prompt writing: tutoring and the magic therein

Being a tutor myself, the idea of analogizing the tutorial arts with the more esoteric practices of "magic" seems a little absurd. That said, I suppose such a comparison might make a little more sense from the point of view of a freshman experiencing first-paper trepidation. In the eyes of such a student, the tutor holds the keys to the deeper mysteries of written rhetoric, or at least knows all of the cheap parlor tricks one needs to dazzle and divert his or her professors, depending upon the level of skepticism in said student; in short, the tutor may be an Aleister Crowley (sans the scandal, one hopes) or a mere Siegfriend-and-Roy.

The Sense of Wonder

Magic has been a form of entertainment for centuries. The Art has been used among hundreds of civilizations for religious, spiritual, academic, and even healing purposes from the Egyptians to the Romans. Today, magic is a popular form of entertainment in the West that many people come across their television screens or possibly in their living room as Uncle Butch shows off the latest card trick he taught himself.
Card magic is a beautiful art form which has been described countless of times by magicians as being the "poetry of conjuring." What makes card magic so impressive and mystifying is that the cunning performer may at any moment manipulate fifty-two, cut-out pasteboards and create a sense of magic, mystery and wonder at his finger tips. However, this brings up an excellent question—which the London Card Expert, Michael Vincent asks his audience—which I now propose to all of you: where exactly does the magic come from? The magician’s hands? His or her performance? Or rather, does magic come from what the audience experiences?
As a conjurer, I would argue that magic comes from the latter. After all, magic is not about what we see; it’s what we think we see. The art is not about “tricking” something or someone but rather using the trick to make someone feel something. That’s the magic; that’s the wonder.
Tutoring has many similar elements. The most important element is interaction. One must interact with their audience with casualness, respect, and even humor. A great magician once noted that if you want to know if you’re a good performer, after four tricks or so, set the deck aside and see if you can spend the next twenty minutes simply talking with your audience (without any magic at all!). If you are successful, no magic is needed because it is already being experienced as the audience is enjoying your company as is. Therefore, when tutoring, one has to build a relationship with the tutee on a certain level where all of the mechanical/grammatical ‘things’ are forgotten and even pass by unnoticed. Just as when the card shark entertains—in its truest form—the sleights and misdirection employed goes unnoticed; thus allowing the miracle to occur.
Try it out, and see how long the tutoring session lasts.
-KJ

Magical Tutoring

As contradictory as this may sound, tutoring is a lot like magic in many ways. Both tutoring and magic can be described as an art form that provides a certain sense of need for its audience. Magic is sought after for its entertainment purposes. It is aimed to create “oohs” and “awes”. Most importantly, magic leaves and brings in audiences for the purpose of “how do they do this or that” and to gain the knowledge of a topic they are not familiar with. When tutoring, the same aspects apply. Tutoring brings in the type of audiences that want to know how to “do this or that”; as well as, to gain knowledge.

Magic/Tutoring?

Tutoring is like magic because:

• To make magic you need an audience.
• You're always working with a full deck.
• It takes lots of practice to be great at it.
• It's not just the tricks in your hat, it's the act that goes with it.
• Sometimes you feel like sawing someone in half.
• Sometimes the magic you have up your sleeve just doesn't work.
• Some adience members refuse to be amazed.
• You might get your head bitten off by a vicious mammal.

Tutoring is Magical??????

If I had a magic wand...tutoring would be easier.

If I had an ace up my sleeve...I would have an answer for everything.

If I had a rabbit in my hat...everyone would leave with an "A" paper.

If I had the ability to make someone disappear...it would be hard to choose: me or the tutee.

If I had a handsome assistant that only wore a glittery vest and bow tie...I would stop tutoring.

Tutoring and magic often make me want to be somewhere else...









LAS VEGAS.

Introducing Fall 2010

Welcome back! We seem to have a lot of students on campus this year and I'm happy to report that the Learning Center has seen at least six request for tutoring on the first two days. Incredible.

As an instructor myself, I see this as a very good indication that students are eager to learn and excel this quarter.

Hope all tutors have a great quarter ahead and will see you this Friday!