The Reading Writing Lab is a free service on campus offering all students advice on writing resumes or essays, along with developing their reading skills. Erin Baker, a senior from Florida majoring in TESOL and manager of the RWL, said, “One thing we want to emphasize is that this center is for native English speakers as much as it is for our international learners of English.”
Jackson Grubbe, a senior English major and RWL tutor from Oregon, said their purpose as tutors is to help students know how to correct their own mistakes without giving them the answer or directly telling them what to do. “We work with them to help them to improve their own paper,” he explained. “We help students to work through their own mistakes, recognizing patterns, and helping them to see the patterns they are making.”
Services at the RWL include access to a computer lab where students can print and do homework, and a small library containing audio, reference, how-to-books, and dictionaries. Other books are offered to international students learning English and are organized according to their reading levels.
Students are welcome for a 30 minute one-on-one session where tutors help students brainstorm, come up with an outline, assist with both sentence and essay structure, and grammar. Small group tutor sessions are also offered.
Baker said, “A common misconception is that we proofread and edit. However, we are more interested in helping students earn their own grades that they would like to have and empower them in their writing skills.”
She said students are their first priority. She added, “We don’t help students the easy way, which would be only to fix and correct, but we try to help them for the long term so they can keep everything that they gained here.”
Drois Vi, a freshman from Tonga majoring in English, is a regular tutee at the RWL who said she feels very happy with her experience there. She shared, “I feel that the tutors are stepping stones to where I want to be by the time I graduate.”
Vi said she admires the tutors’ work ethic and how they are willing to help students improve their English skills. She said, “I would say that I have been improving very much. For example, I know how to write my thesis now and organize my writing.” Vi offered encouragement for other students to come in and make appointments. The tutors are exceptional at establishing a fun, friendly environment, she added.
Kim Ence, an English 101 instructor from Idaho and assistant director of the RWL, said there are 16 tutors with a variety in different backgrounds and majors. She said tutors are certified and trained in assisting each student in their reading and writing skills.
Ence said, “They don’t come in all ready to be a tutor. They actually spend seven weeks learning how to be a tutor. They do all kinds of training and even attend a class once a week.” The number one thing Ence said her English 101 students shared about the RWL is the tutors have helped them build their confidence so they feel better about their writing.
She encouraged those who may feel insecure or afraid to attend the RWL to give it one try. She promised students they will feel comfortable if they do. “We love helping the students. My favorite part is to sit with a tutee and see their eyes light up. It is rewarding to see students leaving and realize, ‘Wow, I can do this.'"
The RWL not only aids with English papers or homework, but also life skills such as business letters, applications, résumés, and cover letters.
Yasu Li, a senior from Hong Kong majoring in international cultural studies, attends the RWL frequently for help writing résumés for internships. “The tutors are a good compass in showing you the right path and not giving you the exact words you should write, but helping you with critical thinking,” He added, “If you want to get a high GPA, then come to the RWL.”
Grubbe and Baker both said that students shouldn’t feel insecure when asking for help. They both expressed that they know how to help because they have struggled themselves.
Andrew Tonn, an undeclared freshman from Ohio, is a native English speaker who attends the RWL regularly. Tonn said, “The tutors really tailor their approach on who they are working with. For example, my tutor understands that I speak English and understand it for the most part, but my biggest issue is grammar. She works from where I am at, and the lesson seems to be customized according to my needs.”
Tonn added, “I feel I am better at rereading what I write and noticing when something doesn’t make sense. I am finding it easier to recognize mistakes I have written because I have been practicing those things while the tutor and I go through my papers together.”
The RWL also regularly offers events such as poetry contest for Valentine’s Day, an event were all students can keep track of the number of pages they read or holiday events, and more; each usually resulting in participants receiving prizes.
The tutors also want to give students the opportunity to showcase their work. They are asking students to submit pieces of writing for those who have been or are in the EIL program. Students can write an experience they have had, a story, a poem, or something from their culture that will be showcased and displayed outside of the RWL and posted on social media throughout the semester.
The RWL mission statement says, “We foster a friendly collaborative environment where students can develop skills and confidence in English reading and writing.”
Writer: Brooklyn Redd