From What the Writing Tutor
Needs to Know by Margot Iris Soven (108-109)
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Give equal amounts of sympathy and
encouragement. ESL students deal with
more than just writing.
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Rephrase comments that confuse students. If the student doesn’t get what you are
trying to say, try rephrasing your comments instead of repeating yourself.
v
Notice students’ expressions and body language.
As with any tutee, body language helps you see if the students are confused.
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Brush up on your grammar. Although you don’t need to be an expert, many
ESL students want deeper explanations of how and why grammar works.
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Watch for plagiarism. This doesn’t necessarily happen on purpose. In some cultures borrowing from other sources
is accepted.
v
Be patient.
You will probably need to devote more time to an ESL student because you
will need to explain things more thoroughly.
