Our September 2023 Tutor Talks delved into the topic of when and how to conclude your work with an English B'Yachad (EBY) student. EBY doesn't impose arbitrary session limits but rather sets a minimum commitment of 10 meetings, hoping that during these initial sessions, a strong bond forms between tutor and student, fostering a desire to continue well beyond this initial commitment.
Given the absence of a predefined endpoint, determining when it's time to conclude your work together can be a challenging decision to make. It's not always straightforward. During last month's Tutor Talks, we discussed how to recognize this moment. We acknowledged that this decision can be emotionally complex, especially for pairs who have worked together for months or even years. How do you say it's time to move on?
Gary shared that his students also found it difficult to consider transitioning away from the mentorship. To make it easier for his students to understand that the time was right for such a transition, Gary shared the rationale that other students are eagerly awaiting tutoring assistance. This perspective helped his students understand that our program resources, including our tutors, are not infinite. They are valuable to numerous individuals waiting for an opportunity to improve English skills.
Following Gary and Robyn's advice, they both stressed that once a tutor has the feeling that it's time to conclude, it's best not to delay discussing completion with the student.
The transition away from working together need not, however, have to be a 'hard goodbye.'
If you, as a tutor, are open and interested in remaining connected with your student, you can suggest that your "door" remains open if your student needs or wants episodic or periodic help with English.
Likewise, some tutors and students continue to speak or message periodically and informally on WhatsApp, sharing news or updates about their personal or professional lives.
Gary and Robyn shared some indicators that might help you determine when it's time to bring your regular working sessions with your student to a conclusion.
Is the student still showing up regularly to scheduled sessions?
Does the student provide input into what he/she wants to work on?
Has your student been canceling sessions frequently or at the last minute?
Do you sense a lack of enthusiasm or responsiveness from your student?
Does the student articulate that progress towards his/her goals has been made?
Are the sessions staying interesting or becoming too repetitive?
Is your student having issues in his or her life that preclude regular meetings?
Has your student reached a point where they find more benefit in practicing what they have learned by interacting with others?
Do you sense that you've reached a point where you can't offer any further support for the student's goals and needs?
However, transitioning away from regular working sessions does not have to mean 'goodbye.'
If you are open to staying connected with your student, you can suggest that your "door" remains open if your student needs or wants episodic or periodic help with English.
Likewise, some tutors and students continue to speak or message periodically and informally on WhatsApp, sharing news or updates about their personal or professional lives.
Furthermore, there's always the possibility that if you travel to Israel, you may have the chance to meet your student face-to-face, even if the formal mentoring relationship has ended. Connections made through EBY can extend beyond the formal sessions. After all...
