Silence Session!

This week I observed a tutoring session that practically left me speechless. I quested to see the tutoring session with that specific tutor because in my opinion he is great and knows how to advise a student who is seeking help.
The student was there for a homework for Critical Thinking, a course which I had some knowledge of. Even though I was only there to observe the session became so awkward that  I found myself praying for time to end. 
The student practically had no interest in her homework and managed to make no effort. I think that she was there to get the answers for the assignment instead of developing ideas of her own. The tutor on the other hand, was desperately trying to get to the student to talk. He insisted on asking many questions in which the questions were obvious yet the student refused to reply. Eventually the tutor would end up answering the questions he asked. He also tried to make a connection (relation) to her assignment in order to make her communicate with him, it was worthless.
This session intimidates me personally because I want to help someone become a better writer and I'd like for that person to appreciate my time and work with me.
The student left the room,I hope, with a better understanding of what she was required to do, but I also think she left with nothing new to work with.  

Second Visit With a Twist

This past week I was tutored for the first time. Originally I had planned in only discussing the issues I thought I had in my paper but I had the opportunity to meet someone with better writing skills and greater knowledge of my major.

As we were working on my writing, he advised me in the things I should focus on such as, thesis, structure and evidence. Once we read the paper, he went over a few things my classmates had point out while peer editing each others work. He gave me his honest opinion about the paper and told me that based on what he had read, I was on the right path. He instructed me to give more details to support my thesis and my point of view. After that, we worked on my grammar and my use of commas. This is something I was particularly looking for when I decided to seek help at the writing center. I wanted to test the theory of LOC's and HOC's and he definitely proved it works. I think most students (writers), focus on the grammar rather than the writing and the thesis.  

As I was being tutored I was also paying close attention to the way one-on-one tutoring works. He was very attentive and helpful, not only towards my writing but towards my personal goals as well. He briefly explained to me the benefits of this course and how it helped him get to where he was. He also explained the way education major works in a senior colleges and what I should start focusing on since now, so I can have a more enjoyable experience then. 

First Session

I visit the writing center for the first time this past Wednesday to see how tutoring sessions take place. As I approach the room in my mind I had a list of things that I was looking for such as, the distance between the tutor and the student, the posture they each had, and body language of tutor towards student, how would the tutor assist the student, and what would the tutor focus on in regards of the paper.
First thing I noticed was the way the tutor pulled his chair closed to the student, yet allowing her to have personal space. Second, I paid closed attention in the way the tutoring session started; they exchanged names and the student began by introducing the assignment and explaining her perspective on what she had written. I also was curious and alert of what the tutor what target first. He read over the students work very carefully and examined the way the professor had commented on it.
As the session took place I noticed the student was mostly concerned about her grammar, due to the fact that she's still in the process of learning and perfecting the English language. The one thing I noticed was the way the tutor complemented her writing and the effort that she truly dedicated to the paper. In addition to that, I noticed the tutor mainly focused on the structure of the essay rather than it's grammar or the amount of the word that the student was required to have written. He then advised her to elaborate on the sentences that she already had, rather than changing her ideas.

On the other hand, he also went over the corrections and suggestions made by the professor in order for the student to recreate her argument and make a more solid response to the question.

I also noted the way the tutor provided more resources to the student, such as articles they have in the writing center.