Has anybody ever used wyzant for tutoring or to tutor anyone? I'm just wondering

@writersedge (22563)
United States
January 31, 2012 9:07am CST
because I signed up. I took a bunch of tests and now am certified by them to teach a bunch of courses. I think it's good that they test people first to make sure they can actually teach what they say they can teach. I'm hoping to tutor someone through this company. So have you used wyzant.com or known anyone who has? Were they happy with it?
2 responses
• St. Peters, Missouri
25 Nov 12
I've been on WyzAnt for about a year. It was slow at first. But now, I get new students from WyzAnt once a week or so. I tutor reading, math, computers, science, and on and on! In fact, I got so many clients through WyzAnt I started my own business. I tutor full-time now. Used to teach in a public school. I make almost the same and am actually teaching only 20 hours a week. The rest of the time is devoted to paperwork.
1 person likes this
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
26 Nov 12
I've gotten people to talk to me about tutoring, but not actually go thru wyzant and have me tutor him or her. They don't trust the sight and that is a problem.
• St. Peters, Missouri
1 Dec 12
Yes, that is true. The client needs to input their payment information to WyzAnt and some people aen't comfortable doing that. I've recently begun being very candid with people about that. I don't know what process WyzAnt uses to inform people of how that works, but it hasn't been successful with the people I talk to. I've had people outright refuse to enter the information and so then disappear and I've had a lot of people locked out of using the WyzAnt e-mail. So, recently, when I can tell the person is interested in meeting and I can see they haven't yet entered their information, I bring it up. I tell people that WyzAnt requires it. I tell them of a few past encounters and the negative things that have happened. I go into some detail about the process, how the payment works, and that they won't be charged EVER without first seeing what they're charged for and that they will always have an option to question it with WyzAnt before the charges go through. I make sure they're aware that nothing is charged to their card unless I put in the required information. By the time I talk to people about this, we've already established a relationship and knowing that I'm in control of what WyzAnt charges and then they have an opportunity to question it all seems to calm people's nerves. It might also be that they're hearing all the same things from a real person that they have an actual relationship with as they're hearing from WyzAnt. Since I've started doing this, I've had one person locked out of e-mail. Otherwise, every other person has submitted their details - sometimes in a matter of hours. All have thanked me for telling them.
• St. Peters, Missouri
1 Dec 12
I forgot to mention - one of the things that bothers me about WyzAnt are the tests. While it's helpful to have the tests to see if someone knows the content, WyzAnt doesn't right now make allowances for their tutors to learn. That's what we're all about. We help people do things they couldn't before. But WyzAnt's philosophy on the tests is that once you fail the test, you've failed and you're done. You can't take it again. EVER. Huh???? Can't tutors learn the information? They will allow someone to retake one test if you ask permission. However, this is like telling a student who failed in math and science that they can get a better grade in one, but not both. When I first started with WyzAnt, I took many of the tests. I failed the pre-algebra test, but passed the algebra I test. So I could teach algebra, but not pre-algebra. That's just stupid. After teaching pre-algebra with multiple students over a year's time, I asked to retake the test. I did and passed with a 100% However, I also took the test for the GED. I can easily do the content in the GED, so I rationalized that I would be able to pass the test. I was wrong. A lot of the questions were about rules concerning taking the GED and specifics about what would be seen on the GED. I failed. Actually, this is good because I didn't have the necessary information to teach someone who wanted to know about the GED and to know what to focus on when taking the test. Since, I've studied the GED. I have many study guides and other materials on the GED. While I'm not yet comfortable teaching the subject, according to WyzAnt's rules, I never will be.
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
1 Feb 12
I have not heard of the wyzant before. I think it's great that you are going tutor though. What subject are you considering?
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
1 Feb 12
Oh...I also think it is great that they test beforehand. That is one of the amazing things about homeschooling that bug me to no end. The parents never have to be tested for capability. All they have to have is a high school diploma.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
1 Feb 12
Most people in my area that home school, have college or were in the military and home schooled around the world. If anyone takes me up on it, I'm K-6 certified all subjects and K-12 reading. So anything along that line.