Final Shadowing

My consultant didn't have a session scheduled for the last week so I asked her some questions instead:

G: Is there anything you wish you knew before you started consulting? Or something you've learned this past year that you'd like to pass along?

H: Honestly, no. I feel as though my experience in 383 really prepared me.
One thing to pass along: don't be nervous! I was nervous during my first
couple consultations but after that it really becomes almost like second
nature.

G: What has been the most rewarding part of your job?

H: The most rewarding thing has been working with ESL students although these consultations are normally really tough becasue of (1) the language barrier and (2) the need to help with grammar and focus on the content as well.

The second most rewarding thing that I have gained from working in the WC has been its influence in my writing. Sometimes I find myself asking questions like: what am I trying to say here?, is this clear? or without looking, what is my thesis?. Working with other writers has really helped my own writing skills and my confidence in my writing.

G: Is there anything you learned that you found wasn't true? Or that didn't really help you?

H: No. As I said before, 383 really prepared me. However, I did discover that most UR students do not expect a fix-it shop consultation when they come to the WC which is really great.

G: What are your favourite/preferred kinds of consultations and why? (student w/solid draft, SCS student, brainstorming student...)

H: The best type of consultation is whenever a student sends a draft before the consultation. When students do this I have time to read the paper before the consultation and I can get an idea of what the consultation's focus may be and I can also write detailed notes. This makes the consultation go way smoother.

G: Do you think anyone could be a writing consultant or are there special qualities people should have?

H: I don't think everyone can be a writing consultant. I think that a consultant needs to be someone who is interested in writing. But this does not mean that they have be the best writer ever. I think someone needs to be confident in expressing their opinion but also reserved in so far so they do not give away answers, take over for the student or be aggressive.

G: If you could make any changes to the UR Writing Centre, what would they be? Would you make any?

H: No changes.