A tuition teacher who plays PS4? – Times of India

Chennai News

Tanveer Singh Sethi, a Class X student, recently found himself a ‘productivity friend’; someone to help him navigate his school curriculum, work with him on acing his tests and getting him prepared for his impending board exam. All this, while also listening to music with him, DJing and talking about basketball.
“It doesn’t feel like tuition or school,” says Tanveer, who paired with his study friend through the site Mentor Match. “It’s more like a friend helping me study. We use flashcards, YouTube, and write down keywords, and in between, talk about things that interest me, like DJing,” says the student of Sishya School. “It makes studying more interactive.”
Started by friends Rohit Raheja and Sachit Dugar during the lockdown, Chennai-based Mentor Match connects college students or recent graduates with school students from classes III to XII to help them study.
“We match students and mentors according to interests,” says Rohit, an architecture graduate. “So, if it is a Class IX football-loving IIT aspirant, we match him to an IIT student who also likes the game. We find that it helps keep the child motivated. Our study buddies are young; they are on Instagram and would be happy to play a round of PS4 with the kids. It’s all about building a rapport to make studying fun.”
Sachit explains that the mentors are not like tutors or school teachers who focus more on teaching the curriculum. “We help a student study the lessons, and ensure they are revised and ready for their exams.” They now work with 400 mentors from different colleges. “The concept of doorstep tutor buddies has caught on during the pandemic when classes have gone online and students are left on their own to learn the lessons. For mentors, it’s a great part-time gig,” he says.
Another Chennai-based organization, Thejomaya, run by Uma Yogesh, promises ‘homework buddies’ for children up to Class V, where they are guided to study as well as complete their homework. “For Class VI and above, we offer proctoring services on a subscription-based model,” says Uma. “Here, students can log in at a certain time and ask their queries – whether specific to a homework problem or more generalized queries like how to set up a study timetable or to revise for a test. We work with students one-on-one and tailor answers to their specific questions.”
Nandini Chopra of the Delhi-based startup MyStudyBuddy also offers help beyond the school curriculum. Their ‘buddy at your doorstep’ helps children “learn to learn”. “We don’t stick to what is in the textbook. If students, for instance, have a speech to give the next day, they can work on creating that speech, diction, etc with their study buddy,” says Chopra.
“Most students know what to learn, but lose their way when it comes to how to study. Mentors and study buddies can help students find a smart, fast and efficient way to go about it. And that’s a lesson for life,” says Sachit.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/a-tuition-teacher-who-plays-ps4/articleshow/79823888.cms