The Paper will deal with development of the writing center at the university in Japan and the training of tutors recruited from amongst advanced level Japanese students. The center is ideally suited for elementary and intermediate level students who find it somewhat difficult to understand complicated rules of writing in English. Since most of the tutors are Japanese they can explain rules of writing not only in English but also in Japanese. This can help students to relax and accelerate the process of learning. The function of the writing center is not to make tutors write essays for students or complete their assignments but to help them become independent learners. The tutors also encourage students to think in English by making them shift from bilingual dictionaries to English to English dictionaries. Tutors themselves are given training twice a semester in communicating with students and identifying their linguistic problems ranging from logical thinking, vocabulary development to writing linked sentences and finding information and ideas in libraries and on the Internet. The tutors have been specially trained to help students to go through the experiential learning cycle step-by-step where each student is allowed to reflect on his/her writing experiences and again knowledge.

Dr.Mukesh Williams
World Language Center, Soka University, Tokyo, Japan
Developing Communicating Skills in Tutors at the writing Center.