Enhancing Language Learning in Private Tutoring

Abstract

Around the globe, private tutoring has become an important language learning activity beyond the classroom. It is a paid service that students use to supplement their learning of academic subjects outside school hours. Its metaphor of shadow education suggests its mimicry of mainstream schooling, but its expansion and prevalence have made it grow ‘out of the shadows’ in many countries. Private tutoring can take various forms and are offered in a wide range of subjects, including national languages and English as an additional language. So far, studies have investigated learner motivation and experience, tutors’ and tutees’ identities, its effects on language competence and academic achievement and impact on regular schooling and the wider society. Despite increasing attention, research in private tutoring for language learning is still in its infancy. This chapter commences with the identification of the global patterns and features of private tutoring in different contexts. It then discusses the constructs that have been operationalised and investigated in the literature. Current issues facing various stakeholders and researchers in relation to language private tutoring are highlighted. The chapter concludes by identifying implications and directions for further research and practice in language teaching and learning in private tutoring.