I walked into the Reading Center with a feeling of
anticipation and was met by a caring, helpful staff whose welcoming attitude
matched the colorful decorations on their bulletin board. It was nice to talk
to the Reading Center Director, Ms. Shilpa Maheshwari, and Dr. Joy Russell,
Chair of Elementary Education, both of whom share our belief in the connection
between strong reading and effective writing.
The Reading Center’s mission is to support all students
across the curriculum—including graduate students—with reading comprehension,
vocabulary fluency, and study skills. Students who want to improve the fluency
of their reading can take a diagnostic test to determine where they should
focus attention during weekly one-to-one tutoring sessions.
Skills they teach through workshops include close reading,
study strategies, and “vocabulary preparation,” which focuses on word contexts
and Latin/Greek root words. They also offer a workshop where you can learn
about the different learning styles—visual, audio, and kinesthetic—and get
advice on employing methods for your specific learning style.
The Reading Center also has computer-aided practice tests
available for students preparing for the TAP Test, ACT or SAT. Workshop
schedules and brochures describing their services are available in the Reading
Center (Room 1320 in Buzzard Hall).
If you find yourself wondering if you should visit the
Reading Center, go ahead and give them a call. The last question I asked during
this interview was: “Is there anything else that you want others to know about
the Reading Center?” Both Ms. Shilpa and Dr. Russell emphatically,
enthusiastically, boldly exclaimed that they wanted you to feel comfortable
coming in: they work around your schedule; their Graduate Assistants are very
knowledgeable; their study rooms are peaceful; and, most of all, they are there
for you.
As a writing consultant working in the EIU Writing Center, I
encourage you to visit the Reading Center because reading and writing go
hand-in-hand. Who wouldn’t benefit from learning root words and increasing
vocabulary? Who wouldn’t want to gain a wider repertoire of reading skills? Who
wouldn’t want to learn a study skill like managing one’s time? Who wouldn’t
want to use a free service that could enable them to be a better student? All
of these services improve writing. After all, that is what we’re doing at EIU.
We’re bettering ourselves as readers and writers, and more specifically, as
students. That—to me—is EIU.
Visit their website or give them a call for more
information:
http://www.eiu.edu/readctr/
217-581-7898
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