UWC Tutor Wins Dean's Award at STU Undergraduate Research Symposium

by Aileen Valdes
Miami Gardens (4/11/2011)- UWC senior tutor, Aryanne Schommer, won the Dean's Award (first place) at the 2011 STU Undergraduate Research Symposium for her project on the history of the Southeastern Writing Center Association, entitled "SWCA @ 30: Past, Present, Future." She was one of only three students selected to deliver an oral presentation, choosing to talk from memory rather than read.

"The research project was almost a year in the making, and I really wanted to present well. When practicing before the symposium, it just didn't feel right to read. With a quick pep-talk to myself, I decided that I knew this project, and I didn't need my pre-written speech," Aryanne stated. "Now looking back on it, I am so thankful that I did because I was able to showcase how much this project has truly meant to me!"

UWC Tutor Presents Research at Prestigious Conference on College Composition and Communication Convention

by Aileen Valdes
Atlanta (4/9/2011)- UWC tutor Aileen Valdes and Dr. Kevin Dvorak presented at the 2011 Conference on College Composition and Communication in Atlanta, Georgia on April 8. Their presentation, entitled “Usando Espanol para Tutoria en Ingles: A Study of Writing Center Tutoring Sessions involving Bilingual Tutors and Students,” also included Dr. Shanti Bruce from Nova Southeastern University, and Dr. Paula Gillespie and Dariel Suarez from Florida International University.

The presentation focused on discussing how Spanish is used during writing center-based tutoring sessions between bilingual (English- and Spanish-speaking) tutors and students at two critical points during sessions: 1) to develop rapport through linguistic solidarity and 2) to work through occasional moments of confusion when words and/or ideas are clear in the primary language (Spanish) but not the secondary (English).