together.

When at home in Punta del Este, the Tutor will manage the boys' after-school activities, including transportation to and from clubs and camps, and plan tailored academic projects perhaps involving sports, coding, or new interests. The Tutor will act as a liaison between the family and the school, coordinating with teachers to ensure effective communication. The Tutor's role involves fostering a love of learning, developing the boys' wider interests, and providing schoolwork support as needed. Collaborating with the family's sports coach and household staff is crucial to maintaining a smooth schedule and integrating cross-curricular elements into their activities.

During travel periods, the tutor will need to collaborate closely with the school to ensure the boys complete any necessary work and stay current with their peers, facilitating seamless reintegration upon return. The role requires flexibility, creativity, and adaptability to maximize learning opportunities in various locations. The family encourages socialising with other children, so the tutor is expected to research, recommend, and organize clubs and camps for the boys while traveling. This approach combines academic continuity with enriching social experiences, demanding a tutor who can balance educational needs with the family's desire for diverse interactions and experiences.

The ideal tutor should be personable, enthusiastic, and have an excellent track record with primary-age children. They must be a native English speaker with high-level Spanish proficiency. While both languages are used at home, the tutor should interact with the boys principally in English to enhance their fluency and vocabulary. An interest in coding and technology would be beneficial to nurture the boys' curiosity in these areas. Some knowledge of French, the children's third language, would be advantageous. The tutor should have a good sense of humour and the ability to make lessons engaging and memorable. This role requires a combination of strong language skills, technological aptitude, and the ability to create an enjoyable learning environment tailored to the boys' interests and needs. It requires an individual who is happy to take the initiative to research and plan new and exciting trips and activities for the boys, as well as the family, to experience. The Tutor will also need to provide monthly reports for the family detailing the boys’ progress and plans for the coming month.

At the family home, a spacious playroom serves as the teaching area. However, the boys are not expected to transition from school to another formal classroom environment. Instead, this space will facilitate engaging discussions and inquiry-based learning with the Tutor. The Tutor will encourage responsible habits regarding electronic device use, as the family views technology as a valuable tool for the boys to master while also emphasizing the importance of self-management without it. The parents ask that the Tutor reports to them regularly, detailing upcoming objectives, previous achievements, and insights into what themes and approaches have been effective or ineffective for each of the boys.

The successful candidate will be highly educated, intelligent, well-travelled, responsible, practical, and grounded, with a strong sense of fun and diverse personal interests to contribute to the role. The Tutor should be physically fit and active, as well as interested in world affairs, politics, media, and culture, since it’s essential for the children to engage with these topics. They should possess the intellectual breadth to help the students develop into well-rounded, intellectually curious, environmentally conscious, and thoughtful global citizens. The family hopes to arrange an overlap and handover between the outgoing Tutor and the new candidate to ensure a smooth transition for the boys.

In Uruguay, the Tutor will be expected to work with the boys in the afternoons, for around 30 hours per week, with preparation in addition. Their school day finishes at 2pm and the Tutor will likely spend the rest of the afternoon with the boys.

The Tutor will be entitled to an average of two consecutive days off per week, normally at the weekend, but may need to be flexible regarding the family’s travel plans and the children’s other activities.

As this is a 6-month role, the Tutor will be entitled to a minimum of 4.5 weeks holiday, to be taken during school holidays and at times agreed upon with the family. The Tutor will be flexible with respect to any changes in schedule, be they travel-related or otherwise and will adapt accordingly. The Client will strive to give up to two weeks’ notice of any planned alterations.

Fully furnished, independent accommodation will be provided by the Client near the family home. The Client will also provide a car and ensure that the Tutor stays in private accommodation when travelling. All expenses will be covered by the Client except for the Tutor’s personal phone bill and fuel.

The Tutor must be a fit and healthy non-smoker – active and energetic with a love for the outdoors; the kind of person who always makes the most of their environment to enhance teaching and learning opportunities. They must also be a competent driver.

The Tutor will need to be comfortable around horses and dogs.

The ideal applicant will have plenty of experience, enthusiasm and energy. They must be capable of adapting their teaching to fit the variable circumstances of working with two young children at home or while travelling. The family are close and are keen for a friendly and fun learning environment for their children.