our roots

THE WRITING AND SPEECH CENTRE:
Write well, speak well.
By Brenda Wambua
The Writing and Speech Centre
(WSC) is an initiative of the School
of Communication, Language and
Performing Arts at Daystar University. It
has two centres: one in Nairobi Campus
(DAC, 6th floor) and the other in Athi River
(BCC). The centres which were founded in
the year 2000 was the brainchild of Dr.
Ann Miller, supported by Elsie and Fred
Scaife, who worked at Daystar University
for a number of years.
At the WSC, there are trained peer
tutors who are students in Daystar
University. They offer assistance to fellow
students at all levels of study; from
diploma to Ph.D. Lecturers also visit
the centre for assistance. The tutors go
through a semester of training (ENG/COM
415) taught by lecturers from the School.
The tutors are supervised by the
coordinator of the Centre, Ms. Brenda
Wambua. They offer various services to
the entire Daystar student community,
including assistance with skills in public
speaking, writing as well as basic grammar
concepts. Almost all students in Daystar
University require assistance at WSC at
some point, especially when they are
taking Com 223 (Public Speaking), ENG
112 (Advanced Writing) and any other
assignment requiring writing of term
papers. International students taking ENG
096 and ENG 098 also go to WSC for help
with learning English (both spoken and
written).
The WSC organizes both Public
Speaking Contests (we have organized
three so far) and Essay Writing Contests
(we have organized two so far). These
contests have attracted participants
from the entire student body. Through
the contests, students get a chance to
showcase their speaking and writing
prowess and the winners receive rather
coveted prizes: cash, modems, phones,
pens, T-shirts, notebooks, just to mention
a few. In addition, each participant
receives a certificate.
These events have attracted a
number of sponsors: The Standard Group,
Airtel Kenya, Safaricom Ltd, Telkom Kenya
- Orange, DHL Express, among others.
Some of the judges we have invited to
the events include Prof. Hellen Walker, a
professor of writing from Messiah College,
Pennyslvania; Mr Ian Mbugua, a thespian
and a teacher; Mr. Robert Burale, an image
consultant; Mr. George Mlaghui, Chief
Corporate Communications Officer at
Telkom Kenya - Orange who is also a WSC
Alumni, among others.
Over the last few years, an increasing
number of MA and Ph.D students have
sought help at the centre in Nairobi, which
has an MA student tutor, Wangeci Kanyeki.
A number of lecturers too refer their
students to the centres.
Unlike most other work study
students, the peer-tutors also work in the
evenings in Athi River, especially towards
the end of the semesters, because
students visiting the centre increase as the
deadlines for assignments draw closer. The
peer tutors are self driven, motivated, hard
working and disciplined.
The services offered at the WSC are
free. The peer tutors demonstrate a high
degree of integrity in that they do not take
money from students. Their job is to give
guidance regarding writing and speaking
but not to do assignments for students.
Sometimes students who do not want to
do their work offer tidy sums of money to
the peer tutors to do the work for them.
However, the tutors always turn down the
offers and state clearly that their services
are free.
Alumni who were WSC tutors have
also credited their experience at the centre
for enhancing their leadership and editing
skills in the work place. This is a place
that every student and staff of Daystar
University should visit. Welcome all to the
Writing and Speech Centre.
70 • DaystarConnect 2015