Tutor Scenario Role Play

Tutor: Hi! [Smiles.].  My name is Stephanie.  We can just sit over here.  Grab that chair.  [They sit].  What can I do for you?

Student: Well, I’m Chris, and I have this paper [hands it to the tutor], and my uh, my teacher said, I had to come here and , uh, get some help ‘cause my last homework assignment…..[looks down] was a D.

Tutor: Then maybe we should just begin by looking through it.  Do you want to show it to me, or would you rather I look over it quietly?

Student: [Motions to tutor and mutters “You,” then folds arms across chest and gazes off into space.]

Tutor: [Begins looking over work but is clearly having trouble.  Stumbles over work and stops several times to clarify.  As tutor reads, student occasionally occasionally sighs, taps fingers on desk and feet on floor.] Listen, I’m really having trouble reading your handwriting.  It would probably be easier if went over the assignment me.  Would you mind?

Student: [Hesitates.] Naw, I guess not.  [Reads halfway down page, suddenly stops and slams hand down on desk and looks at the tutor.]  I really don’t see the point of this.

Tutor:  Well, it’s just easier for me to tutor, to help you with your work, if I hear what you’ve written.

Student: [Waits for a few moments, then tosses homework in from of the tutor and speaks in a demanding way.] Can’t you just check it and fix it?

Tutor:  When you come here and ask to have work corrected for you, please understand that this is a tutoring service.  I’ll be happy to look over your work with you and help you with your problems, but I just don’t correct work and send you on your way!

Student:  [Annoyed.]  Well, I was told that you did!  My friend said I could just have a tutor correct my work.

Tutor: [Firmly.] Well, I’m sorry. I don’t tutor that way.

[Silence.]

Tutor: If you want me to continue looking over your work…..

Student: [Cuts tutor off, snatches assignment away from the tutor, looks quickly at watch.] I just don’t have time for this.  Nothing against you, but I just don’t have time for this. [Collects assignment and quickly gets up.]

Tutor: [Stares in disbelief.] I’m really sorry.  I just don’t tutor that way.

Student: That’s okay. It’s nothing against you. [Walks out.]

[The tutor and student take seats at a table.]

Tutor: Hi! I’m Matt.  What can I help you with today?

Student: I don’t know if you can.  My teacher sent me here.  And, well, I have this paper and I’ve sort of got a draft, and well, at least a start of one I think, but I’m not really sure what to do.  I wrote some stuff down anyway, but parts of it just don’t sound right. [Puts book and paper on table.]

Tutor: What’s your assignment?

Student: I have to write a book review for history.  And there’s no specific thing we have to write on –it’s just, like, a review.  And the book’s Lincoln at Gettysburg, you know, by what’s his name [read’s name off book,] Garry Wills.

 

[The tutor and student take seats at a table.]

Tutor: Hi! I’m Matt.  What can I help you with today?

Student: I don’t know if you can.  My teacher sent me here.  And, well, I have this paper and I’ve sort of got a draft, and well, at least a start of one I think, but I’m not really sure what to do.  I wrote some stuff down anyway, but parts of it just don’t sound right. [Puts book and paper on table.]

Tutor: What’s your assignment?

Student: I have to write a book review for history.  And there’s no specific thing we have to write on –it’s just, like, a review.  And the book’s Lincoln at Gettysburg, you know, by what’s his name [read’s name off book,] Garry Wills.

Tutor: [Cheerfully.] Great!  Have you ever written a book review before? Do you know what you’re supposed to include?

Student: Sort of.  I think I’m supposed to give my opinion.

Tutor: Something like that.  What you’re usually supposed to do is evaluate the book and use evidence from the book – like quotes and examples and references – to back up what you say.  So tell me some of your ideas. What did you like about the book?

Student:  Well, I don’t really know. [Hesitates.} It’s, uh, you know…. What do you think about it?

Tutor: I don’t know.  I haven’t read the book. But I can hear that you’re a little confused.  Why don’t you just tell me some of your ideas though, and we can talk about them.

Student: If you haven’t read the book, I don’t see how you can help me.

Tutor: Yes, but you have, so it’s really not a problem.  I can tell that this is frustrating for you, but I can help.

Student: [Hesitates.} Well, uh, I, uh…

Tutor: You have read the book, haven’t you?

Student: Oh, yeah.  Well [pause], most of it.  I mean, it’s really long, and I don’t know…. I can’t get into it.

Tutor: Well, maybe you could tell me about the parts you have read, and we can at least start working from there.  You said you wrote some things down.  Tell me….

[The tutor is sitting. The student sits down beside the tutor]

Tutor: [Cheerfully.] Hi! I’m Lee.  What are you working on?

Student: I have to do a five-page research paper for psychology.  It’s due tomorrow morning – early.  I don’t know.  It’s really hard to do that stuff, don’t you think? Why do teachers give assignments like this, anyway?

Tutor: Well, they do.  And, I know, sometimes it’s just not easy.

Student: [Hesitates.] Uh, I haven’t really started yet, because I can’t figure out what I’m supposed to do.  Here are the topics to choose from and here’s the assignment sheet.  [Hands possible topics and assignment sheet to tutor.]  What should I do? I really don’t understand what the teacher wants.

Tutor: [Glances at papers.] Oh, I remember this theory. [Looks up.] Did the teacher explain anything about the paper in class?

Student: Yeah, we’re supposed to read the theories, look over the topics, and write a research paper about whichever one we choose, but I just don’t know what she wants.  [Looks baffled.] How do you research a topic based on a theory?

Tutor: Well, let’s see what the assignment sheet says.

Student: [Signs.] I can’t figure out the assignment sheet.  It’s so confusing to read.  Can you read it and tell me what I’m supposed to do?

Tutor: [Hesitates, glances at it, and smiles.]  Sure, let me read it.  It’s short. [Reads it over.]  Oh, here it is!  At the bottom it tells you what to do.

Student: Oh, I didn’t read that far.  I got confused by the beginning stuff, with all those terms.  The teacher never really explains anything to us.  I hate that.

Tutor: Well, let’s see if we can sort it out.  The theories…

Student: [Interrupts.] Don’t you just hate it when teachers don’t tell you what they want?  If they would just tell me, I think I would be able to write it. [Pause and grins.] So, you figured out the assignment? What am I supposed to do?

Tutor: [Pauses.] You know, what I’m hearing is that you’re frustrated because you don’t know what to do, and the paper’s due tomorrow.  Let’s look at the assignment sheet together.  You can tell me which parts confuse you, and I can try to explain….

Student: [Angrily.] Look, I have to pass this class and I have to do the paper to pass it.  Just tell me what to do! You know the theories, and you know what I’m supposed to do….

Tutor: [Firmly but politely.] Yes, but I can’t do the paper for you.  I can help you, but it’s your paper.

Student: I know, I know, I know, but what am I supposed to do? It’s due tomorrow! [Emphatically.] I hate research papers!

Tutor: Well, I’m trying to help, but….

Student: Yeah, but it’s so late.  Just tell me what to say! Aren’t you supposed to help me?

Tutor: I can help you, but if you don’t want to do your share of the work, there’s not much I can do.

Student: [Grabs the papers.] yeah, well, thanks for nothing.  I should have figured you tutors would be just like the teacher.