Since meeting Spencer at the Top Pro gathering, I discovered that I have actually seen him before——in social media ads, in project collaborations, in EDMs for English lessons and in tutorials——all of these are testaments of his professionalism and dedication to his teaching career. Spencer’s glamorous education background and passion for teaching have earned him the title of “Top Pro 2021”. Now let us take a look at his story!
【Top Pro 2024】Spencer — Professional & Media Favorite
Updated: Jan 12 2024
【Top Pro 2024】Spencer — Professional & Media Favorite
Psychology vs English Teaching
Spencer has an educational background that will spark envy from any parent. He graduated from the Department of Psychology at the University of Hong Kong with first-class honors, received 11 scholarships, went on to study in the UK, and finished his education with flying colors. But instead of taking the easy path to becoming a “professional”, Spencer chose to work as a tutor, a job that is often viewed as unstable and unprofessional. However, Spencer has managed to make a name for himself and turned tutoring into a profession, and with the help of Toby, he is now a freelancer with a stable income, a carefree lifestyle, and a steady workload.
After graduation, Spencer began working as a management trainee but soon realized that his calling is in education. However, working at a day school means a lot of administrative work and it doesn’t provide students with enough support, that’s why Spencer chose to be a tutor instead. He mentioned a term from positive psychology, “Flow”, which refers to a mental state in which a person finds enjoyment when fully immersed in an activity, this is how Spencer found his true calling.
The experience from Spencer has told us that doing what you are interested is really rewarding.
Toby and Spencer
Spencer confessed, “I appreciate what customer service and the teams at Toby are doing because they are very good at making good use of everybody’s talents.” Toby believes that concentrating on one’s talent and collaborating with others is key to greater success and it has a platform that can save Spencer the hassle of administrative work. Spencer shared, “Toby has given me the confidence to become a freelancer because it offers me a wide and stable customer base and allows me to concentrate on teaching, strengthening my interaction and relationship with my students, and understanding their needs.” Most of Spencer’s current students found him on Toby.
Aside from being a source of student recruitment, Toby has been instrumental in connecting Spencer with his working partners. Toby is a Service Pro community that has served as a channel for Spencer to recruit other English tutors who share his ideas, allowing him to up his game and learn from others. In addition, Spencer has long-term working relationships with other Service Pros who specialize in website design and social media management, etc. and this has allowed Spencer to focus on tutoring and developing his career.
The key to success
In terms of student retention, Spencer shared that the key to his success is taking the initiative and doing follow-ups. Spencer pointed out, “The most important thing is to let your clients know that you are attentive and passionate about teaching.” Aside from aiding him in his teaching, Spencer’s background in psychology has helped him deal with various problems, such as overcoming learning blocks for students, and learn how to listen to student needs and have empathy. Spencer always takes the initiative in devising study plans and goals that cater to each student, so that parents and students alike will have more confidence in him.
“The most important thing is to let your clients know that you are attentive and passionate about teaching.”
Due to the pandemic, Spencer admitted that student recruitment has plummeted 60% during the past 2 years but he managed to bounce back 20% by working as a private tutor on Toby and demonstrating his professionalism and passion for teaching. Understanding and making good on his expertise have earned Spencer a place in “Top Pro 2021” and he will continue to do his best.
