After the trial, ask the teacher open questions about what would help your child next, and leave the arrangement open until you have heard the answers. You decide after the trial whether to continue. Ongoing fees stay at the trial rate, and the schedule and support are confirmed directly with the teacher.
This keeps the conversation about your child’s learning rather than about a ready-made plan.
Why avoid assuming a package?
A package answers a question the teacher has not yet asked: what does this student need? If you assume one, you may arrange more or less than is useful.
Asking open questions first lets the teacher base the suggestion on what they saw in the lesson. You can then compare it with your own goal. The post-trial reflection guide helps you line up the two.
What are the most useful questions?
Ask them in this order, and write down the answers.
- What would you work on first, and why? This shows the teacher’s reading of your child.
- How will we know it is working? A good answer names something observable, such as “she can set out a solution without prompts”.
- What schedule do you suggest before the exam date? Give them the date. Let them explain the reasoning.
- Is the fee the same as the trial rate, and how is it paid? Ask for the rate per lesson and the payment method.
- How do we change the arrangement? Ask about rescheduling, pausing and stopping.
- What do you expect from my child between lessons? Learn what your child would be asked to do.
If an answer is “we will see”, ask “when will we know?”
What should you not assume?
Do not assume that something is included because it is common elsewhere. Recordings, reports, marking of homework and support between lessons may or may not be part of the arrangement. Ask about each one you care about, and accept the answer you get.
The rate you agreed before the trial continues for ongoing lessons. The trial is one hour at the assigned teacher’s confirmed rate, starting from RM80.
How should you record what was agreed?
After the conversation, send a short WhatsApp message listing what you understood: the schedule, the fee, the payment method and the review point. Ask the teacher to confirm.
This is not about mistrust. It is how two busy people keep the same version of an arrangement.
Where does this lead?
If the answers fit, you and your child can start. If not, the notes help you compare with another option, including self-study or group classes. Either way, the conversation is easier after you have read discussing continuation directly with the teacher.
Questions about the first lesson itself? See how the trial works.