"A family residing in North London wants to find an exceptional and experienced instructor to assist their most junior child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this advertisement, you might readily skip the wording "initial stages" as mere an expression.
But, it may be the crucial aspect of this unique employment listing, as it aims to hire a tutor for a one-year-old.
Numerous of applications have since been received since the anonymous family posted their search for the £180,000 per year tutor, who has to be "an exceptional individual".
Over the last few weeks, the listing has gained notice across the press, with many wondering why?
Innovative Idea
Adam Caller, head and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is assisting the family in their hunt, stated that despite early doubt, he viewed the idea "visionary", and "progressive".
When he met the family, he mentioned they appreciated the atypical nature of their demand, and how early in age their son is.
However, they stated that they "preferred not to postpone any longer" to get a tutor, as they had held off until their firstborn was five, and by that age "cultural influence had by then taken hold".
But what does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", the expert responded. "How you eat, how you speak".
He said the elder child had picked up "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had taken on their cultural habits. The family explained to him they hoped to prevent history to happen again with their infant.
The intention: To engage a UK tutor, who should speak with Received Pronunciation, to influence the baby right from the beginning.
Natural Absorption
"A lot of the education at the outset here is kind of acquired indirectly," stated Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are expecting the child will adopt the English characteristics they aim to instil.
He said the tutor must be someone who attended "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The educator must be the right kind of person, they'll be doing things they don't even know they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Cost Not Relevant
The family informed him the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or passion in equestrian activities, skiing, the arts and instrumental training so as to shape the child in a diverse set of passions.
More than that though, he explained the family desired the tutor to register the child on a range of lessons so the child would be "pony-riding and starting an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, guiding their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will result in achievement and open doors.
"For all the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's definitely a status symbol," he adds.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "English culture", could the child absorb what is termed cultural leaning from the globally influenced family he resides with anyway?
"Yes", replied Adam. "The family know this may not work, but they've merely embraced the attitude of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as early as we can', because the expense of it is irrelevant," he stated.
Impractical
A number of in the tutoring industry who express these reservations.
Another CEO, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, stated that "the journey of becoming bicultural, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
The expert noted that he had moved from China to the United Kingdom at the period of 7 years old, and had been educated understanding and living two backgrounds. He continued to study at the University of Cambridge.
"The notion that a single person can function as a embodiment of English culture, an individual who can somehow impart the characteristics of a UK sophisticate upon a infant child, appears naive and unrealistic," he commented.
"Based on my background, employing a distinctly UK tutor from babyhood will not necessarily create the goal they want.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been privileged enough to experience several of the situations they aspire for their son."
He added: "The truth is, self-identity should not be forced from the outside influences; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."
Purchasing UK Culture
Of course, UK identity is something the expert hopes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the situation that the world holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
