Date/Time: 13/3/15 16:15-17:15
Location: CIES Conference room
Topic/Skill: Essay writing, spelling and grammar.
As this my first session tutoring Hector Suni, I spent some time at the beginning getting to know him and doing a a needs assessment. Hector is from Peru but has recently lived in Puerto Rico for 6 years. He taught Applied math at the University there. Hector told me he needed help with essay writing/grammar and spelling.
We talked about the basic structure of an essay: introduction, paragraphs 1,2,3 and a conclusion. The introduction and conclusion were still unfinished, but he had clear arguments present in the main body paragraphs. I could easily pick out his thesis statement in the introduction. I reviewed that the conclusion should summarize the main points arguments made in the main body paragraphs and that the introduction should introduce the topic.
I read through the essay and noticed quite early on that Hector used the word 'the' where it wasn't needed. I pointed it out to him and later on, asked him to spot a sentence where that came up. He then made corrections. Hector also mixed up 'your' and 'their' pronouns from time to time.
I learned when students prepare a good plan, the rest of the essay writing process is much easier.
At the end of the session Hector told me he was going dancing later in the evening. I wished him an enjoyable evening.
Sounds like a productive TS. Maybe for future lessons try to make his writing more interesting and appealing to him (like your large soda ban question). Thanks for sharing, Salah!
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