"Parents located in North London seeks an remarkable and skilled tutor to guide their youngest child on his initial journey to turning into an British gentleman."
Upon seeing this listing, you might easily skip the term "first-steps" as just an expression.
But, it might be the most important part of this unusual job advert, as it aims to recruit a mentor for a one-year-old.
Many of responses have already been received since the unidentified family posted their search for the £180k-a-year tutor, who needs to be "a uniquely qualified person".
During the past few weeks, the listing has received notice in the news, with numerous questioning why?
Progressive Approach
The CEO, chief executive of a global tutoring firm, which is supporting the family in their search, explained that despite initial skepticism, he found the concept "far sighted", and "progressive".
When he spoke with the family, he said they appreciated the unconventional character of their request, and how immature their son is.
However, they explained that they "didn't want to wait any longer" to hire a tutor, as they had held off until their elder sibling was five, and by that point "cultural influence had by then become established".
What exactly does the family refer to by "cultural leaning"?
It's "comprehensive", he answered. "How you eat, how you speak".
He said the older sibling had adopted "extremely delicate, non-verbal cues" from the family, and had assumed their cultural habits. The family told the consultant they did not want this pattern to recur with their infant.
The strategy: To bring in a English tutor, who must speak with RP, to guide the baby from the very start.
Natural Absorption
"Much of the learning at the beginning here is kind of osmotic," stated Adam.
It's through this osmosis that the family are aiming the child will acquire the English characteristics they wish to instil.
He explained the tutor must be someone who studied at "the appropriate educational institutions – similar types of schools as the family hope to send their son to".
"The tutor must be the suitable individual, they'll be carrying out things they aren't even aware they're doing, effortlessly," he added.
Expense Not a Factor
The family informed the expert the selected educator should ideally also have familiarity of or enthusiasm in equestrian activities, alpine skiing, creative fields and instrumental training so as to inspire the child in a diverse set of passions.
Additionally though, he explained the family wanted the tutor to enrol the child on a variety of courses so the child would be "pony-riding and picking up an musical instrument by the time they are approximately three years old".
In the family's perspective, helping their son develop into a "English gentleman" will lead to success and create opportunities.
"Taking into account the advantages and disadvantages of that, because it's certainly a class statement," he adds.
Yet, notwithstanding all this instruction in "UK identity", might the child adopt what is termed cultural bias from the international family he resides with in any case?
"Yes", said the CEO. "The parents realize this might not succeed, but they've just taken the perspective of, 'let's give it a go and we should start as quickly as we can', because the price of it is irrelevant," he said.
Overly Optimistic
Several in the tutoring industry who have similar doubts.
Another CEO, CEO and founder of an educational organization, who provides personal educators, commented that "the development of adopting dual cultures, or indeed, discovering oneself, is something that must be experienced personally, not manufactured."
Peter noted that he had moved from Asia to the Britain at the period of seven, and had been raised understanding and embodying both cultures. He continued to be educated at a prestigious UK institution.
"The concept that a single person can act as a representation of Britishness, an individual who can in some way transplant the attributes of a English gentleman upon a one-year-old child, appears optimistic and impractical," he wrote.
"In my experience, having a distinctly English tutor from babyhood will not automatically achieve the result they hope for.
"I never had such a figure, and nevertheless I have been lucky enough to live numerous of the experiences they aspire for their son."
He stated: "The truth is, cultural identity can not be dictated from the external environment; it must be chosen, and it must originate internally."
Acquiring Englishness
Of course, UK identity is something Adam believes can be taught – and marketed.
"I think the reality that the international society regards us in this light is something that we should be cherishing|valuing|appreciating
