Literature gives us a deeper appreciation for the written word and all the beauty it expresses. Whether you are already a budding writer still figuring out your style or a student taking literature in secondary school or junior college, literature tuition can provide you with additional guidance and support that you might need to navigate the complexities of interpretation and analysis of a wide range of texts.
A lot of literature is subject to personal interpretations and opinions, and our tutors will help you understand various literary influences and traditions so that you can do your own critical thinking and craft your personal responses.
Overview of Our Literature Tutoring Services
Secondary School Literature Tuition
Secondary school is when students are first exposed to literature as a subject. It is a Humanities subject, together with others like Geography and History. In secondary school literature, we’ll focus on developing the student’s ability to conduct an in-depth analysis of the required texts, interpret hidden meanings, and see beyond logic to discover a richer, more vibrant world.
In addition, we’ll focus on strengthening essay writing skills and guide forming strong arguments and expressing their ideas clearly and persuasively, which will pave the way for more animated and extensive debates and discussions in the future.
JC Literature Tuition
JC literature steps it up a notch with more complex texts and a greater range of possible interpretations. Our team of tutors will explain historical, cultural, and social contexts further to help students acquire some background knowledge that can help them grasp the intricate nuances of various literary periods and uncover deeper meanings and complexities.
We also focus on advanced essay-writing skills like formulating a thesis, developing arguments that are backed by evidence, and conveying opinions in a succinct, persuasive way. All these skills are essential to success in school and ultimately, performance in the ‘A’ Levels.
Literature Exam Preparation
Whether it is for the ‘O’ or ‘A’ Levels, our tutors will frequently administer an extensive range of previous tests from other schools, past exam papers, and writing exercises, all with the objective of helping the student perform optimally when it comes to exam time. Feeling confident about exams also typically results in less stress and anxiety for the student!
In addition, tutors will give thorough guidance on the answering strategies for common questions which can help students build self-confidence and improve their academic performance. Essay writing skills are also closely monitored with immediate and honest feedback given to improve each student’s distinct style.
Our Private Literature Tutors
At Private Tutor SG, our team of literature tutors come from all walks of life but they have one thing in common: their love for the written word. Avid readers with a deep appreciation of classic and modern literature, many of them are also writers. Holding a minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree in a Literature discipline, tutors that teach higher levels also hold post-graduate degrees such as a Master’s or a PhD.
In addition, we also evaluate our tutors based on their teaching methodologies, attitudes, versatility, and problem-solving skills. Not all tutors teach the same way, just like not all students learn in the same manner. Our job is to match up all our students with the perfect tutor who will complement their unique learning style.
Educational Philosophy and Approach
Our Educational Philosophy and Approach for Literature Tutoring
We pride ourselves in providing all our students with an engaging and supportive environment for them to be their best.
We believe that quality education starts with the student, which is why our primary focus is first on their requirements and needs. Not all students are currently at the same level, learn at the same pace, or thrive on a certain teaching style. By completely tailoring the lesson plan to suit each individual, we can accommodate a wide range of students regardless of individual quirks and subtle differences.
Some might learn by memorisation and others might learn by understanding first. Some require extensive explanation while others might want to come to a conclusion all of their own. Our tutors are trained to identify the unique learning styles of each student and customise a lesson plan to develop and retain interest, optimise learning, and ultimately result in better academic performance.
Why Have Private Literature Tuition
Common Challenges When Learning Literature
Many students in Singapore speak English as their first language, but there are others that speak their mother tongue with friends and family. Whether it is Chinese, Malay, or Tamil, students that are more exposed to their mother tongue might struggle a little in English Literature compared to others that speak predominantly English at home or with friends.
Any barriers to comprehension must first be addressed before the student moves on to analysis, and school teachers and tutors need to ensure that a student thoroughly understands the written text before moving on to more complex applications.
Literature is a subject that is heavily based on interpretation, and we all have different opinions based on our upbringing, culture, and past experiences. Understanding, respecting, and accepting different viewpoints might be difficult for students, especially if they are used to definitive, black-and-white answers.
In addition, navigating the various theories and approaches on the question can also pose a challenge to students that have a unique way of perceiving the world. Students need to learn how to persuasively voice their opinions, back them up with evidence, but ultimately still be open to other viewpoints.
Even the most avid bookworm might find certain texts uninteresting or irrelevant, making it difficult to stay motivated. What stimulates and engages the majority of students might end up isolated a selected few, and the wide range of texts that literature has to encompass can be overwhelming, especially if the student is unfamiliar with the genre or writing style.
Greater care can be taken when introducing a student to a certain genre, and a tutor can give a more thorough explanation to help students understand better and associate the book’s content to their daily lives.
Life in secondary school and junior college is busy enough. Filled with school syllabus, homework, study time, ECAs, and CCAs, you throw out-of-school activities like socializing with friends, spending time with family, and other hobbies into the mix and you get one chaotic schedule!
Literature can be extremely time consuming as a student will need to allocate time to spend on uninterrupted reading of literary texts in a conducive, calm environment. Parents, tutors, and teachers can help mitigate that by allocating a certain number of hours per week to giving the student access to a quiet environment where he or she can focus on reading and analysing texts.