I remember coming to college and not knowing simple basic writing terms, or grammar:
When I heard an excellent English Professor, whose name I rather not mention, tell a student in class that "it would be helpful if you wrote topic sentences in your paragraphs," I scratched my head wondering what's that. I also didn't know anything about quoting, paraphrasing, and citations. Although I was a middle aged-adult who had lived a pretty full life when embarking on my college journey, I was unprepared to write a college essay.
When everyone left I went over to the professor's desk to ask her what a topic sentence was. She was very generous with her time and explanation. I was a little shy, but I was too old to let embarrassment stop me from learning. Thus, I asked her if I needed to learn how to write a topic sentence. She answered "no, your paragraphs flow quite nicely, however, you do need grammatical help." When she kindly enumerated the things I did wrong, grammatically, I thought to myself, "Wow, it would've been easier if she'd just told me that I have a topic- sentence issue."
Anyway, that's when I decided to get help: I was an assistant manager at a cafe in the East Village and I reached out to two retired public school teachers who were regular patrons. I paid them to explain and help me understand the grammar rules when possible, and to listen to me read my writing. We worked together for a year. Yep, I needed that much time, to learn grammar and basic writing skills, which I obviously missed out in my earlier education. But I also needed time, because these bad habits (errors) were deeply ingrained. In fact, I sometimes still read my work aloud or into a tape recorder, then play it back to catch my errors, especially when the reading and writing is complex. (Well at least it's cheaper than paying retired teachers to help me point them out.)
I guess it makes sense that I became an English major, and now I'm in this MA Language and Literacy Program. I'm also concerned with young college students who struggle with reading and writing. I empathize with them, but I need more than empathy if I'm going to help them improve. That's why I'm here, to learn and teach the tools of writing.
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ReplyDeleteYou are one determined individual! Few are as motivated as you to learn the language. Unfortunately, too few take on the responsibility for their own education, and that is partly the product of the system: Children see teachers as being the stewards of their education; they see information as being spoon fed. One does not have to work for it or seek it out because it is received from one source, the authority that houses knowledge--the teacher. I believed that way because that's the reality a child is painted when they are sent to school to "learn." The job of teaching is in the hands of one institution, which absolves the parent and in effect the child of being active participants in the process. And so forms a lack of curiosity and ignorance of what knowledge is and where can it be gained. The eyes of a child in his formative years, at least in my experience, are often darkened to the many paths to reach information. This is a problematic situation which can be resolved with more involvement and information from the parent and a change in approach from the teachers.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I am determined to improve my education. I had to combat a lot of negative messages from my earlier years and this took work, time, and growing up. Today, I don't let anyone tell me what I can or cannot do. I believe in myself and I have a great appetite for knowledge, which keeps me going. And I try to be realistic. I have my bad days but I know they'll pass.
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