How to Choose an Afrikaans Tutor(and When Your Child Needs One)

A good tutor can turn Afrikaans from a subject your child dreads into one they can manage, but not every child needs one, and not every tutor is a good fit. You don’t need to speak Afrikaans yourself to make a good choice. This guide helps you decide whether a tutor is worth it, what kind of help to look for and how to check that it’s actually working.

Does your child need a tutor?

Signs a tutor could help

• Marks are dropping over more than one test or term, not just one bad day.
• They avoid Afrikaans homework, leave it until last or say “I just don’t get it”.
• A big exam is coming, such as end-of-year exams or Grade 12 finals, and they don’t know where to start.
• They’ve struggled with the same grammar for months, for example word order, tenses or ontkenning (negatives), even after the teacher has explained it.
• They’ve lost confidence and have stopped asking questions in class.

Signs it may not be needed yet

• There’s no routine yet. Many children improve a lot with 15–20 minutes of Afrikaans a few times a week. Try a simple plan first: our study timetable can help.
• The school hasn’t been asked. Talk to the Afrikaans teacher first. They can tell you exactly where your child is losing marks, and many schools offer extra classes or catch-up sessions.
• It’s one weak area. If the problem is only, say, summaries, free notes like Opsomming skryf (summary writing) plus some practice may be enough.

Types of help, honestly compared

There’s no single best option. It depends on your child, your budget and your time.

Type of help	Good points	Watch out for
One-on-one, in person	Full attention; the tutor quickly sees where your child gets stuck; easy to build a relationship	Usually the most expensive option; travel time; availability can be limited
One-on-one, online	No travel; a wider choice of tutors; sessions can often be recorded or notes shared on screen	Needs a stable internet connection and data; easier for a child to switch off or get distracted
Small group	Cheaper per child; learners hear each other’s questions; can feel less pressured	Less personal attention; the pace may not suit your child; harder if they’re shy
An older learner or university student	Often more affordable; relatable; recently wrote the same kind of exams	May not know how to teach or explain clearly; may be less reliable around their own exams
Extra classes at school	Usually free or low cost; taught by people who know the school’s syllabus and tests	Fixed times; often a bigger group; may cover topics your child already knows

How to choose a good tutor

What to look for

• Knows the FAL curriculum. Afrikaans First Additional Language (FAL) follows CAPS, the national curriculum. A good tutor knows what your child’s grade covers and how the papers are usually set out.
• Knows your child’s grade and exam body. Schools write either the Department of Basic Education’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams or the IEB (Independent Examinations Board) exams in Grade 12. The setworks and paper layouts can differ, so the tutor should work from what your child is actually studying. Read more in Afrikaans FAL explained.
• Can explain in English. If your child’s home language is English, they need someone who can explain a rule in English and then practise it in Afrikaans.
• Gives practice and feedback. Good sessions include your child doing work, not just listening, and the tutor marking it and explaining mistakes.
• Is safe and reliable. They turn up on time, communicate with you, and are happy for you to be involved.

Questions to ask before you start

Use this as a checklist when you first talk to a tutor:

• Which grades and exam bodies (NSC or IEB) have you tutored before?
• Do you know my child’s setworks, or will you work from their school books?
• How will you find out what my child struggles with? Will you look at recent tests?
• What does a typical session look like? How much time does my child spend practising?
• Will you give homework or practice between sessions?
• How will you let me know how it’s going, and how often?
• Can you explain things in English if my child doesn’t understand?
• Do you have references from other parents I can contact?
• What happens if a session is missed or cancelled, by either of us?
• For in-person tutors: where will sessions happen?

Meet first

Always meet a new tutor, with your child, before the first real session. It can be a short video call or a coffee. You’ll get a feel for whether they’re friendly, organised and easy to talk to, and your child can say whether they’d be comfortable.

Choose a safe place

Hold in-person sessions in a public place such as a library, or at home with an adult present in the house. Avoid sessions where your child is alone with a tutor you don’t know well, especially at the tutor’s home.

Keep online sessions in a shared room

For online lessons, let your child use a shared space like the dining-room table, not a closed bedroom. Keep the camera and sound on, use a platform you’re comfortable with, and make sure the tutor contacts you, not only your child.

Check references

Ask for the contact details of one or two other parents, and actually call them. If the tutor is a teacher, you can ask whether they’re registered with SACE (the South African Council for Educators). You’re also within your rights to ask about a police clearance certificate.

Is it working? Keeping it affordable

How to tell after a few weeks

Give it about four to six sessions before you judge. Then look for:

• Your child can explain something they couldn’t before, like why the verb moves to the end after omdat (because).
• Homework is less of a fight and they start it with less fuss.
• Class tests improve, even a little. Big jumps usually take a term or more.
• The tutor gives you specific feedback, not just “it’s going well”.
• Your child wants to go, or at least doesn’t dread it.

If none of this is happening, talk to the tutor about changing the approach. If it still doesn’t help, it’s fine to try someone else.

Keeping costs down

• Shorter sessions. 45 minutes of focused work often helps as much as a longer session, especially for younger learners.
• Share with a friend. Two learners in the same grade can split the cost of one tutor, as long as they’re working on similar things.
• Fewer sessions, more practice. Ask the tutor for work to do between sessions and use free notes, like this site’s grammar notes and exam tips, so you get more out of each paid hour.
• Start early. A few sessions spread across the year usually cost less, and work better, than many sessions crammed in just before finals.
• Ask the school first. Free extra classes or a peer-tutoring programme may already exist.

Common questions

How often should my child see a tutor?

For most learners, once a week is enough, with short practice sessions on their own in between. Before a big exam, some families move to twice a week for a few weeks. More sessions only help if your child is actually doing practice between them.

Online or in person?

Both can work well. In person suits children who get distracted easily or need someone to sit next to them. Online works well for older, more independent learners and saves travel time, but needs a reliable connection and data. If you’re unsure, try a few sessions of one before committing.

How do I know if a tutor is qualified?

There’s no single tutoring qualification you can check. Ask what they studied, which grades and exam bodies they’ve tutored, and for references from other parents. A teaching qualification or SACE registration (for teachers) is a plus, but a good explainer with strong Afrikaans and real experience with FAL can be just as useful. The trial session is often the best test.

Can a tutor do my child's homework?

No. A tutor should help your child understand the work and then let them do it themselves. If the tutor does the homework, your child learns nothing, the teacher can’t see where they really need help, and it may break the school’s rules on honest work, especially for tasks that count towards their marks. In the exam, your child is on their own.

Is a tutor worth it in Grade 12?

It can be, especially if Afrikaans is pulling down your child’s overall marks or affects their plans after school. The earlier in the year you start, the more it helps. Focus the tutor on the sections that cost the most marks, and pair it with a study plan. See Matric marks and university for why marks matter.

What if my child doesn't like the tutor?

Ask why. Sometimes it’s a normal “I don’t want extra work” reaction that fades after a few sessions. But if your child feels uncomfortable, talked down to or confused every time, find someone else. A good relationship makes a big difference.

I don't speak Afrikaans. How can I help?

You can still help a lot: set a regular time for practice, ask your child to explain what they learned, and stay in touch with the tutor and the teacher. Our guide on how to help your child with Afrikaans has more ideas.

Want to help at home too? Read How to help your child with Afrikaans.