I have begun to investigate further how writing tutors take on different roles in various consulting situations. What I have noticed in most of the articles I have read is the insistence that tutors have to be able to adapt to any situation they are put in. Every consulting session is like walking in the dark (of course unless they have worked with them before). In "The Writing Center and Tutoring in WAC Programs", an article by Muriel Harris, the benefits of having well-trained and adaptable tutors in writing centers is explored. She describes the most ideal setting in which tutors function as a "non-evaluative, supportive environment, offering writers the opportunity to write, think, and talk with someone who through this collaborative talk and questioning helps the writer use language to develop ideas, to test possibilities, to re-see and rethink in the light of feedback from the tutor," (110). A word that you don't often see describing the type of thinking exhibited in a session that she uses is heuristic. I think that is the perfect word to describe an ideal session because it truly is about the writer doing the thinking on their own and us not doing it for them.
Something that Harris delves into quite a bit is this idea of a "supportive" environment. This is essential to yielding heuristic thinking and learning. It allows writers to feel comfortable to ask honest questions about their writing that they may or may not feel comfortable asking their own teacher. It is no coincidence that in a tutoring session you will hear a plethora of colloquial language. Students who come into the writing center should feel comfortable expressing their concerns with their writing no matter the stage that they are at.
To me, this all seems like second nature. I have always prided myself on being a thoughtful and insightful listener. However, not everyone can say the same (I'm not trying to toot my own horn here, but it's true). Classes such as the one we are in right now give us the best mechanical training a tutor can have but it is a writing pedagogy class, not therapy pedagogy. Granted, I am not implying that writing tutors should be someone that provides a shoulder to cry on, but they have to have the ability to comfort a writer who is in serious need of some uplifting words of wisdom. Therefore, how do we teach this to potential tutors?
Click HERE for the link to the article.
It is hard to teach someone how to be a good listener. To be patient, understanding, and not only absorb what they are hearing but also be able to process it and provide helpful feedback to the writer. It does not good for words to go through one ear and out the other. Fact is when most writers meet with consultants they are trying to have an insightful, understanding individual who can provide guidance. I can honestly say that I have no solid answer on how to teach this to potential tutors, the best way to learn though is through experience in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteThis article sounds really interesting. I think that it al tutors must be supportive. At the same time though all students will have different needs. Some will need encouragement, others will need inspiration. I think the best way to be a good consultant is to take interesting in the student and try to develop a relationship with them.
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