Re: How much is too much?

[Karl Fornes <karlf@usca.usca.sc.edu>]

Hi Libby--

I have consultants conduct self-evaluations for which they need to tape
record sessions.

After initial resistance, most consultants find the process useful. Right
after the "I hate my own voice" comments, the most common response is
usually "do I really do that?!" Listening to the taped session separate
from the paper and without the nonverbal cues seems to emphasize the verbal
dynamics of the session. I've thought of videotaping conferences and
playing them back without sound, in fast motion, etc., but the cam corder
seems too intrusive.

karl

>WCentaurs:
>
>At our bi-weekly staff meeting today, several of my tutors expressed
>concern that they were doing too much of the talking in their sessions:
>offering mini-lectures, suggesting too many sentences, prompting with too
>many ideas, even encouraging with too much verbalization.  In other words,
>they feel they may just be talking too much.  They have asked me to pose
>the question to you all, to gather some of your collective wisdom and
>practice.  So:
>
>Do you have (or teach) strategies for self-monitoring the amount of
>tutor-talk?
>
>Do you have (or teach) guidelines for suggesting how much is enough, or too
>much (with the usual caveats about every session being different, and
>context determining how much is appropriate, etc.)?
>
>Can you suggest articles or chapters (in WLN, WCJ, or other forums) or
>threads from way back on this list that my staff and I might consult?
>
>Frankly, I'm thrilled that my staff raised this issue: it shows they are
>sensitive to the demands of student-centered, student-driven -- but
>tutor-guided -- tutorials.  I suspect, too, that in their awareness that
>there might be a problem, they may not be talking as much as they think
>they are.  Also, a certain amount of talking is necessary and vital to the
>interaction.  How much, then, is too much?  And how can tutors who might be
>inclined to talk through the silent moments resist that urge and stay quiet
>a bit longer?
>
>We welcome any ideas, suggestions, dreams, and referrals.
>
>Thanks to you all in advance,
>
>Libby
>
>
>
>````````````````````````````````
>Libby Miles
>Director of the Writing Center
>University of Rhode Island
>
>lmiles@uriacc.uri.edu


Karl Fornes, Director
USC Aiken Writing Room
University of South Carolina Aiken
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karlf@aiken.sc.edu

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