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Teaching is Learning Twice

 "To teach is to learn twice" by: Joshep Jubert. 

In today’s educational world, one that embraces diversity, meaningful learning, and student engagement,  Peer Tutoring (TEI) shines as a pedagogical gem. This method is not just an alternative way of teaching: it’s a quiet revolution in the classroom.

TEI (Tutoría Entre Iguales) involves pairing students in asymmetrical roles (one as tutor, the other as tutee), working toward a shared learning goal. Its essence lies in structuring this relationship so that both students benefit from the process. And it’s not just a nice theory, even UNESCO and the European Agency for Special Needs Education endorse it as a highly effective practice for inclusive education (Topping, 2000).

Why does it work?

- The tutor reinforces their own knowledge, builds responsibility and gains self-esteem.

- The tutee receives consistent, accessible, and personalized help.

- The teacher can focus more on individual feedback and closely observe student progress.

But here's the kicker: you can’t just randomly pair two students and expect magic to happen. As Duran (2006) reminds us, success requires:

- Pre-training for both roles,

- Thoughtfully designed learning materials, and

- Ongoing monitoring and support from teachers.

When tutors create or adapt materials for their peers, they develop essential skills like planning, empathy, communication, and reflective thinking. It’s not just content mastery,  it’s personal growth.


Bibliography: 

Duran, D. (1999). Tutoría entre iguales. Cuadernos de Pedagogía, 288, 36–39.

Duran, D. & Vidal, V. (2004). Tutoría entre iguales. De la teoría a la práctica. Barcelona: Graó.

Topping, K. (2000). Peer-Assisted Learning. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

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