Motivation is key to a good tutoring session. I learned this from watching a tutor for our observation analysis closely. I think the problem with most of the text we've been reading in regards to a tutoring session is missing a huge part of the whole interaction; motivation. When I watched a tutor sit and go over a paper I saw many parts of the lessons we've been taught executed. However, the session wasn't as interpersonal as I think a session needs to be to really understand a persons point of view as well as emotions surrounding a writing assignment.
Encouragment can only go so far. But what a tutor really needs to know how to utilize is their motivation to help the paper. I'm not saying the tutor I watched last week wasn't motivated or was doing something I wouldn't have done. The session was good in so far as both parties were willing to do what they came to the room to do. The tutor even seemed to have a good time but the good time was seperate from the paper in the sense that the interaction between the two was what made it a good time, not the handling of the paper. Perhaps creating a good repetoire, or at least making the client laugh, is a good technique to help relax them with whatever writing assignment they are working on but it doesn't necessarily get to the issue.
Motivation is something hard to control. But, our job as tutors is not supposed to be a breeze. We have to learn how to control our motivation to help so that we can find the real problems our clients are faced with. If I am going to help someone with a paper, I need to attempt to understand all of the facets of the writers life revolving around the paper in order to get a foothold on where to start helping. Not every problem revolves around organization or grammar. Sometimes the hardest part of a writing assignment has to do writers block. If the client has nothing to say or doesn't even know where to begin, then the task of the tutor becomes harder but in a good way. Writing problems can be very complex, but the more complex the problem the more motivation both the tutor and the client have for the assignment.
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This is an interesting reflection, Roger. "If I am going to help someone with a paper, I need to attempt to understand all of the facets of the writers life revolving around the paper in order to get a foothold on where to start helping." I think this comment points to your real understanding of why the interpersonal dynamics of tutoring, beyond just putting the client at ease and having a good time, are so important: Unlike teachers, who are always rushing to get to the next student and the next paper, peer tutors can take the time to get to know a client, to understand, as you say, the many facets that go into making that client the writer she or he is.
ReplyDeleteI think this is also a strong argument for the importance of having regular weekly clients, instead of just drop-ins. I'll keep pushing for that, and posts like these help me to do so.
Motivation is something I sometimes find myself lacking. Sometimes I don't have the motivation to complete a particular homework assignment, but I always end up finishing it on time because I have to. I think that a lot of students have the same motivation issue as I do and I think it takes some extra encouragment to get them to work on their paper and actually get them enthused about an assignment. Working collaboratively definitely helps me get motivated. I usually get motivated when I can relate a paper to an experience I've had or something I've seen. I agree with you on the idea that you need to make the student feel relaxed and calm. You don't want the student to feel intimated or uncomfortable. We've also talked about getting the student to tell you a little bit of background information about some of their experiences and hopefully that will trigger motivation. It's not easy to get someone motivated, and it's not always easy to stay motivated yourself. When you find a technique that works, stick with it and try to use it in the future.
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