"Parents residing in the northern part of London is looking for an exceptional and experienced instructor to guide their smallest child on his early path to growing into an British gentleman."
Looking at this advertisement, you might naturally skip the phrase "initial stages" as just figurative language.
But, it might be the most important element of this unique position posting, as it seeks to recruit a teacher for a one-year-old.
Numerous of responses have now been submitted since the unnamed family posted their search for the highly paid tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has attracted interest in the news, with several asking why?
Progressive Approach
Adam Caller, chief executive of Tutors International, which is assisting the family in their hunt, explained that despite first doubt, he found the concept "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he spoke with the family, he noted they appreciated the unusual character of their requirement, and how early in age their son is.
But, they stated that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to engage a tutor, as they had held off until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural conditioning had already set in".
What exactly did the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?
It's "comprehensive", Adam responded. "The way you eat, how you speak".
He stated the elder child had picked up "very nuanced, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family explained to him they wished to avoid this pattern to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to guide the baby from day one.
Subtle Influence
"A lot of the education at the beginning here is somewhat osmotic," explained the expert.
It's via this natural absorption that the family are hoping the child will acquire the English characteristics they aim to instil.
Adam explained the tutor had to be somebody who studied at "the right kinds of schools – comparable categories of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The educator simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be performing things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he said.
Expense Not a Factor
The family explained to him the selected educator should preferably also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in riding, skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a broad spectrum of passions.
Additionally though, he explained the family desired the tutor to enrol the child on a selection of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are around three years old".
In the family's view, assisting their son develop into a "British gentleman" will lead to accomplishment and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the rights and wrongs of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he notes.
Yet, despite all this guidance in "English culture", could the child adopt so-called cultural leaning from the international family he lives with in any case?
"Yes", said the CEO. "They know this might not succeed, but they've simply adopted the perspective of, 'why not attempt it and we should start as early as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.
Idealistic and Unrealistic
There are some in the tutoring industry who share those doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer personal educators, stated that "the process of becoming bicultural, or actually, becoming oneself, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He noted that he had relocated from China to the UK at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and embodying dual heritages. He went on to learn at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that a single person can act as a representation of English culture, an individual who can in some way transplant the qualities of a UK sophisticate upon a one-year-old child, strikes me as idealistic and impractical," he stated.
"Based on my background, employing a typically English tutor from infancy will does not automatically produce the result they desire.
"I wasn't provided with that kind of mentor, and however I have been lucky enough to enjoy numerous of the situations they hope for their son."
He added: "The fact is, cultural identity can not be imposed from the outside influences; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Naturally, English culture is something the expert believes can be instructed – and commercialized.
"I think the fact that the international society regards us in this respect is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
