The Student Writing Advisor Program (SWAP) provides Western students with an opportunity to acquire valuable teaching experience. SWAP can help students gain teaching experience, supporting applications to a Canadian Faculty of Education.

Following training, student writing advisors work directly with Western students in hour-long, one-to-one sessions to assist with any stage of the writing process. For this reason, qualified student writing advisors must possess excellent writing skills and outstanding interpersonal skills.

Why be a Student Writing Advisor?

Being a peer writing advisor allows you to:

• Improve your own writing skills & develop in-depth knowledge of the basics of English language and grammar.
• Meet new people and provide help to other students.
• Improve your communications skills by working with English as a second language students.
• Discover the resources available to students at Western.
• Learn how to conduct an effective writing session.
• Explore different teaching and learning styles.
• Gain valuable skills for professional school, graduate school, and future careers.
  
  

All applicants for the Student Writing Advisor Program must:

• Be enrolled in the third or fourth year of a Western undergraduate program or higher.
• Have a cumulative average of 80% or above on a minimum of 2.0 essay (E or F/G) courses. 
• Commit up to four hours a week for 13 weeks each term.
• Participate in mandatory orientation and training sessions as well as scheduled writing advisor meetings throughout each term.
• Be willing to complete hybrid work (in-person and virtual) at WSC locations.
• Be prepared to work with students of any ability, gender, age, sexual orientation, and cultural background.
• Demonstrate strong verbal communication, professional conduct, commitment, and reliability.

To apply, please submit the following:

• A writing sample, be sure to send a copy of an original, as the sample will not be returned.
• An unofficial transcript.
• A letter of reference from at least one faculty member, and one additional reference, either academic or professional (e.g. employer or supervisor). Only contact information (name,
  relation to the applicant, email, and phone) is required for the second reference. 

Hear from Student Writing Advisors:

"While participating in SWAP, I have learned a lot about myself and my ability to help others. The program allows you to take what you have learned throughout university and apply it. It has helped me with my overall writing style and technique. You learn something new every day; it feels great to know you helped someone." 

"I think anyone who is interested in making a difference should take advantage of a truly enlightening experience." 

"SWAP has been a fantastic learning opportunity for me. The Student Writing Advisor meetings provided us with useful tutoring skills and they enabled us to share our learning experiences with our peers. As a fourth year English and History student, the Student Writing Advisor Program provided me with a new perspective both on writing and tutoring. SWAP is an excellent way to become involved, to meet people, and to help students through their writing struggles."

"Working for the Writing Support Centre was a blast. The projects ranged from collecting survey data to gathering information for seminars to maintaining a website. While working on these projects, I sharpened and enhanced my organizational and communication skills, but most important of all, I met many interesting and intelligent people."