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"A household based in north London seeks an remarkable and experienced tutor to assist their youngest child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."

When reading this advertisement, you might readily overlook the phrase "beginning" as simple a turn of phrase.

Yet, it might be the most important aspect of this distinctive job advert, as it attempts to hire a teacher for a 12-month-old.

Numerous of submissions have already been sent in since the anonymous family posted their call for the highly paid tutor, who must be "someone very special".

Over the last few weeks, the advert has gained interest throughout the media, with several asking why?

Innovative Idea

The CEO, head and founder of Tutors International, which is helping the family in their hunt, said that notwithstanding first skepticism, he found the idea "far sighted", and "innovative".

When he consulted the family, he mentioned they recognized 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 get a tutor, as they had postponed until their elder sibling was five, and by that age "cultural conditioning had already set in".

What exactly does the family indicate by "cultural predisposition"?

It's "all-encompassing", he responded. "The manner you eat, the manner you speak".

He stated the elder child had adopted "really subtle, body language" from the family, and had adopted their cultural ways. The family told Adam they did not want history to repeat itself with their infant.

The intention: To engage a English tutor, who should speak with standard English accent, to shape the baby right from the beginning.

Natural Absorption

"Much of the learning at the beginning here is somewhat acquired indirectly," explained Adam.

It's through this osmosis that the family are hoping the child will adopt the English characteristics they want to instil.

The consultant said the tutor needed to be somebody who went to "the appropriate educational institutions – the same kinds of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".

"The tutor simply needs to be the right kind of person, they'll be performing things they may not realize they're doing, effortlessly," he commented.

Money No Object

The family explained to Adam the successful candidate should ideally also have understanding of or enthusiasm in horse riding, skiing, the arts and musical activities so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of hobbies.

Furthermore though, he stated the family hoped the tutor to enrol the child on a range of classes so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are around three years old".

In the family's perspective, assisting their son grow into a "UK sophisticate" will lead to achievement and create opportunities.

"Taking into account the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a class statement," he adds.

But, in spite of all this guidance in "English culture", might the child adopt what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he is raised by anyway?

"Yes", replied Adam. "The family know this may not work, but they've simply adopted the view of, 'we should try and we'll proceed as quickly as we can', because the cost of it is not a concern," he said.

Impractical

Several in the private teaching field who share these reservations.

Peter Cui, head and founder of Blue Education, who provides personal educators, stated that "the journey of embracing two identities, or indeed, forming one's identity, is something that must be lived into, not manufactured."

He wrote that he had moved from China to the UK at the age of seven, and had been brought up knowing and living two backgrounds. He went on to learn at the University of Cambridge.

"The concept that an individual can serve as a living vessel of UK identity, an individual who can possibly transfer the attributes of a British gentleman to a 12-month-old child, appears naive and impractical," he wrote.

"From my perspective, employing a typically UK tutor from early childhood will will not necessarily create the goal they desire.

"I did not have that kind of mentor, and however I have been privileged enough to enjoy many of the experiences they aspire for their son."

He stated: "The fact is, self-identity cannot be dictated from the outside; it must be embraced, and it must come from within."

Buying Britishness

Certainly, Britishness is something Adam believes can be instructed – and marketed.

"I believe the fact that the international society regards us in this regard is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating