"Binari listened and explained the topic, then asked questions of Maya to ensure she had an understanding. Basically it was communication and a genuine desire to have the student understand the topic. Maya felt she had learnt and problems were clarified with Binari."
This was the response offered by a parent when asked why her daughter bonded with Binari.
Binari has been tutoring at Five Tuition since June 2017. Since commencing full-time work as a medical intern this year, she has decided to ‘hang up her red pen’.
Binari completed VCE at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School in 2015 and achieved an ATAR score of 99. She loves to work with children and has dreams of becoming a paediatrician. She enjoys watching Reality TV shows and Netflix.
In this blog post, Binari shares her tutoring experience.
Why did you choose to tutor at Five?
The principles of Five Tuition aligned with my own values. Like me, a lot of the students who attend Five Tuition are diverse and from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. I wanted to support these students in their education and hopefully serve as a mentor to inspire them to achieve their goals. Teaching also happens to be a passion of mine. I had previously done volunteer mentoring and tutoring whilst in high school. Five Tuition provided me with an opportunity to continue this passion.
Do you have a memorable tutoring experience to share?
Tutoring three siblings who were not able to attend school for almost six months whilst their immigration visa was being processed. During this period, it was a huge challenge keeping them engaged in their learning so that they could easily transition to their respective grades once they were able to attend school again. I was able to get to know these students very well over the course of a year of tutoring. Their passion for education never wavered and witnessing their progress throughout the year remains a memorable experience.
Which one of Five’s five values resonate strongest with you (Humility, Helpfulness, Honesty, Hope or Honour)?
Helpfulness - Everyone has varying degrees of privilege. I certainly feel a responsibility to contribute and serve people to make a difference in the community. This is something that drew me to becoming a tutor. In my role as a tutor, I’ve been able to meet students from various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds, who may be requiring extra help with schoolwork or further assistance to solidify their learning. I take great pride in being able to help develop students’ skills and their passion for learning.
How has working as a Tutor at Five developed you personally and professionally?
Working as a tutor at Five has shaped me in many different ways. In particular, tutoring has developed my communication and interpersonal skills. Tutoring often encompasses explaining new and difficult concepts to students in an engaging and succinct manner. To get the best outcome for the students at Five Tuition, I also communicate with the parents to explain a student’s progress and receive their feedback. Both communication and interpersonal skills are paramount in my personal life but also in my career as a doctor, where I’m constantly communicating with work colleagues and patients.
What advice do you have for students and young people in general?
I have two pieces of advice to offer:
Firstly, be kind to yourself - Learning new skills and concepts take time and plenty of practice. Expecting to be perfect at something right from the start is a disservice to yourself.
Secondly, continue to read and learn - In this day and age, we have so many powerful education tools at our disposal. Reading is something that I redeveloped a passion for during lockdown. Books have the power to educate, serve as an escape, and expose us to new ideas. Whether it be nonfiction or fictional books, textbooks or newspaper articles, I highly recommend young people continue to read.
What’s next for you?
I’ve started working as a medical intern at a public hospital in Melbourne.
We wish Binari the very best and know she'll make a great Pediatrician.