Do International Students Really Need Tutoring?

Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience, but it also comes with its share of challenges. From language barriers to academic adjustments, many international students face obstacles that can affect their academic performance. The natural response is often to seek tutoring. However, is tutoring always the right solution? Are these services truly capable of addressing the core issues international students encounter? Let’s take a closer look at when and why tutoring may or may not be the answer.

Although international students may face a variety of challenges during their studies abroad, most of these issues cannot be solved by tutoring agencies. Therefore, not all international students need tutoring; moreover, not every problem faced by international students requires the assistance of a tutoring service. For instance, language barriers are a common issue for almost every international student, and the severity depends on the student’s proficiency in the local language. If you are facing this issue, seeking tutoring services with the expectation of solving the problem might lead to disappointment. Despite many tutoring agencies claiming they can help students overcome language barriers, this is often just a marketing tactic—or more bluntly, a form of deception. Based on experience, the only effective solution to this problem is to immerse yourself in the language environment. The more you interact, learn, and correct yourself through communication, the sooner you will overcome the language hurdle.

There are many other examples of problems that tutoring agencies cannot resolve. However, many international students, when faced with challenges, instinctively turn to tutoring services, often resulting in wasted money and time. It’s not always worth it.

If your issue is academic knowledge-related, it’s not advisable to rely on tutoring agencies. Instead, you can explore online courses offered by top universities, such as those available on platforms like edX. These courses, often created by prestigious institutions, provide high-quality content and explanations that far exceed what many tutoring agencies can offer. Moreover, these platforms allow you to ask questions if you don’t fully understand certain concepts.

For issues related to solving specific problems or assignments, there are specialized platforms like Sodask, where you can ask for help from graduate students or PhD experts from world-renowned universities. These experts provide detailed, professional explanations of the problem-solving process in a convenient and efficient way.