Effective listening methods vary based on an individuals personality, gender, learning preferences and specific courses of interactions with others. The ability to listen effectively is also in direct correlation with the learning process and is examined through sessions conducted at the writing center. As a coach, it is important to truly listen to the needs of a writer--both verbally expressed, and not--in order to properly respond, resulting in a successful session for both. In an attempt to better understand these variations of effective listening in relation to the sessions and growth of the writer and coach at the writing center, the body language and verbal responses (or lack thereof) of the tutor and coach were examined and recorded. The results of these records are intended to yield a better understanding for the different types of effective listening, and how they vary and work best for different individuals in correspondence with a productive writing session.
Things to look for: Who initiates the assignment and how. How the assignment is explained and how well the coach grasps the assignment, as well as the needs of the writer in regards to it. How well the writer does or doesn't express those needs and whether or not the coach is able to pick up on that. The type of body language (indications of frustration, confusion, understanding, bordem, concern, attention and lack of attention, comfort level, etc.). Repetition and completion of spoken sentences. How the coach and writer end the session; if they both appear happy, if it was ended early or abruptly, if another session was scheduled (and if so, with the same coach), etc.
