In today’s complex educational landscape where students may have diverse learning needs and face challenges in large classroom settings, academic tutoring remains highly relevant today. With its ability to provide personalized instruction, address individual learning gaps, boost student confidence, and improve academic performance, it is a valuable tool for students struggling with specific subjects or seeking to enhance their study skills.

Here are the reasons why academic tutoring is still relevant even today:

• Personalized learning: Tutors can tailor their approach to each student’s unique needs, identifying areas of weakness and providing targeted support, unlike a traditional classroom setting.
• Addressing learning gaps: Students facing difficulties in specific subjects can receive focused instruction to close knowledge gaps and improve comprehension.
• Building confidence: A supportive tutoring environment allows students to ask questions without fear of judgment, fostering a sense of accomplishment and boosting their self-esteem.
• Improved study skills: Tutors can teach effective study strategies like note-taking, time management, and active learning techniques, enhancing overall academic performance.
• Addressing diverse learning styles: Tutors can adapt their teaching methods to cater to different learning styles, ensuring that all students can access and grasp the material.
• Addressing the impact of learning disruptions: Tutoring can be particularly valuable in helping students catch up on missed learning and address academic gaps.

Not all academic tutoring is successful though. There are various factors that influence the success of academic tutoring. A successful academic tutoring experience depends on factors like a strong understanding of the subject matter by the tutor, personalized learning approaches tailored to the student’s needs, positive student-tutor relationship, and effective communication—all aimed at improving the student’s academic performance and confidence level.

One of the most important factors for academic tutoring to be successful is the student-teacher relationship. When there is a solid relationship between the student and the tutor, the benefits of academic tutoring is maximized and the tutoring becomes a transformational experience.

It is very important then that the student and the teacher are able to build a bond with each other. Tutoring is most impactful when there’s a high level of trust and rapport between both parties.

What does building a bond in academic tutoring means? Building a bond in academic tutoring means establishing a positive and trusting relationship with your student by actively listening, showing genuine interest in their learning journey, celebrating their achievements, and tailoring instruction to their individual needs, ultimately creating a comfortable environment where they feel supported and motivated to learn.

It is the primary responsibility of the tutor to establish a bond between him/her and the student. Here are the ways that a tutor could do to build a bond with her/his student:

• In the initial meeting between student and tutor, it is important to spend time getting to know the student: Ask about the student’s interests or hobbies and get to know who they are outside the classroom.
• Active listening is important. Tutors should pay close attention to what the student is saying, ask clarifying questions, and show that they are engaged in their concerns.
• Positive reinforcement means actively acknowledging and praising a student’s correct responses, efforts, or positive behaviors during a tutoring session. Offer praise and encouragement for effort and progress, not just correct answers.
• Showing empathy and understanding creates a deeper connection and fosters trust. So make sure to acknowledge the student’s challenges and frustrations and show that they are being supported.
• It is important for the tutor to adapt to the student’s needs. Make sure to tailor teaching methods and pace to match the student’s learning style and comprehension level.
• When it comes to setting goals, it is important that they are set by both the tutor and the student. They must work collaboratively to set achievable learning objectives for each session.
• When appropriate, share personal experiences, relating one’s own learning experiences to the student’s situation in order to build connection.
• Maintaining consistent communication between the tutor, the student, and the parents is important. The progress of the student as well as any concern must be communicated regularly and promptly.
• Creating a comfortable environment fosters learning as the student feels supported and safe to ask questions and make mistakes.

When genuine rapport and a true relationship develop between a tutor and student over time, the following will result:

• Improved academic performance
• Increased student confidence
• Positive learning experience

When today’s students are motivated by relationships, creating a bond between tutor and student becomes all the more essential.

Sources:

Burman, Sammie. “Build Strong Tutor-Student Relationships for Academic Success.” Last modified September 22, 2023. https://blog.booknook.com/booknook-blog/educator-support/building-strong-tutor-student-relationships-academic-success.

National Student Support Accelerator.  “Strong, Academically Focused Tutor-Student Relationship.” Accessed February 2, 2025. https://studentsupportaccelerator.org/tutoring/instruction/relationship-building/strong-academically-focused-tutor-student-relationships.

Thomas, Priya. “The Power of Relationship-Driven Tutoring.” Last modified March 1, 2020. https://blog.joinknack.com/the-power-of-relationship-driven-tutoring.