How to Ask Better Questions During Online Tutoring
Asking questions is an essential part of learning. During an online tutoring session, students may become shy about asking questions for clarification.
A good question does not have to be complex. It merely has to enable the tutor to understand the difficulty and the kind of guidance you need.
1. Pinpoint Where Exactly You Are Stuck
Avoid asking vague questions like:
“I don’t understand this.”
Instead, pinpoint the exact area of concern.
For example, instead of:
“I don’t understand this”, try saying “I understand the first two steps, but I don’t understand why we use this formula in the third step.”
This will help the tutor to identify the point from which they should begin explaining.
2. Ask One Question at a Time
If you have multiple questions, write them down and try to tackle them one at a time
. This will make the interaction more organised and will give you enough time to understand a single explanation before proceeding to the next one. You could keep a list of questions for yourself to refer to during your study time and bring it with you to your next online tutoring session.
3. Explain What You Understand
Explain what you understand before asking a question. For instance:
“I understand how to calculate the first part, but I’m not sure how to interpret the final result.”
This way, the tutor will be able to avoid the things you already understand and will be able to focus on the area you are concerned about.
4. Ask the Tutor to Explain Things Differently
The explanation style the tutor uses to explain a concept can sometimes be the reason you are feeling confused.
You could ask them to explain it differently or perhaps provide a simple example. For instance:
“Can you explain this another way?”
“Can you give me a simple example?”
“Can we solve one together?”
“Can you show me the steps?”
Asking for another explanation is completely normal.
5. Turn Your Mistakes Into Questions
Sometimes the problem lies not with the explanation but with the way the information is implemented. It’s quite common to make mistakes when applying new information.
So instead of asking just for the correct answer, you could ask the tutor to explain where your reasoning changed. For instance:
“I used this method. Where did my reasoning change?”
This will help you to understand the concept better and not repeat the same mistake.
6. Ask Questions During Practice
You do not have to save your questions for the end of the tutoring session. If something becomes unclear whilst you are attempting to solve a problem or complete an exercise, you should ask the question at that point. It will be easier to address the misunderstanding and move forward with the lesson.
7. Keep a Question List
Questions can arise at any time, even when you are not having a tutoring session. So instead of trying to remember all of the questions that arise during the week, write them down in a question list
Your list might include things like:
• Concepts you didn’t understand
• Homework problems
• Mistakes you keep repeating
• Topics you want to practise
• Questions about exam preparation
You can then bring these questions up during your next tutoring session.
Quick Question Checklist
Before asking your tutor a question, consider:
☑ What exactly do I not understand?
☑ What do I already understand?
☑ Where did I get stuck?
☑ What have I already tried?
☑ Do I need an example or another explanation?
You don’t have to answer all these questions before speaking with your tutor. It’s a simple way to clarify your thoughts before asking for help. If you find it difficult to explain your difficulty, a good question list can help you to formulate clear questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I ask questions during online tutoring?
Explain the specific part you don’t understand and, if applicable, tell the online tutor what you have already tried.
What if I am embarrassed to ask a question?
Questions are an inevitable part of the learning process. If you are confused about something, asking the right question can help you clear up a misunderstanding.
What should I ask an online tutor?
You can ask your online tutor about confusing concepts, mistakes, examples, problem-solving steps, homework, exam preparation, or anything else related to your learning goal.
Is it better to ask questions during or after the lesson?
It is best to ask the question during the lesson if the misunderstanding is hindering the lesson. You can save up questions to discuss at the end of the lesson. Alternatively, you can keep a question list to refer to during the session or for future sessions.
Final Thoughts
Good questions enable tutors to understand exactly what areas of concern their student is struggling with.
Instead of focusing on how to ask the “perfect” question, use these simple strategies to explain the situation clearly and ask the right questions.
Clear communication can make online tutoring sessions more effective and help you to make the most out of your learning.
