You come home from school, put your bag down, and then you have to head straight out again for a tuition session. Or, conversely, you start watching a video at home and lose interest after a few minutes. In either case, you might end up wondering whether you’ve chosen the right format.
When choosing between online and face-to-face tuition, consider your own way of working and your circumstances. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution. The important thing is to find a setting in which you can really get involved.
Face-to-face learning: a practical setting, with real constraints
A classroom can make it easier to get down to work. You leave the distractions of home behind, you see the teacher, and you can chat with the other students before or after the session. If you find it hard to get started on your own, meeting up in person can be invaluable.
However, the journey does matter. Ask yourself what time you’ll get home, whether the journey is reliable, and how much energy you’ll have left after a busy day. An excellent class becomes less useful if you’re regularly late or too tired to keep up.
Also take a look at the class size. Just because you’re in the same room as the teacher doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be able to ask all your questions. Ask how the teacher gets the class involved and how they spot pupils who are falling behind.
Online: distinguishes between videos and live lessons
A recorded video is handy for reviewing an explanation at your own pace. You can pause, rewind and replay a section. But if you still don’t understand the second step, the video can’t tailor its answer to your question.
A live lesson works differently: you meet with a teacher at a set time. You can ask for clarification, suggest an answer and receive feedback during the session, depending on how the group is organised.
This session can help overcome two challenges associated with working independently: putting off the session and being left to struggle on your own when you hit a snag. It does not eliminate all distractions, however. You still need a reliable internet connection, a suitable workspace and the willingness to take part.
Compare the total cost, not just the subscription fee
For face-to-face courses, factor in travel costs and any registration fees. For online courses, take into account your internet connection and the equipment you already have. In both cases, check the duration, frequency and number of subjects included.
Elite Academy offers packages costing 100 DH per month at secondary school level and 150 DH at sixth-form level, for one subject, with two sessions of 1 hour 30 minutes per week. These prices apply to [1] packages shown, not individual courses. To understand the other formats, see also our article on the cost of private tuition in Morocco.
Three scenarios to help you decide more easily
If you’re used to working on your own but are struggling with certain steps, a live lesson can give you the chance to ask questions without having to travel. Make sure you’ve prepared the relevant exercises before the session.
If your home is noisy and you don’t have anywhere to attend a class, face-to-face lessons may be more comfortable. You could also try to find a quiet time at home, but avoid choosing an option based on conditions that don’t yet exist.
If you need to go back over the same explanation several times, a recorded resource can complement your lesson. TelmidTice offers, in particular, educational content related to [2] Moroccan programmes. Self-study and interaction with a teacher can complement one another.
Have a quick go before you commit
Ask if there’s a taster session, without assuming it’s free. If you take part in your first session, consider three things: did you understand more than you did at the start? Were you able to ask a question? Can you do an exercise again without copying it out?
Also check the number of pupils and the timetable. A small group may allow more opportunity for interaction, but only the provider can confirm the actual number of pupils in their course.
Still not sure? Send Elite Academy details of your class, subject and availability via WhatsApp. Ask about the options on offer and choose the one that best suits your actual weekly schedule. The best tuition is the one you can attend regularly, with enough energy to learn.
→ See also: How to choose a good tutor: 7 questions to ask
