Learning Center, Tutor, or Online App – Which Did I Choose for My Child?
When deciding to teach my child Soroban, I was torn: go to a center, hire a tutor, or learn online? Here's how I compared and what I chose.
When I decided to have my child learn Soroban, I didn't know which method to choose. Learning centers seemed intimidating – what if she couldn't keep up? Tutors are expensive. Online – would it even work? After researching and trying different options, here's what I learned.
Common Ways to Learn Soroban
After researching, I found 4 main options:
- •Learning center: Study with other kids, in-person teacher
- •Private tutor: Teacher comes to your home or teaches 1-on-1 online
- •Apps/software: Child self-studies on phone/tablet/computer
- •YouTube + self-study: Free, but needs adult supervision
Each has pros and cons. I analyzed each based on my family's situation.
1. Learning Center
Pros
- •Experienced teachers to guide
- •Friends to study with, creates motivation
- •Level certifications if desired
- •Parents don't need to know Soroban
Cons
- •Must drive kids there – time consuming
- •Fixed schedule – hard to be flexible
- •High cost: $80-200/month
- •Child may 'fall behind' if learning slower than class
I didn't choose this because: no time for driving, and worried about my daughter feeling pressure compared to other kids.
2. Private Tutor
Pros
- •Learn at child's own pace
- •Flexible scheduling
- •100% attention on your child
- •Can learn at home
Cons
- •Highest cost: $30-60/session
- •Hard to find skilled Soroban tutors
- •Dependent on one person – if they're unavailable, no learning
- •No peers to compare progress with
I didn't choose this because: too expensive, and couldn't find a trustworthy tutor in my area.
3. Apps/Online Software
Pros
- •Learn anytime, anywhere – most flexible
- •Lowest cost: $10-30/month or free basic version
- •Child learns at own pace, no comparisons
- •Parents track progress through app
- •No driving required
Cons
- •No 'real person' teacher to ask questions
- •Needs discipline – child may give up without habits
- •Parents need to help build habits initially
- •More screen time
This is what I chose. Reason: fits my busy schedule, reasonable cost, and child can self-study.
4. YouTube + Self-Study
Pros
- •Completely free
- •Many resources available
Cons
- •Parent must sit with child and understand Soroban
- •No interactive exercises
- •Can't track progress
- •Video quality varies
I tried this first, but quit because: I don't know Soroban myself, so I couldn't explain when my daughter didn't understand.
There's no 'best' method for everyone. It depends on your family's situation, budget, and your child's personality. What matters is choosing what fits YOUR family.
Comparison Table
| Criteria | Center | Tutor | App | YouTube |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly cost | $80-200 | $120-400 | $10-30 | Free |
| Time flexibility | Low | Medium | High | High |
| Need to drive | Yes | No | No | No |
| Has teacher | Yes | Yes | No | No |
| Child can self-study | No | No | Yes | Difficult |
| Track progress | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Good for busy parents | No | Somewhat | Very good | No |
My Choice
I chose the Sorokid app because:
- •I work full days, no time to drive
- •I don't know Soroban so can't teach myself
- •Reasonable cost
- •Child can learn at her own pace
- •I can track progress through the app
After 1 year, I feel it was the right decision – for my situation. You may have a different choice, and that's perfectly fine.
My Suggestions
- •If you have time and budget: Center or tutor – direct guidance
- •If busy with limited budget: Online app – flexible and cost-effective
- •If you want to try first: Use free app version or YouTube – see if child is interested
Whatever method you choose, what matters most is consistent practice and your child's interest. Tools are just means – your patience and your child's motivation determine the results.
Want to try Soroban online for your child? Sorokid offers flexible, self-paced learning with progress tracking – perfect for busy parents.
Try Free for 7 Days