Meet Erin Chambers, Writing Center Tutor

Thu, 04 Oct 2018 11:05:10 -0400

Celebrate National Tutor Appreciation Week and get to know Erin Chambers, Writing Center Tutor

Hey, Erin, tell us a little about yourself.

My name is Erin Chambers. I'm from Frederick County, Maryland, and I'm a senior majoring in Psychology. I'm not sure yet whether I want to go into research or practice, but I'd like to work with adolescents.

Tell us about how you are involved on campus.

My main campus involvement is tutoring in the Writing Center. I love my job!

How and why did you get involved in being a tutor?

I've always loved writing, and I enjoyed playing editor for some of my friends in high school. As a freshman at UMBC, my English 100 professor recommended me as a Writing Center tutor. I thought that it sounded interesting, so I applied and entered the training course.

What is your favorite thing about being a tutor?

I love being able to work with other students as a peer and help them understand, not just what they can do to make their writing better, but what they've already done well. My favorite sessions are ones where the student leaves with more confidence in themselves and their abilities. So many people have learned to hate writing because they "don't know how" or they think that they're not skilled enough, when in reality they are more than capable.

Why should students utilize the tutoring?

Writing Center tutoring can be beneficial for anyone, because everyone can use someone to talk with or to bounce ideas off of in their writing process. Whether you're still brainstorming or just working on finishing touches, another trained eye can always be a big help. I've had many students tell me that just being able to talk about their writing out loud helped them to understand their own thoughts and ideas better.

What advice would you give students about how to prepare for a tutoring session?

The most helpful thing that students can do to prepare for a tutoring session is to come prepared to be engaged and participate. It also helps to have some idea of what you'd like to work on or to have a few questions ready to ask. However, the most important thing is just to be present and ready to learn!

When and where can someone work with you through the Learning Resources Center?

In the Fall semester, I tutor Tues, 3-4; Wed, 12-2; Fri, 10:30-12:30. Come stop by the first floor of the Library at the Writing Center to register for an appointment