Reading Response 1

David Crowther

Megan Wong

English 12B T 300-405

February 11, 2016

Reading Response #1: Working with ESL Writers

            It is a challenge to be a tutor, having to look over paper after paper from different classes, some requiring more work than others.  The most challenging part of being a tutor, from my experience, is when I try to help ESL (English Second Language) students.  It is not because they are unwilling to learn, or even that they don’t fully understand the material that was assigned to them.  The difficulty comes from me, specifically if I am giving them the help they need in the proper manner, not just feeding them the answers.  I have met many ESL students that know exactly what it is they want to write, but they just like to be sure they’re writing in a way that meets their professor’s standards. 

            This particular article, Working with ESL Writers gives some helpful tips that I feel gives me a new perspective on tutoring those that have English as their second language.  One of the parts that stuck with me right away was how grammar isn’t always the main concern they have with their paper; sometimes they have come in to have the structure or main points examined to be sure they followed the guidelines properly.  Normally with papers brought in by students, I look right for any grammar errors, going back to other potential errors from the beginning.  I need to improve on that by making sure to verify what it is they wanted help with in the first place.  A simple solution to this issue, but definitely important to practice in the near future. 

            Despite the important reminder it created for me, the overall theme of the paper seemed to be based on a main point: have patience and be willing to give the extra help wherever it may be needed.  I’ve worked with many ESL students since I started working in the Writing Center last semester, and every time I do feel like I need to take more time to ensure they can see the errors they made in the assignment.  That way they can begin to spot the same errors by themselves in the future and make corrections.  In that way, they have learned what to look for without having to feel the need to rely on writing tutors all of the time.  It’s a job I’m more than willing to do until they no longer need me; that’s how I know I did my job right. 

            This particular article is helpful in the suggestions it gives, even though I didn’t list them all in this response.  For new writing tutors in particular, this is a good way to gain knowledge and preparation for what may be asked of them as tutors.  ESL students are just as important as any other that come into the Writing Center, and should be given the best that we can give them in order for them to learn to succeed on their own knowledge.  We are students just like them, so it’s not unthinkable that we can expand on our own methods in order to ensure they get our best.