“I want to look at a poem I’ve been working on.” My writer uttered these words at the beginning of a tutorial last week, and the phrase filled me with fear and anxiety immediately. I am an English student, to be sure, and maybe that’s why she chose to make an appointment with me – but I study English literature! I don’t write short stories or poems, I don’t workshop, and the whole business of creative writing remains mysterious and somewhat awe-inspiring to me. I’ve heard of “those that don’t write, teach,” but when you’ve been writing mostly blog posts and the odd formalist analysis of a 19th century novel, it’s hard to know what to say. I wondered what I could possibly offer this student, but to my surprise, I found plenty to say (as did she). The appointment was fun, informative, and refreshingly relaxed. As a writer (and not a poet) I may not have had much to offer, but as an engaged reader, I was able to offer insights to this struggling writer. (more…)
Relishing the Repeating Appointment February 21, 2012
As a first-time writing tutor last term, I had new experiences and new lessons to learn almost every week. When Winter Quarter came around, I thought I was well-versed in most types of appointments but thankfully this term has afforded something completely new – a repeating appointment. While I enjoy all of my appointments and like helping all sorts of writers, the repeating appointment is a special opportunity to get to know someone (and their writing) more in-depth. (more…)
Tips For a Successful ELL Tutorial January 31, 2012
I’ve never had a conversation partner appointment, but I’d like to think that I’d know what to do with one. The UCWbL abounds with strategies for a successful conversation partner appointment, and everyone has ideas of what to say, how to say it, and what to encourage. We hear about it in WRD class, orientation settings, tip-sheets, and from other tutors. What these tips didn’t prepare me for was a somewhat difficult (and confusing) writing tutorial with an English language learner – and for a paper outside my discipline, no less. What do you do when communication breaks down in a face-to-face setting with an ELL student, though? Your focus is different here – their writing, not their speaking – and yet the tutorial’s dependent on clear and informative conversation. With that in mind, perhaps there is overlap between the conversation partner appointment and the ELL student face-to-face tutorial, and perhaps strategies designed for the former can be applied to the latter. (more…)
Welcome Back! January 11, 2012
It’s a new term and we’re excited for Winter 2012 here at the UCWbL, so remember – it’s never too early in the year to get some help with your writing!
UCWbLing 