I suppose the scariest part about being a writing consultant is having influence over another’s writings. While that could be empowering in an, “I have the opportunity to help someone,” kind-of-a-way, I’m not sure I feel competent enough yet to be seen as an authority on composition. In simple terms, I’m afraid to make suggestions that will weaken a paper or result in a disappointing response from the professor.
Studying to be an English teacher (I’m not actually going to be a writing consultant), I experience similar anxieties when contemplating myself in the classroom. What if I teach them something incorrectly? Or what if I am inconsistent or unfair in my judgements and assessments of my student’s work?
In the Education Department, when we express fears such as these, we are comforted by professors with the following affirmations: First of all, teaching anything (biology, algebra, or writing) is a learning process. You won’t get it right the first time, but if you reflect on your methods and observe what works well and what doesn’t, you will enhance your teaching abilities. Secondly and possibly what they stress the most, is that you must prepare, prepare, prepare. Studying the content, pedagogical theories, and arriving to class with a clear plan in your head will better your chances of a successful teaching period. Lastly, have confidence in yourself. Making it through the certification program means that you have the ability to be a teacher. You are capable. Believe this and your students will be more likely to believe that you are helping them learn.
In my mind, writing consulting is about instructing students on how to improve their skills as a writer, and so I feel that the advice of my education professors is applicable. My fears about being a writing consultant stem from my fear of incompetence; how can I help someone with their writing when I struggle with academic writing myself? But overcoming that fear, for me, is realizing that by the time I am (or would be) consulting another student, I will have the experiences of this class and others to adequately prepare me. Going into this job (if I really was), I would tell myself that I won’t be immediately amazing at it, but that I will continually learn how to get better. They wouldn’t give us the job if they thought we couldn’t do it, right?
The stakes may be higher for you, but even so, you will fail sometimes. It happens to all of us. I had a great semester in the Fall, yet in Spring 2011 I was "off my game" in 383. Then I made some syllabus revisions, to a course I've taught many times, and continued.
ReplyDeleteThat can be said of all activities, and the article coming up soon, "Apprenticed to Failure," will show you why it's good NOT to be superheroes all the time. Attentive failure is a great teacher.