Are you looking for a way to make some extra cash? If so, tutoring is the perfect opportunity for you! A tutor chooses from many different subjects and tutoring styles.
However, not all topics are created equal. In this blog post, Tutor Hunt breaks down the best subjects to tutor for and provides examples of both the most popular subjects right now and a few other niche ideas of what to teach to earn a little extra money.
Why Tutor?
Before we get into the best subjects to tutor in, let us first recap why tutors are so important.
Tutoring is a highly rewarding job that means you share the topics and skills that you enjoy while also helping others. As a tutor, you gain a huge array of important skills such as strong communication, active listening, adaptability, problem solving and empathy.
There are many benefits of tutoring that students enjoy too. When students have access to tutors, they receive personalized instruction tailoring to their specific needs. This helps them to learn more effectively and improve their academic performances. Tutors help students build self-confidence and develop study skills that carry them through into the world of work. What’s more, the tutoring side hustle is one of the fastest growing ways to make additional money to support your income.
The Most Popular Subjects to Tutor
Right now, with a massive increase in homeschooling and online learning because of the covid-19 pandemic, tutoring is in higher demand than ever before. Currently, the most popular subjects to tutor are the core maths, English, history, geography, and science subjects. It is extremely important for those in school to understand the foundational ideas for these subjects. Therefore, students are keen to take on tutoring as a way to stay on top of the work potentially missed through traditional schooling. If you have a good grasp on the basic concepts relating to these subjects then chances are your tutoring services are in need.
Popular tutoring topics include other common secondary and further education subjects including foreign languages like Spanish or French and religious studies. With the increasing focus on STEM education, more advanced maths and science classes such as statistics and computer programming are likely to be profitable tutoring subjects too. If you have experience or qualifications in these areas, make the most of it and start your tutoring business today!
What About More Niche Subjects to Tutor?
Although there is high demand right now for school offered subjects, niche tutoring services are also more attractive for those keen to learn new skills. If you have a skill or specific subject knowledge to share with others, there is likely a tutoring opportunity for you!
There is currently a big increase across many industries in the reskilling and upskilling of the existing workforce. Niche tutoring services play a huge role in this, as experts across various fields share their knowledge of subjects not taught via mainstream education institutions.
For Enjoyment
On a smaller scale, tutors want to teach hobbies or skills such as music and cooking are likely to run profitable businesses if promoted well. Working from home meant that many people have more free time and desire to experience new and exciting things when possible. For many people, the pandemic resulted in a greater appreciation for the smaller things in life. Therefore, people are on the hunts for chances to learn new things. Here are some fun ideas of things to tutor in:
- Photography
- Art
- Chess
- Baking
- Musical theory or practical skills
- Coding
You name it, it can be taught!
Finding Students
Now that you know what to tutor, you need to know where to find students. Do not worry, If you have the skills and attitude necessary to become a tutor, there are plenty of opportunities out there.
A great place to start is by creating a website or social media accounts dedicated to your tutoring service. This way you create advertisements and chat online with those who are interested. List all of your relevant qualifications. In addition, list what you want to teach, in order to attract potential tutees. Also, contact local schools to promote your service, and get your foot in the door early.
Being an Effective Tutor
Once you built a client base, there are a few key things to keep in mind when you are tutor. The most important things are to be patient and to help the students at their own paces. Be clear and concise in your explanations, and ensure the students understand what you say before moving on to the next topic or concept.
As a tutor, your job is to bolster your students’ existing knowledge and to help them grasp new concepts. Be careful not to spoon feed them too much as they need to work independently outside of tutoring sessions.
Finally, it is important to tailor each lesson to the individual student’s needs. Learn what your tutee hopes to achieve from your tutoring sessions, and plan accordingly. It is also beneficial to identify each individual student’s preferred method of learning. To learn more about these methods of learning, check out blogs on how to identify learning styles.
Final Thoughts
When deciding what subjects to tutor, remember that there are many popular topics out there such as maths and English. However, if those do not appeal to you or your teaching style, look at some niche topics that are more up your alley. Also know that not every student is wants the same thing from his/her tutor. Some students look for someone who helps them excel in school, while others might just need an extra hand with math homework or look to learn something fun.
If you enjoy teaching and have a knack for explaining difficult concepts or discovering new ways of thinking about things, then tutoring is perfect for you!
What do you think about the most popular tutoring subjects? Are there any that surprise you or you think need inclusion? We would love to hear from you!
