Many say that the key to moving ahead with the future is understanding the past, and we tend to agree with them! Without knowing our past and about our societies, cultures, and entire civilizations, how could we hope to learn from successes and failures? In addition, understanding historical milestones and the contexts in which they happened can spur us to new heights and inspire fresh ideas and innovations.
History is one of the most theoretical subjects that you’ll encounter in Singapore’s academic life, but the key to succeeding in the subject is a thorough understanding of its nuances as well as a genuine love to learn about ourselves and those around us. At Private Tutor SG, our team of dedicated tutors come from all walks of life, but they all have something in common: they love history!
Overview of Our History Tutoring Services
Secondary School History Tuition
As one of the Humanities subjects, secondary three is when studying history starts. Students will be introduced to the study of crucial past events both around the Asian region and worldwide, societies, and cultures, helping them develop critical thinking skills and foster a deeper understanding of the modern world in which we live.
Whether political, economic, social, or military history, students will be exposed very quickly to major historical eras and themes like power, conflict, change, governance, and cooperation. In addition, students will also be prepared for the upcoming ‘O’ or ‘N’ Level examinations.
JC History Tuition
JC history is stepped up a little with more extensive interpretations and opinions where students will be schooled in essay writing that considers multiple perspectives, the contexts in which they occurred, and drawing conclusions that are backed up by evidence.
Students will also engage in a more detailed analysis of historical events, figures, and movements, and explore their causes, impacts, and long-term consequences, even to this day. More emphasis is placed on research skills and the critical evaluation of evidence, which will then translate to fact-based, persuasive historical arguments.
IP and IB History
The IP programme (Integrated Programme) and the IB Diploma (International Baccalaureate) are two unique tracks within the Singapore school system. The IP programme is meant for more advanced students and is six years long, bypassing the ‘O’ levels and going straight to ‘A’s. The IB Diploma is an internationally recognized qualification that many top universities worldwide require and value for admission.
Our IB and IP history tuition acknowledge the slight difference in the requirements of both these unique programmes and will tailor a lesson plan to suit IP students and those preparing for the IB exams.
History Examination Preparation
Whether it is the ‘O’, ‘N’, ‘A’, or IB exam, one adage still rings true, and that is practice makes perfect! By continuously administering practice tests from other schools and past-year history papers, we’ll expose them to a vast range of questions, ideas, and opinions from numerous sources, broadening their perspectives and preparing them for major exams.
In addition, with constant practice, some stress and anxiety that usually come with a major exam can also be reduced. A relaxed, confident student usually performs better in exams, which is our eventual goal!
Our Private History Tutors
Our pool of history tutors have academic qualifications ranging from Bachelor’s Degrees to PhDs. In addition, the majority of them used to, or are currently MOE teachers, which means that know the Singapore syllabus extremely well and will provide their students with excellent guidance in coursework and exams.
In addition, our tutors are also closely evaluated based on teaching methodologies, adaptability, results, attitudes, and soft skills such as empathy and patience. The one thing that all our history teachers have in common is that they love the subject and find great satisfaction in sharing their extensive knowledge!
Educational Philosophy and Approach
Our Educational Philosophy and Approach for History Tutoring
We pride ourselves in providing all our students with an engaging and supportive environment for them to be their best.
At Private Tutor SG, we believe that every student has the potential and capacity to excel in every subject. History can be a text and theory-intensive subject, so students who don’t enjoy reading and writing might not be overly stimulated by it. Let’s face it, school history classes usually involve a teacher verbally reading chapters of a thick book or students having to read it for themselves.
However, it is unfair for history to be viewed in such a negative light, as innovative teaching methods and interaction can bring past events and figures to life. Our tutors can add a new spin on things by introducing interactive games and fun quizzes and incorporating real-life examples by seeing how past inventions have shaped our modern world.
Why Have Private History Tuition
Common Challenges When Learning History
We mentioned previously that many students lack the interest to study history because a lot of it consists of intensive reading and lecture-style teaching. In addition, they might fail to be interested in events and people of the past if they fail to see how they influence our current world and directly impact our daily lives.
In addition, many who fail the see the relevance of history today also think that they will not be using the subject in the future. Nothing could be future from the truth! If it wasn’t for events that took place in the past and the people that drove them, we wouldn’t be living in the world we enjoy right now.
Memorization doesn’t come easy to many students, and for better or worse, history IS a seriously memory-intensive subject. There is a multitude of facts, names, events, dates, and specific nuances of each era that a student needs to memorize and translate into answers and essays.
Tutors can help students by teaching memorization techniques such as repetition, chunking, and mind maps. They can also help with interactive tools like games, role-playing, and visual aids to help a student not just memorize but also understand.
Students not only have to memorize a vast number of facts and figures but they will also have to understand and analyze them, eventually transferring that knowledge into carefully-crafted answers and well-structured written essays. Not all students have stellar writing skills, and easily absorbing information isn’t the same as putting them on paper.
In these cases, tutors will have to focus on written communication skills as well, helping student craft their formidable knowledge base into succinct, precise answers that will be well-received in coursework and exams.
With school classes, homework, extra-curricular activities, and out-of-school adventures, a Singaporean student is often a busy one! History is also a time-intensive subject, as much of it requires extensive reading. Whether in school or out of school, students should have access to ample reading time and a quiet, calm environment in which they can concentrate.
It can be overwhelming balancing multiple subjects and the intense work that comes with it. As parents and tutors, we can help students better manage their time by helping them develop a study and homework schedule and stick to it.