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Working as a tutor at a school: Leonard Kotthoff describes what is important

2022-08-31T04:11:53.797Z


Leonard Kotthoff works alongside his studies as a tutor at a school - and earns good money with it. Here he explains what skills you need to have. And what he learns for his future professional life.


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Learning companion Kotthoff: »The feeling of being able to really change something«

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Someone who studies to become a teacher can sometimes work in schools or other institutions during their studies.

Leonard Kotthoff is doing exactly that: The 28-year-old is studying for a master’s degree in teaching at the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, specializing in German and geography.

Since November 2021, he has been supervising the majority of the students at the Horstmar-Schöppingen secondary school as a learning companion.

Here Kotthoff explains how much he earns, what skills are required for the job and what he takes with him for his future professional life.

The decision for the job

»After graduating from high school, I first did a bachelor's degree in architecture.

However, even during my studies, I realized that I wasn't really passionate about it, I just wanted to work more with people.

After a phase of reorientation, I finally decided to study teaching.

I'm now doing my master's degree and I'm about to start my legal clerkship.

I'm still sure it was the right decision.

»I get 20 euros per hour worked.

But the salary is secondary for me.«

As part of my studies, I completed an internship at the Horstmar-Schöppingen secondary school and then stayed in contact with the teaching staff.

Last November I got the offer to join as a so-called learning companion, the concept was newly introduced at that time.

And I was there from the start.

I'm now on site about two to three times a week, depending on my schedule.

I get 20 euros per hour worked.

But the salary is secondary for me, I would do the job for the minimum wage.

I find the opportunity to gain experience before the legal clerkship much more important.«

What you have to be able to do for the job

»We learning companions go to class together with the teachers to support those students who have problems with assignments.

In the phases of individual or group work, we look over their shoulders and if they need help, we are there.

We encourage, but also demand.

Of course, the focus is on my own specializations in German and geography.

But it happens that I also help out in other subjects.

»The great thing about the work is that the students get more individual support from us.«

When working with children, you have to be fair and as sensitive as possible.

I have a personal motto that I keep telling myself: if you reach people's hearts, you no longer have to worry about their heads.

But other skills are also important: self-reflection, openness and, of course, a certain ability to communicate due to the constant exchange with the teachers.

The great thing about the work is that the students receive more individual support from us.

We have many refugees at the school, some from Ukraine.

We help with DaZ lessons, i.e. German as a second language.

The different levels often make it difficult for a single teacher.

When I talk to a child and see that I made them understand something, it feels great.

In general, I have the feeling that I can really change something in my part-time job.«

What the job brings for your studies and later career

»I see the job as a valuable addition to my university education.

It gives me the chance to gain practical experience on people, one to one.

And that in a relatively evaluation-free space that is not shaped by examination conditions and university expectations.

This will certainly make the transition from the master’s to the legal clerkship easier for me.

I can only recommend every student to look for such jobs at schools.

They are a great opportunity to develop your own teacher personality.

And the teacher has the advantage of being relieved to some extent.

So the schools benefit too.«

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2022-08-31

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