What should I do before I offer tutoring?
Before you offer conversations or writing corrections you should make sure that you understand how LingQ works.
There are some sources of information that you can check for information.
a) The online help: http://www.lingq.com/help/
b) A brief summarize about tutoring: http://lingqcentral-en.lingq.com/tutoring-on-lingq
c) A tutor manual (the information may not be up-to-date): http://thelinguist.blogs.com/how_to_learn_english_and/2010/02/tutors-manual.html
You might find some helpful hints from videos I’ve made about turoring: http://lingqcentral-en.lingq.com/videos-conversation-with-tutors-0
New tutors should have worked with the system to see how it works.
How can I attract members to signing up for conversations?
Here is my advice:
– Fill out your profile.
– Add a picture to your profile.
– Be active on the forum.
– Create content for the library.
– Learn a language yourself (That is impressive to other members). Sign up for a conversation in this language to get an idea how tutoring works.
The first point is, I believe, the most important. I cannot believe how someone thinks about signing up if the profile is empty. Your profile should be advertisement for you!
How can I attract members to submit writings to me?
Think about offering conversations. This point is important for me. I’ve been a member since 2008, and I submitted a lot of writings, but all of them to tutors to whom I have been speaking before. The past shows that students prefer to submit writings to tutors who offer and show other activities. There are so many tutors who offer writing correction that students develop criteria’s how they chose a tutor.
How can I support LingQ?
– Tell everyone about it!
– Use „Like it“ for Facebook or other social bookmarks
– Add the LingQ badge (showing number of known words) to your blog, mails etc.
How can I be outstanding?
– Write your own blog about language learning
– Record your own videos and add them to LingQPlaza. on YouTube
– Write articles for the LingQ blogs
– Write articles for the wiki
Is writing on walls of members a good idea?
Yes, of course, it is. My personal view is that you should only write on the walls of members if you offer more than conversations or writing corrections. Always give additional information that is really helpful! If people really want to speak or submit writings they can easily find you on the write or speaking page. I often write on the walls of other members but I offer a link with helpful information or I answer to their posts on my wall. If tutors only write „I offer conversation. Please sign up for a conversation with me!“ it maybe sounds like spam, don’t you think so?
New
Why did I write this?
These are some ideas that I had because someone asked me questions about tutoring. Maybe it is a good idea to show this piece of information if new members want to add themselves as a tutor? The Question how to tutor rises up every now and then.
Maybe new members should be a member for a minimum of 7 days, have a profile, more than 50 LingQs etc. before they can set themselves up a tutor?
Also I remember that we had the idea that the date of the last login could be interesting to decide if a tutor is still active (for writing corrections). I remember that there recently was a problem that writings were not corrected in time.
Be aware:
This article has not been corrected by a tutor. If you spot an error and you think it should be corrected please let me know.