It's over, the first prep course lecture, that is. I have absolutely no idea how it went. I felt at ease in front of the students (as I should've known I would, instead of being afraid of those horrid nightmare scenarios I had these past few nights) and I had plenty of stuff for them to do and for me to lecture. Turned out that there were 13 students instead of 11 on the course. A good size for a prep course group.
But the blankness of some of those kids' faces. I just don't know if anything I taught them sank in. If they actually understood my explanations for some of the terms used in the research - worst cases being the terms "discourse" and "text" within the context of this particular research. This is the first time most of them face a historical research and it's essential that they understand what I'm talking about. I suppose I'll see what's brewing in their brains when they turn in their first essays on Monday. I don't know what to expect.
There were few active ones, just like Tytti has been saying about her group, but quite a few who didn't utter a word after I had asked them their name and the reason why they wanted to study history.
Most common reason seems to be "I don't know", btw. Most of them said they didn't know exactly why, but some were clearly history buffs from the days of their elementary schooling. There was even a young man, who claimed that the Middle Ages are so awesome! He's my favorite already. :) But also a few, who had only just decided that they wanted to study history. Interesting mix. I'm thinking those who had just decided, will need the course the most.
Well, I suppose I'll have to wait and see how the students are on Monday, when they already know my face and have had the whole weekend to relax. Erm, then again, maybe not. I gave them a load of homework to do and half a book to revise for that class... Nah, they have the whole weekend. They'll have lot less time when I give them their homework on Monday, to be turned in on Tuesday... ;)
No rest for the wicked, it seems . I'm also going to have to work like a madwoman till Monday. I have to finish at least two or three sets of lessonplans and essaytopics, so I can concentrate better on grading those papers next week. Fun fun. But I'm determined to see quite a few of those kids as history students next fall, so I'm going to put some effort to it, too. That's what they are paying for, after all.
Oops, off to watch Magnolia on tv. Haven't seen it before. There's no possible way it's going to be better than last nights movie, though. ;) I'm thinking I may have to spend some more money on KoH later this month - I think I'm going to have to see it again on the big screen... Mmmmmm...
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4 comments:
I knew you would do fine, girl. I suppose all we can do is try to teach them some magic tricks for the entrance exam, not give them a brain. But I'm sure you definitely have the authority - both physical and mental :)
Thanks, dearie, for your positive words. You're right, all we can do is to try to get them process the information so that they'll be able to answer the tricky questions in the exam. I can't learn the stuff for them, so I must settle for teaching. :)
oh! KOH sounds right up my alley, too! It was already on my list of movies to see, I think now it's been bumped up a couple notches. Of course, no fun until after my Arthur paper is turned in on Tuesday, but after that.....
Orland Bloom. yum.
Definitely worth seeing, this movie! ;) A movie cannot be all bad, if it's got the crusades, Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, magnificent sceneries, absolutely beautiful horses, swordfighting, Orlando Bloom and did I mention Orlando Bloom? ;) The perfect way to congratulate yourself for finishing the paper is to go and see KoH!
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