Re: hiring non-English major consultants -Reply

["B. Silk" <bsilk@titan.iwu.edu>]

On Thu, 18 Jan 1996, Jon Olson wrote:

[Snip.  In discussing his tutors who were grad students in Adult Ed/ESL, 
Jon says.....]
 They seemed to
> have a genuine interest in other people, in learning about how other
> people use language.  They tended not to think they knew everything
> there was to know about language use.  They knew how to listen.
> 
> Tutors from the sciences often know how to sit still and observe.
> 

IWU is an undergraduate university, so we don't have the option of hiring
grad students--especially those with an interest in comp studies or
language study.  Last year I had some remarkable senior English majors who
were splendid tutors, and I was sad to lose them.  However, for this
year's staff I decided to cultivate a Psych connection (with a mix of
other majors, including English).  I wanted good listeners who could also
contribute to our training discussions of APA and technical writing.  What
I didn't want were any tutors who think they know it all and who are more
in love with hearing their own language use than in listening to someone
else's.  I've had one history major like this--and several English majors. 
So far I'm satisfied with most of our staff choices this year.  (The one
tutor I'm dissatisfied with is an English major.) One other thing I like
about the Psych majors is that they respond well to the idea of basing
practice on theory. 

  --Bobbie


   Bobbie Silk
   Illinois Wesleyan University
   P.O. Box 2900                  
   Bloomington, IL  61702-2900     
   (PH:  309/556-3085)
   email:  bsilk@titan.iwu.edu