My second day in the center went very smoothly. I wasn't there for that long but Melissa did inform me that there would be an in-class presentation later on that I could sit in on if I felt up to it. I agreed, and returned to the center after a short lunch.
The presentation was interesting. I hadn't thought to entertain even half of the questions that the students asked. It was an English 101 class, and I can relate to what they must have been feeling their second semester in a college english class. What they neglect to tell you in high school is that there is a drastic difference in the set up, workload and material covered in college english classes versus high school.
In high school, we always focused on the reading side of english and the writing came later. It wasn't until my junior and senior years that about half of the focus was on the actual act of writing. And if you weren't in an AP level class or some other substitute for the general english course, you didn't develop much if at all as a writer.
The students today in the presentation really opened up my eyes to how different people progress and approach themselves as writers. As I said today, I have always been put in that "gifted" group when it came to anything language and comprehension related. I have a hard time sympathizing with other writers about their difficulties because I've never really been in a lot of the same positions as them. I have always had the fortunate luck of writing always coming easily and I usually have a constant string of dialogue going on in my head that I edit and revise and try to retain if I can't scrawl it down right away. I'm always thinking of writing and composing and how to say this and that. And why this, how that, what that, blah blah blah.
Its tiring being in my brain to say the least. But today gave me something new to contemplate, its given me the idea of difficulties writing and structuring and brainstorming that I hadn't ever really given thought. I am starting to lose nervousness about being in the center consulting, and starting to get excited to start seeing what I encounter.
I'm glad I took the time today to go and sit in and even mildly participate in on the presentation, I know that the set up we had today wasn't the norm as far as presentations go, but I liked what I saw and would love to do them later on next semester. I think it would be super fun to try and get people used to the idea that writing is something they can't avoid, will have to learn to do and do well and possibly even create a passion for.
STOKED!
My "official" journal entry should be the next entry.
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I'm glad you got to see a classroom presentation, Eden. I think it's really beneficial to get a feel for what writers/students think and want to know about the Center.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I really felt challenged in writing (English 275, in case anyone's curious), and that experience has really helped inform the way I respond to students. While stuff like first-year writing classes cover has usually come easily to me, I can draw on my disconnect to sympathize with the writers.
Eden--I'm glad you found this class presentation to be an eye-opening experience. I had never done this kind before, but was certainly interested in the opportunity. I have a slew of more standard presentations coming up, and I'll be sending out a list of times--if any are during the time you're in the Center (or if you're just available anyway), and you'd be interested in coming, let me know.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
mk