Ode to the Tutor

By Marty Nemko

Taking a class is a terribly inefficient way to learn. You learn what the professor wants you to learn rather than what you want to learn. By the time you need to apply the knowledge in the workplace, you'll probably have forgotten it. The class proceeds at the pace the professor chooses, which may well be too fast or slow for you. Besides, unless it's an online course, your body must be in that classroom Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 P.M. In contrast, consider the tutor. You learn precisely what you need, at the pace you need to learn it, with all the feedback you need, at a time convenient for you, in the comfort of your home, and at a cost similar to that of a typical college course.

What can you do today?
Is there anything you need to learn that could make you more successful at work, for example, that computer program? Who could teach it to you one-on-one? Sometimes, even a high school kid can do the job.