Indian tutor, US kid

"Homework outsourcing" is distance learning that is distant indeed! The New York Times describes the experience of Daniela Marinaro, 13, in Malibu, Calif., working with English tutor Greeshma Salin, 22, in Cochin, southern India - at a third the cost of a tutor who came to the Marinaro home. Critics say there's no regulation of this "industry," but the Times describes the requirements at least Greeshma's company makes of its tutors: "Mostly with recent postgraduate and teaching degrees, [they] already have deep subject knowledge. They must go through two weeks of technical, accent and cultural training," which includes learning the differences between British English and that spoken in Canada, the US, and Australia. Plus, this company is licensed in California (the Times also mentions distance-tutoring firms in the US). Of course, it wouldn't hurt for US parents to monitor their kids' sessions for a while, to make sure they're going well. Go to p. 2 of the article to find out what Daniela's dad thinks.