Exam Week, Reflecting on the Apprenticeship Experience

The most valuable aspect of this entire semester in English 383 has been my apprenticeship in the writing center. The hands on experience in actual sessions helped me gain confidence in my own ability to act as a tutor in the center and be a representative of the center. While there was a lot of idle time spent in the center, I did learn a lot from each of my sessions.

In total, I met with a student only five times this semester. However, every session was unique as each student had different needs, but I think I learned the most in my last session, as I was challenged with my first one on one session. As I said in my post, this student was annoyed with her professor, and it was difficult to convince her change needed to be made. To her, the paper was clear as day, and the connections were sensible. Truthfully, they were forced connections that did not really apply to the texts she was discussing in the paper. Her reluctance to change and the in depth conversation of the literature was a test of endurance for me. The whole time, I had an idea that I thought would have worked very well for the paper, but it did not really matter. The paper was hers. It was not my job to tell her what to write.

The literature could be applied in many ways. Bruffee’s article is the whole basis for the writing center, and I had to keep in mind that we were learning collaboratively in the center, it was not lecture and clear cut instruction. The ideas of many of our readings about patterns of error being the most important for correction were evident in almost every session I had. Patterns of error are the best points to focus on when discussing grammar with students. I generally tried to use the minimalist tutoring method described by Brooks in his article “Minimalist Tutoring”, attempting to get my students to realize their own mistakes and trying to teach to the “other self” as Murray would like. While I did have an ESL student once this semester and will have more if I continue to work in the center, the ESL readings did not apply as much. Perhaps because of my experience in other education classes, this reading was less valuable to me because I already felt prepared to work with students from other cultures. Additionally, I lived with a student from Italy last semester and that got me comfortable working with diverse students as well. Similarly, the articles on written commentary were helpful, but I did not get a chance to use them in the writing center. In the sessions I observed and directed, there was not a single chance for me to use written commentary effectively. Perhaps working as a Fellow would provide more opportunities for this because of the advanced notice both the students and tutor receive of the conference dates.

Overall, I do not think 383 would be complete without the apprenticeship. Despite the times when I had nothing to do, the little experience I had was really valuable. To be thrown into the center without having the experience in the center with a mentor would be insanity. I would be completely lost without this apprenticeship, but now I am confident in my ability not only to help a student with a paper, but help the student become a better writer.