Blog # 17 --Research Project Update

For my Research Project, I am working with the question / theory of "How can Writing Center tuturs or tutors help assist Bilingual students with their writing?" The main purpose of this question focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of how different students react to the task of writing a paper or an essay for their particular class, when they are not comfortable with speaking English. Most of the College Campus, for instance, is made up of Spanish, French, African-American, Portugese, or Italian speakers. In this case, the assignment of creating writing for someone who does not speak English can be very difficult, which is where writing centers or tutors can be on great assistance.

The methods that will be using include "Interviewing" and "Ethnography". First, "Interviewing" is important, since I would interview some of my fellow classmates whose language happens to be Spanish, Portugese, etc. to determine how they personally feel about having to conduct papers in standard English. It would be interesting for me to find out their thoughts and opinions, considering speaking other languages could build a bridge between actually "talking the language" and having to "write about it". Also, I would give my peers advice in letting them know how the Campus offers tutoring and writing centers, where they can go to gain assitance, so they will be able to succeed in their classes. In addition, I would also use the "Ethnography" method, considering ..."it reflects on studying the affects of how people speak and use their languages in Society." Everyday, hundreds of us attend meetings, conduct essays, or simply go to events, and it is important to be enable to understand the outcomes of situations, as well as to realize what our peers are saying. By using the "Ethnography" approach, it can make you learn how we, in Society, use various languages to speak, which tends to be easier than having to actually write in another language.

Furthermore, my theory uses the reference of Bruce Shanti's book, "ESL Writers: A guide for writing center tutors". This story is an example of enhancing Ethnography, upon how writing center tutors are taught to learn various types of languages, so the instructors will be able to assist their students/peers in the writing. ESL Tutors should explain English writing thoroughly and clearly, so their learners will be able to understand how to do the assignment. Additionally, writing centers have the responsibility of assisting students in learning the concept of conducting papers and other tasks. With the concern of speaking another language, the center personnel should be trained to have the ability of being bilingual, so they can help those who come in for the support.

I believe it is important for everyone to be able to succeed in the world, so no matter what language you currently speak, you should be able to learn another one. Many people struggle in our world with the battle of speaking more than one language of non-English, however that can change. Everyone can feel comfortable at some point in time to become stronger in English. That is where the writing center tutors and tutors are most importantly needed.