"A household based in North London seeks an remarkable and qualified instructor to assist their most junior child on his first steps to becoming an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this post, you might easily skip the wording "beginning" as just figurative language.
Yet, it may be the most significant aspect of this unique job advert, as it attempts to recruit a mentor for a infant.
Hundreds of responses have already been sent in since the anonymous family published their call for the £180k-a-year tutor, who must be "a uniquely qualified person".
In recent few weeks, the listing has gained interest throughout the news, with many questioning why?
A tutoring expert, CEO and founder of a global tutoring firm, which is helping the family in their quest, explained that despite first skepticism, he considered the plan "far sighted", and "advanced".
When he met the family, he noted they appreciated the atypical nature of their demand, and how young their son is.
But, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had waited until their older child was five, and by that point "cultural influence had already set in".
But what did the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "everything", the expert responded. "The way you eat, the manner you speak".
He said the elder child had absorbed "really subtle, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had taken on their cultural norms. The family told Adam they wished to avoid the same situation to happen again with their new baby.
The intention: To bring in a British tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby right from the beginning.
"A great deal of the development at the beginning here is rather absorbed naturally," said the CEO.
It's through this subtle influence that the family are expecting the child will pick up the UK customs they wish to cultivate.
He noted the tutor must be an individual who went to "prestigious academies – similar types of schools as the family aspire to send their son to".
"The instructor simply needs to be the appropriate candidate, they'll be carrying out things they may not realize they're doing, simply by nature," he added.
The family informed him the successful candidate should ideally also have knowledge of or interest in horse riding, alpine skiing, creative fields and music so as to shape the child in a wide range of interests.
Furthermore though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to register the child on a variety of lessons so the child would be "equestrian training and starting an tool by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's minds, assisting their son become a "English gentleman" will bring about accomplishment and create opportunities.
"For all the pros and cons of that, because it's definitely a social class indicator," he notes.
Yet, despite all this instruction in "English culture", could the child absorb what is termed cultural influence from the globally influenced family he resides with regardless?
"Yes", said he. "The parents understand this might not succeed, but they've merely embraced the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and let's go as quickly as we can', because the price of it is not a concern," he said.
There are some in the education sector who have similar doubts.
An education leader, chief executive of Blue Education, who also offer individual instructors, commented that "the process of adopting dual cultures, or actually, forming one's identity, is something that must be grown into, not designed."
He explained that he had relocated from China to the United Kingdom at the time of seven, and had been brought up knowing and practicing both cultures. He went on to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The idea that an individual can act as a representation of Britishness, an individual who can possibly impart the characteristics of a British gentleman onto a infant child, appears optimistic and unrealistic," he wrote.
"From my perspective, having a typically British tutor from infancy will not instantly achieve the outcome they desire.
"I did not have such a figure, and yet I have been lucky enough to enjoy many of the experiences they desire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity cannot be dictated from the outside influences; it must be selected, and it must originate internally."
Of course, UK identity is something the CEO believes can be taught – and sold.
"I believe the reality that the international society holds us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
Maya Chen is a freelance writer and urban enthusiast with a passion for documenting city life and cultural shifts.
