Didactic devices used by tutors in the CEGEP French language support centres

Tutoring is one of the student services that is most used on college campuses (Colleges d'enseignement general et professionnel, CEGEPs) in Quebec, Canada. Students with difficulties in French will often turn to writing centres to improve their skills. In 2021, we sent a survey to 101 tutors at 12 French-language CEGEP writing centres to better understand the didactic devices used in improving French writing skills. We also conducted interviews with six tutors. The quantitative and qualitative analyses revealed that tutors mainly use didactic grammar devices (exercises and text corrections) to help tutees make fewer mistakes. However, some tutees could benefit from more support to plan and write their texts.