Thursday, May 6, 2010

Some Thoughts on My First Two Tutoring Sessions

I have to admit the first two tutoring sessions I've had have been fairly successful in so much that I felt comfortable in my role as a peer tutor and I honestly believe that my tutee benefited from the session. I wasn't really nervous or aprehensive going into the sessions. I've tutored in the past, although never in a school sponsored tutoring center. So while there were definitely lots of thoughts and concerns running through my mind, none were so intimidating that they would have any effect on my tutoring. My tutee seems open to the process and genuinely wants to improve as a writer and of course pass the ACT exam. This put me at ease, since I was a bit worried I would get someone who didn't have any real interest in being there, because if the student is disinterested, it makes my job that much harder. I'm all for a challenge, but let's face facts. You can't help someone until they decide they want to help themselves. Tutoring is a two way street. I can show up all excited to work but it could all be for not if the tutee has no real desire to learn anything.
Anyway, I feel that the last two remaining sessions will continue with the trend of these first two sessions. My tutee has emailed me some sample essays she's completed on her own at home, so I'm glad to see that she is taking this as seriously as I am. I've critiqued her work, but I was a bit worried that I may be too hard on her so I mailed my comments to the professor first to see what she thinks. Once I get a response I'll forward it on to my tutee and hopefully she'll take it as the constructive criticism I intended it to be. For now, I'm looking forward to the next session.