Tuition coaching classes in India serve as supplementary education platforms, providing specialized instruction to students ranging from primary school to university level. These classes focus on enhancing academic performance, preparing students for competitive exams, and clarifying concepts taught in schools. Popular for their rigorous curriculums and experienced tutors, coaching classes are integral in preparing for competitive and board exams . They offer personalized attention, structured study plans, and mock tests, significantly contributing to students' success. In a country with immense academic competition, these classes are vital for students striving to gain an edge in their educational pursuits. Here is one of such institute SMT classes in Mumbai , Malad which is setting new standards and creating new heights in improving students’ academic performance.

Young students Mr. Ziyaan Chandniwala and Soha Chandniwala got chance to interview and where able to get an insight with the partners of SMT institute’s Mithun sir & Sachin sir and their team Avani miss and Sheetal miss behind their success.

Mithun Sir,  a veteran in his field gave more insights on following points

Q1)  What sets your SMT tuition classes apart from others in the market?

In many classes  there are different teachers for different subjects, but here in SMT myself and my brother Sachin sir handle and  teach all the subjects. All my students are like my sons and daughters and there is a special bond which we have with them and we focus more on journey and that makes our destination more beautiful. I feel what sets us apart from others tuition classes is that from our personal touch we focus on journey, we focus on basic concept, we focus on excellence , because we know education it’s a very beautiful process and we not only teach concept but in each and every of my lecture session we try to connect life. No matter what the boards are no matter what the study portions are we always keep personal touch and the urge to make students realise that the process is important by knowing the basis, working smart , handling the pressure and to be ready for the journey ahead. We also do some seminars and help students to choose their carrier.

Q2)   How do handle competition in the tuition industry?

We always had a concept of group classes, but by grace of God, we have been successfully achieving full admission in our all batches year on year. Every year we purposely keep limited admission seats which makes our focus embark on students. Yes there are big players as well as small tuition classes which compete with each other but we are never worried or affected us as the word of reference and recommendation to join SMT amongst the students and parents is very high which I am very proud. there have been instances where my old students have started tuitions around me, but I have never taken them as our competitors.  If our batches are full we too recommend other good tuition classes and also many times other teacher things that a student can be handled better by SMT they recommend us. There has been a very healthy and nice friendly environment amongst the teachers and we respect each other a lot as we all are working for a common goal to uplift education knowledge to young students.

Q3) How do understand the need of your student and tailor your teaching approach to meet those needs ?

 Actually every student is different , so whenever I am teaching I read a lot of books pertaining to psychology . I see the child , understand them when they write a paper and many a times I see the patterns. There is one language which is universal to everyone and that language is love and respect . when I love my student, when I respect them, when they ask me I tell them ‘’arey thank you for asking beta’’ , this keeps them motivated to speak more I assess the needs of students and tailor my method by  speaking with them with this universal language. I am happy to consider myself as a teacher with whom my students could speak out freely and also the way they can open up which helps to understand the needs. Many a times as a friend we have a chit-chat and they tell me various things. Also as per the current trend I change my teaching methods and change my stories which helps the student to connect better.

Q4)  Can you share any strategies you used to help students manage anxiety or academic pressure ?

To remover or reduce anxiety among students we take many sessions where we guide students when main exams are approaching. We always send motivational messages in students group and always available whenever students have any doubts. I also say these three things to my students ‘Saas andar, … Sasur bahar’, seconds to have condfidence on yourself  and always tell them ‘’you are your fovourite person’’, ‘’ you are the best and no one is like you and have confidence on yourself and lastly I tell them to just give the best and enjoy the journey and you will get amazing destination. During my lectures I make sure there are lighter moments by cracking some good jokes which makes the environment stress free.

Q5)  How do you stay updated with the latest teaching methodologies and education during your classes?

I thank my students once again that they help me , when whatsapp came, I was reluctant and one of my students thought me how to use whats app and other students taught me Instagram , and  facebook too. So many a times its my students only who helped with these technologies and everything . there are some students who are computer engineers and still teach me . So I stay updated with the teaching methodologies with my kids which they help me a lot as they are the best. Every class and students are different, so we make sure that our methodology remains to keep the teaching concept simple and easy with conceptual practical examples.

Q6)  Can you discuss any challenges you have faced while running your tuition classes business and how you have welcomed them?

There are many challenges from time to time like in corona period it was all like that everyone was behind the scene , when everyone was watching you it was very difficult to get students on hold because initially mobile were banned in the school and now entire school is on mobile. So during that period we have to do lot of research . I had to make the lectures interesting . I had to see to it that no one switches off the camera and everyone was glued , so I had to make my all sessions super interesting and super energetic , I had to connect to them and also I was watched by the parents too . So at that time it was like I had to research and pick up some jokes , some comedy anecdotes , a lot of stories , knowledge and make it interactive . so that was one of the challenge and I loved

Q7)  What strategies do you imply to ensure high student engagement and motivation during your classes?

Well to be very frank once again the same answer I gave previously love, trust and making them feel comfortable , entertain them , make them feel and make the studies interesting for them. Inorder to engage student I just tell them various stories, I keep competitions, I try to see that each I change my methodologies after some time, so that they don’t get bored , there should not be monotomy , there should not be the same way of teaching , so I imply different techniques . everyday I have a habit that I read one page everyday of the books I like and because of that reading I am able to imply new stories, new technologies, new quiz, and everything in my day to day teaching . I have to see that the students , if they are getting bored I have to quickly switch on to something new. I try to maintain the tempo by keeping student engage . as far as motivation goes , the quotes, the stories and even like I connect my all the chapters over there to life. I believe in all these things and when you believe you can do it. I believe in my students . I consider my lectures as shows . when you entertain, educate at the same time you involve the student with fun. The most important thing is to make things easier,  so I make sure that I am making the lectures entertaining , easier and educational , ‘EEE’ ,that’s the way I show

Q8)   Can you discuss a time when you had to provide constructive feedback to a student and how do you approach it ?

Actually my all feedbacks are constructive . I always at every open house speak with the parents taking the students side always . it is like you have to tell that ,this is good ‘. We highlight the good things of the students first and then we highlight the mistakes and then slowly tell them that it is like first understand and then practice . first set your target . since last 28 years I am giving good feedbacks to the students everytime . first we tell the student where he /she is lacking , if they are good I appreciate them , if they are bad I subtlety  tell them where they are wrong and then we just move ahead .  Once I was challenged because I had a student who could not hear and his parents told that he will sit in the lecture and will lip read and understand . That was the most difficult year but I enjoyed it because in that part I had to speak everything in English, generally with the students for the communication , speaking hinglish is very. I enjoyed teaching him, even he couldnot speak speak but he used to have a lot of questions and I was even able to answer them . it was a really memorable journey with him . it was fun and life got a kick .

Q9)   how do you handle your students who are struggling or lacking down behind in studies?

Actually whenever I teach I always keep in my mind that who is sitting on the last bench , who is the weakest , I have to focus on him/her , I teach them and then automatically everyone else can also understand it .so whenever a student is struggling or falling behind , first of all don’t scold him , understand the reason , why he is not performing ,if you understand it then make him also understand it , put a saying in his mind , there is nothing known as easy or difficult , there are only two things in life , what you understood and what you did not . If you understood it then very good , if not then try to understand it and how will you do it , by asking and making it in a easier language . If student is lacking behind so first they should understand the concept and then still if they don’t understand it and the exam approaches then first we need to tell them how to tackle it . If they learn how to tackle it then they can go ahead on their own . if they still don’t understand it then there are helper teachers who help them , even I am there with them . I have a simple funda that is ask n number of times and never say no , that’s my policy . There should not be this words in the dictionary of the teacher that ‘ arey itna easy hai , itna kyu nahi samajhme ata hai , arey kitne bar karvaye ham ‘ ,but still make them feel comfortable , make them feel easy and makesure there is no inferiority  complex in them , that’s why I make the people clap for the toppers at the same time when someone also give a small answer , I make everyone clap for them . The student who is lacking or struggling , I want to tell them you are lacking back in studies and not in life . everyone is going to be successful in life but education is necessary , every student is different and I help them everytime and mostly trust them and don’t humiliate them .

Q10) What qualities you demand from your supporting team and staff in your classes?

Well in here me and Sachin sir only  teach the students , so we don’t generally have tutors but we have helper teachers and for them the rule is simple that be honest , be good to kids, don’t be too friendly also ,don’t be rude to them, try to understand them , reason them out and just maintain a good atmosphere and discipline over here. The person who has patience to listen is the main criteria to hire a helper teacher 

Q11)  How do maintain communication and foster a positive relationship with the parents of your students?

Well I consider parents as a part of our family , whenever I meet them I make them feel that they are the part of the SMT family , I am their friend , with whom they can communicate freely and I try to reason out with them , I try to become a bridge between the parents and the students, what parents cannot communicate to the students , I try to communicate in a proper way , what students cann’t communicate with the students I communicate with them  and there by we have a good positive relationship. whenever a parents wants to meet they just had to make a phone call and we meet them , we treat them as a family. You be good everyone and others will be good with you, this philosophy we work on and that’s why we are successful .

Q12)  What are your plans for your future growth and expansion of your tuition classes business?

Thankfully after 28 years I have reached where I wanted so , I am happy with this , I don’t want to expand much . From the starting we had three branches , limited students . After a particular time when we become more financially stable I would like to keep a time where I can teach students for free. The needy students who doesnot have resources for good education will be always welcomed for learning and solving their doubt. I donot think I will ever retire and this is what my friends circle say  as teaching is in my blood. For future we want to be stable with existing branches and donot wont to complicate by bringing more branches which will divide our teaching time, yes in future we would adopt the new technologies, methodologies which are good for students .