Free Alumni Tutoring

Getting Started

To get started, here is what you need to do:

1. You need to have a Skype account to start your video or instant messaging chat with us.
   If you do not have one, you can sign up for a free account on the Skype website.
2. You must also have a computer or device that has a webcam, microphone, and screen for video chatting.
   A smartphone will work if you have the Skype app downloaded.
3. Log on to your Skype account (using your computer or your phone).
4. Search for our tutor contact usernames, and add all of them to your contact list
5. When you see a tutor online, send them a message to see if they are available!

Skype tutoring guidelines

Tutoring students online is different from face-to-face tutoring.

Just as we have guidelines for tutoring here, we have guidelines for Skype tutoring as well:

• Be in a location that has a strong WiFi connection.
• Sit somewhere that is quiet and brightly lit.
• Use your headphones if you can.
• Try to prepare what you would like to work on, or the topics you would like to discuss.
• Do not answer your phone or have other websites up while Skyping with a tutor.
• Speak or type only in English, just like when you were at the ELI.
• Be respectful in your communications.
• If you schedule a time with a tutor, be on time–or let them know if you will be late or need to reschedule.
• Recognize that sometimes internet connections will cause issues with the Skype video or audio conversations. Please be patient with our tutors when this occurs, just as they will do the same for you when that happens.
• Be aware that any Skype conversations that our tutors feel are inappropriate or that are spam will immediately be disconnected and the user will be blocked from contacting any of our tutors in the future.

ELI Skype Tutors

The below ELI Tutors will be logged on to this Skype account (Skype name: UD_ELI_AlumniTutor) on the scheduled days and times listed next to their names.

Please note that there is no tutoring on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays.

No tutors are online

No tutors are online. What do I do?

Tutors are not always available online during a session break, when they have other students, or if you are in a different time zone (they might be sleeping while you’re awake!)

If you are unavailable during the above scheduled times, or if the tutor is busy with other alumni, try one of the tutors listed below, or one of the above tutors during times they are not scheduled.

If there are no tutors online, you can send a video message to one of them on Skype asking any questions that you have, or requesting specific topics for tutors to discuss. The tutor you have left the message for will send you a video message in response when they are able, or message you to connect at another time.

You can also send us an email to request a tutor to reach out to you: ud-eli@udel.edu. [Write this in the email subject line: Alumni – Skype tutoring]

We suggest that you add all of the tutors to your contact list on Skype, so when you log on to your Skype account, you will be able to see who is available.

To do this, click on the “Add me to Skype” button next to each photo. That will take you to Skype for you to request that they add you to their contacts.

It is helpful if you tell the tutors the dates when you were at the ELI when you ask them to add you to their contacts.

If the tutor you try to contact is not online, try another tutor.

You can also leave a Skype video message, a chat message, or email us at eli-alumni@udel.edu, to receive a response from tutors at a later time when they are available.

These tutors will be online when they are available, (but not at scheduled times), Monday through Thursday, 1–5:50 p.m. EST  (Eastern Standard Time, UTC/GMT – 4 hours).