Tutoring Philosophy

Writing and Speaking Studio peer consultants are always learning and they develop and revise their tutoring philosophies throughout their time on staff. Below are excerpts from our peer consultants' philosophy statements.

Jessie, Art History and Museum Professions

Not everyone experiences the same rapid pace of emotional diatribe as me, but everyone wants something out of their writing. A good grade, a new opportunity, or a deeper level of expression create a diverse array of emotions and sessions. In an age of generative AI I feel that my role necessitates emotional and interpersonal responses to an array of different types of writing, which supports my goal, helping visitors to the studio develop a unique personal voice.  Communicating and expressing the innate value of every person that visits the studio and works with me is inherent to this process-especially through an intensely informal process of introduction. I try to not take myself too seriously here, and spend so much of my sessions promoting my enthusiastic unknowingness.

Gargi, Fashion Business Management

Above all, compassion drives my approach. I believe communication becomes meaningful when someone feels safe, seen, and understood. My goal as a tutor is to help students find their voice, to identify what part of their writing feels true to them and what sounds borrowed. I think finding or even building your own language from scratch is one of the most powerful acts of self-recognition.

Ananya, Advertising and Marketing Communications

I have always lived in spaces filled with words. Reading and writing have surrounded me for as long as I can remember, yet there were times when they felt more like obligations than outlets. I used to think there was a correct way to sound or write until I realized that creativity is not meant to fit into a formula. The best writing often begins in the mess of half-thoughts and unfinished sentences that later reveal what we actually mean. That realization changed how I approach my own work, and it shaped how I want others to feel when they come to a tutoring session.

Isabella, Illustration

In each session, I like to do what’s called “panning for gold”. The process varies for each student but nonetheless, we aim to complete our task based on the students needs with a focus on the internal and external value of their work. In this work that we do, we’ll have little “Huzzah!” moments where something aligns just right. Similarly to actual gold panning, it can take a while to find what you’re looking for which is why taking a step back to look at all the work that was accomplished is just as valuable.