Re: bilingual consultations

[John M Duffy <John.M.Duffy.27@nd.edu>]

Hi,

I think native language instruction for ESL writers can be useful and
productive, depending on students' proficiency in English. ESL writers who
are struggling with the interpretation of an assignment,the ideas they are
trying to express, the arrangement of a paper and so forth can benefit from
talking through these issues with a trained tutor. In this sense, ESL
writers are no different from any other writers. The problem for some
writers whose first language is not English is that they can't have these
kinds of productive discussions because a) the tutor doesn't speak the
writer's language, or b) the writer isn't entirely fluent in English, both
of which bog down crucial discussions of meaning. So when tutor and writer
can meaningfully discuss rhetorical concerns, in whatever language, that's
great.

I suppose it depends on how one sees the purpose of the tutorial. If the
purpose is to improve students' spoken English skills, then speaking
English is a good idea. But if the purpose is to help the writer learn
about arguments, research skills, organization etc., then this work can be
done just as usefully-even more so-in the student's first language. Even
principles of editing and grammar in a second language can sometimes be
explained more productively in the first language.

My two cents.

John Duffy
Director, Writing Center
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, IN

l>Greetings-
>I have a question for you folks.  What has been your experience with tutors
>who speak the native language of the ESL student they are assisting?  Is it
>beneficial or harmful for them to carry on a bilingual writing consulation?
>I am currently eavesdropping (to the best of my linguistic ability) on an
>appointment that is being conducted half in Farsi and half in English, and I
>wonder whether the student is able to derive as much as she can from the
>consultation if she is not being pushed to use English.
>-Bridget
>
>***********************************************************
>Bridget Robin Pool
>Writing Center Coordinator
>Northern Virginia Community College/Loudoun Campus
>703.450.2511