A tight cluster of students are huddled around each other as they take out their phones to collectively play “Brawl Stars,” their laughter and shouts echoing throughout the room.
Tutorial gives students the opportunity to catch up in certain classes or get help on a specific subject; however, many students misuse the extra time to play games and talk to their friends. While some students use tutorial to relax and take a break from their classes, they can often distract those trying to be productive.
This was evident when I went to my Spanish class for tutorial to make up an assessment. As I waited for the test to start, the collective mix of loud voices swallowed the entire room. Despite my teacher announcing that some students were taking a test, the room soon grew loud again. Later, I heard some students behind me playing games on their phones. Although I was trying to focus on the test, the clamor overwhelmed me and reduced my concentration.
On the assessment, there was a video portion with comprehension questions. It was difficult for me to listen and decipher the video because of the noise, forcing me to replay it multiple times in order to answer the questions. Given the importance of tests and quizzes, students misusing tutorial time could lower the performance of others trying to focus.
Tutorial is also misused as a time to procrastinate. When homework is due the period after tutorial and lunch, some students rely on tutorial to finish their homework instead of doing it before. This leads to bad time management, as students constantly rely on tutorial to finish assignments that should have been completed prior. Those using tutorial as a way to finish homework the day it is due are sometimes unable to finish their work, forcing them to cheat or give rushed answers.
Although I understand that tutorial can provide a much needed break amid long class periods, students should be more mindful of those trying to be productive. Some ways students can rest without disrupting others are lowering their voices and sitting far away from those working.
Teachers can facilitate a quieter classroom for their students by putting up signs that emphasize the need for silence. Putting up signs before tutorial minimizes the amount of students who want to relax come into the classroom and reduces the amount of times teachers ask students to quiet down. Taking shorter breaks instead of resting the entire time can allow students to be productive while also minimizing distraction.
Although frequently misused, tutorial gives students the opportunity to develop a better understanding in a subject and get ahead on assignments when used effectively.
