“Unsure about a gap year? I recommend Yipiyap.”

Author:

Donya Abu Shark

Emily is changing lives in her gap year as a Yipiyap Tutor. Think you could be a future Yipiyap?

It all began in May of 2021 when Yipiyap came to present their opportunities to people considering taking a gap year - me being one of those who felt uncertain about my future plans - but now I feel more than delighted to have taken advantage of this opportunity. It’s been quite the journey from start to finish, so I want to take this moment to reflect upon it and share it with you all and perhaps it’ll help you decide if being a Yipiyap tutor is something you’d want to also take part in.

What’s the interview like?

When I applied, I was told that it would be a two-interview process. In the first interview I did with Jess I felt very relaxed, I felt like this tutoring role was meant for me and I was determined to shape my future, beginning with this stepping stone.

My favourite part was when I showed her a few art pieces that I had done, to express my art hobby as well as my outlet for when things get a bit stressful, it added some depth to my identity and to who I am, which I liked.

Then the interview I had with Catherine was very encouraging, it was professional while maintaining that friendliness and welcoming feel. She made sure I was comfortable and I would even dare to say that I had fun during the interviews!

Getting started at Yipiyap

And with this, I was officially welcomed into Yipiyap in January of 2022, I did start later than usual but I felt just as welcomed by the Regional Directors (RDs) and by my fellow Yipiyap tutors. We had a two days of induction and training and those were extremely helpful, especially when it came to exploring scenarios; they prepared us for any incoming situations that we may face, which came in handy for me later on.

We got to meet our RDs and learn all about Yipiyap’s motto and their expectations for us. I began tutoring for a new programme, Upgrade. I felt uncertain at first because I wasn’t sure how things worked but I quickly got the hang of it, especially since my RD was here to support me. I was naturally quick to prepare resources and I always favoured making the most out of the students’ learning.

Feeling supported

Speaking of RDs, the relationship that you get to have with your RD is like none other. My RD was extremely helpful, she cleared all misconceptions or concerns that I had, helped me stay on track and also challenged me with other opportunities. I felt comfortable when talking to my RD and this made me feel more involved within my role as well as motivated to work at Yipiyap as a whole.

An example of this is when my RD offered me another opportunity to work at a school nearby, with a fellow Yipiyap tutor who also started at the same time as me, so we both already had something to relate to and therefore got along well.

My relationship with fellow tutors allowed us to get through tough situations unitedly and made me feel less alone in ambiguous situations. Yipiyap has its way of making sure that you’re always working together as a team, which was helpful for me!

What’s it like tutoring online?

Working online as well as in person allowed me to be flexible in my teaching. I was able to build a working, thriving relationship between my students which was very enjoyable for both the students and myself. I was able to work with a variety of students, which all had their own experiences and needs, which was a challenge to tend to at times, but by simple communication - just getting to know them really - about their struggles, needs and learning styles, I was able to plan sessions based on that.

Professional development and pedagogy

On top of that, I was also able to learn other techniques from various teachers as well as through reading “Creating Giants”, which is a helpful bulletin that gives you plenty of insight into how to develop transferable skills and many other tips and tricks based on people’s own experiences! I, for one, found it helpful when it came to wanting to learn how to engage students more, or how to maximise their learning. This was introduced to me in the huddles that I participated in.

Connecting with others

The huddles were a part of the unique Yipiyap experience, again, the aspect of teamwork seeped through. I got along with the huddle that I was with, they are usually small groups with a senior Yipiyap who guides you through the weekly agenda. The leader that I had was sure to check up on us and give us tips to improve learning while reiterating the core values of being a Yipiyap tutor.

The enrichments were also advocated, and this is where I was introduced to the book club. I managed to join a few sessions and reading The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie was one of my favourite highlights of Yipiyap, so I do recommend checking out the book club if you ever consider joining Yipiyap!

Why I chose to tutor on my gap year

I really enjoy mentoring and would really recommend it! The thing that inspired me was the opportunity of being able to tutor others by being inspired to help others aspire.

I also love education so using my knowledge to teach others was also important to me. It is extremely satisfying to know you’ve made a positive impact on their learning and could have potentially guided them to a future career, whether that be just from talking to a student or whether it was because you explained a topic that they previously had struggled on and now they feel much more confident about it.

In the end, I believe it’s all about the little things, the small moments matter, especially in education, because you never know where they might lead people. For me, I experienced many small, teachable moments during my time as a Yipiyap tutor that I will always treasure and take forward with me towards my own career path.

So, should you tutor with Yipiyap on your gap year?

And with that being said, if you are unsure of what to do for your gap year, I would highly recommend Yipiyap, you’ll be able to make a real impact all while developing your interpersonal skills. You’ll also have plenty of time for enrichments or a breather from studies as well, to prepare you as much as possible for your future endeavours. It’s a valuable experience to embark on and I hope you consider joining us soon!