Mittwoch, Oktober 26, 2005
Heather's First Uni-Tag
(Sardinia update coming soon... in the grand tradition of me NOT keeping a journal while travelling... I didn't keep a journal. I did have lots of adventures though, so... soon!!)
Today was my first day of University--as the teacher! I, of course, barely slept last night because I had to keep checking my alarm to make sure it was turned on. Then, of course, you have that feeling of finally getting into a beautiful deep sleep, and the alarm sounds... Wah. Gave myself lots of time this morning so in the event of something catastrophic I would still be there on time.
When I got there, I found my classroom (113), cleaned off the chalkboard, and wrote up all my stuff--only screeching the chalk twice, which was an accomplishment in itself (oohh... that awful sound). My chalkboard handwriting needs some improvement, but there is time... In the end, the outer chalkboard said, 'Academic Writing and Research. Ms. Heather Debby.' The inner chalkboard had my Course Goals and the In-Class Writing Assignment. crazy.
So, I teach from 9-11, technically. What I didn't know is that this really means 9:15-10:45 (well, I knew about the 10:45 part). So, I am getting antsy cause there are only a handful of people there and decide to start at 9:10. Kids kept pouring in until about 9:25, and later when I got to the 'Class Expectations' ditto and said, 'Please be on time,' one student informed me that the class starts at 9:15. whoops. So, I just did my little intro again. 'Hi, I am Ms. Debby. I know Debby is a strange last name, it was Americanized [backstory]... If you can't tell from my awful accent, I am an American, please save your political commentary for after class. I come from New Jersey but went to school in Virginia [details about WM & CW]... I enjoy living in Germany because of the bread, bike-riding, and Feder Weiser.' The intro was funny because on my class outline for Day 1, the first item was 'Introduce Yourself,' but I didn't write any details. Then, I got to class and freaked out (what am I going to say?!?!) so I actually wrote out 'Heather Debby, New Jersey, likes running.' Hey--I was nervous!
Anyway, here is the outline from the first day:
Week 1 Outline
Introduction
*Who I am, etc.
*Course Goals
-Increase your comfort level in reading and writing English
-Learn how to carry out all the stages of research
-Master the formal process for writing a paper
-Gain familiarity and comfort with MLA format
*Fill Out Paperwork
What do you expect from course? Worksheet
Personal Info index cards
*Set-Up of Lectures
*Class Announcements (Today I got to announce information on a study abroad meeting and pass out info about the MLA handbook they need to buy. Sweet.)
*Warm-Up Writing Assignments (every class, 5-15 minutes)
*Go over warm-up/Review HW
*Research Topic of the Day
*‘Brain Break’—English Challenge (Grammar, MLA, etc.)
*Writing Topic of the Day
*Discussion/Assign HW
*Review Tips and Rules to Live By (Yes, I got to make the 'Class Expectations' List, which was basically 'Turn your work in on time' and Turn off your cell phones!)
*First Warm-Up Assignment:
Imagine an alien has just arrived in Hannover from Outer Space. This Being is completely clueless about German life & how to function in Germany. Help this alien get to know a part of German life by teaching them how to make a Nutella sandwich. Describe in detail how to make Nutella on brötchen.
*A few people read/Class discussion (This one boy--Andreas, who is already the class clown, explained brötchen--bread rolls--as made out of wheat. Wheat, he said, is something aliens should recognize because they consistently make circles and messages in it. That made me laugh out loud..and giggle all day.)
*Then I explained: When you first learn how to do something, you need to know and master every step. For example, the first time you bake a cake you probably follow the recipe explicitly. After you master the cake recipe, you can take guess on the measurements, experiment with different flavours, etc. We will tackle the writing process this way; learning how to do every step completely and ‘correctly’ before getting to know our own voices & processes. (Aren't I just a killer teacher??)
*We reviewed the syllabus, which is ordered like the formal process of writing a paper--thinking of a research question, research basics, prewriting, organizing, writiting, editing...blahblahblah. Good times. :)
*Then, the final assignment (They wrote their class expectations and then left.)
Assignment #1: An English Student’s Autobiography
It is a cool October evening. You are standing by the Kröpke clock, nursing a To-Go Coffee from Balzac, and waiting for a perpetually late friend when Oprah Winfrey walks past. After receiving less-than-stellar service from the Hermes boutique in Paris, Oprah has given up on France and decided to bring her posse to Germany. The American megastar notices your University of Hannover sweatshirt and intelligent expression. She steers her bodyguards in your direction and after a quick introduction explains that she is looking for bright university students from around the world to participate in her Book Club discussions. You will have the chance to meet a famous author and appear on a television show broadcast around the world.
In order to secure a place in the Book Club, you need to impress Oprah with your experiences as a writer of English. (Oprah knows that people who can write well tend to have better contributions to Book Club discussions.)
Please answer the following questions:
1-Why are you a student of English? Do you plan to teach, research, write, etc.? (Why are you in this class?
2-Oprah likes a good ‘sob story.’ Regarding English, what are your weaknesses?
3-Oprah also likes people who triumph over adversity. Regarding English, what are your strengths?
4-What are you looking forward to as a student in SPAWR? Are there any particular topics you would like to cover?
5-What is your favorite English book? Favorite English movie? Any other English ‘favorites’?
Class Clown Andreas, answering the last question, wrote: I like the 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,' because it is very British, as well as 'Blade Runner' the movie. I don't like 10,000 American and British atomic bombs and the 10,000 the Russians got either, but I am content with France having several hundred because they had very bad experiences with one of their neighbors.
I got to put all their papers in the special folder I have just for this class (SPAWR/Tuesday) and look over them later. I wrote little comments and I just felt soo great about it. All the students are really nice--friendly, fairly eager to learn... I hope they will work hard. The saddest thing is how hot some of the guys are (alas, the Hans in my class isn't hot!)... Heather, you are the teacher. You are the teacher. hehe... I am more organized than I have ever been--everything is laid out in this huuuge binder with plastic pockets and tons of detail... It is amazing. It is a little scary to be the teacher cause you can't cut class... not that I ever did (nerd!) but now there is actual pressure. Eek. But I loved loved loved teaching. I can't wait to meet my other two classes--I hope they are as awesome as this class!
I came home and made lunch, and afterward Ina & the kids surprised me with a present for my 1st Uni Tag! It was this big paper cone decorated and filled with treats and sealed with tissue paper and a ribbon on top--it looks almost like a bouquet. In Germany, it is tradition when kids start their first day of school (and only the first day ever, in first grade) they get these cones filled with treats, and lots of presents, and take pictures... There is even a special church service! Since this was my first day of school in Germany, I got one too!! Amazing!
It was a totally wonderful experience :) and I am still superpsyched about opportunity. It will mean a lot of studying and learning for me, too. The students want help with, among other things, commas (I hate commas! they are wonderful and I want to use them everywhere!!!) and prepositions (oh, sh**). So, if anyone has any tips or fun websites about those, that would be great!
Today was my first day of University--as the teacher! I, of course, barely slept last night because I had to keep checking my alarm to make sure it was turned on. Then, of course, you have that feeling of finally getting into a beautiful deep sleep, and the alarm sounds... Wah. Gave myself lots of time this morning so in the event of something catastrophic I would still be there on time.
When I got there, I found my classroom (113), cleaned off the chalkboard, and wrote up all my stuff--only screeching the chalk twice, which was an accomplishment in itself (oohh... that awful sound). My chalkboard handwriting needs some improvement, but there is time... In the end, the outer chalkboard said, 'Academic Writing and Research. Ms. Heather Debby.' The inner chalkboard had my Course Goals and the In-Class Writing Assignment. crazy.
So, I teach from 9-11, technically. What I didn't know is that this really means 9:15-10:45 (well, I knew about the 10:45 part). So, I am getting antsy cause there are only a handful of people there and decide to start at 9:10. Kids kept pouring in until about 9:25, and later when I got to the 'Class Expectations' ditto and said, 'Please be on time,' one student informed me that the class starts at 9:15. whoops. So, I just did my little intro again. 'Hi, I am Ms. Debby. I know Debby is a strange last name, it was Americanized [backstory]... If you can't tell from my awful accent, I am an American, please save your political commentary for after class. I come from New Jersey but went to school in Virginia [details about WM & CW]... I enjoy living in Germany because of the bread, bike-riding, and Feder Weiser.' The intro was funny because on my class outline for Day 1, the first item was 'Introduce Yourself,' but I didn't write any details. Then, I got to class and freaked out (what am I going to say?!?!) so I actually wrote out 'Heather Debby, New Jersey, likes running.' Hey--I was nervous!
Anyway, here is the outline from the first day:
Week 1 Outline
Introduction
*Who I am, etc.
*Course Goals
-Increase your comfort level in reading and writing English
-Learn how to carry out all the stages of research
-Master the formal process for writing a paper
-Gain familiarity and comfort with MLA format
*Fill Out Paperwork
What do you expect from course? Worksheet
Personal Info index cards
*Set-Up of Lectures
*Class Announcements (Today I got to announce information on a study abroad meeting and pass out info about the MLA handbook they need to buy. Sweet.)
*Warm-Up Writing Assignments (every class, 5-15 minutes)
*Go over warm-up/Review HW
*Research Topic of the Day
*‘Brain Break’—English Challenge (Grammar, MLA, etc.)
*Writing Topic of the Day
*Discussion/Assign HW
*Review Tips and Rules to Live By (Yes, I got to make the 'Class Expectations' List, which was basically 'Turn your work in on time' and Turn off your cell phones!)
*First Warm-Up Assignment:
Imagine an alien has just arrived in Hannover from Outer Space. This Being is completely clueless about German life & how to function in Germany. Help this alien get to know a part of German life by teaching them how to make a Nutella sandwich. Describe in detail how to make Nutella on brötchen.
*A few people read/Class discussion (This one boy--Andreas, who is already the class clown, explained brötchen--bread rolls--as made out of wheat. Wheat, he said, is something aliens should recognize because they consistently make circles and messages in it. That made me laugh out loud..and giggle all day.)
*Then I explained: When you first learn how to do something, you need to know and master every step. For example, the first time you bake a cake you probably follow the recipe explicitly. After you master the cake recipe, you can take guess on the measurements, experiment with different flavours, etc. We will tackle the writing process this way; learning how to do every step completely and ‘correctly’ before getting to know our own voices & processes. (Aren't I just a killer teacher??)
*We reviewed the syllabus, which is ordered like the formal process of writing a paper--thinking of a research question, research basics, prewriting, organizing, writiting, editing...blahblahblah. Good times. :)
*Then, the final assignment (They wrote their class expectations and then left.)
Assignment #1: An English Student’s Autobiography
It is a cool October evening. You are standing by the Kröpke clock, nursing a To-Go Coffee from Balzac, and waiting for a perpetually late friend when Oprah Winfrey walks past. After receiving less-than-stellar service from the Hermes boutique in Paris, Oprah has given up on France and decided to bring her posse to Germany. The American megastar notices your University of Hannover sweatshirt and intelligent expression. She steers her bodyguards in your direction and after a quick introduction explains that she is looking for bright university students from around the world to participate in her Book Club discussions. You will have the chance to meet a famous author and appear on a television show broadcast around the world.
In order to secure a place in the Book Club, you need to impress Oprah with your experiences as a writer of English. (Oprah knows that people who can write well tend to have better contributions to Book Club discussions.)
Please answer the following questions:
1-Why are you a student of English? Do you plan to teach, research, write, etc.? (Why are you in this class?
2-Oprah likes a good ‘sob story.’ Regarding English, what are your weaknesses?
3-Oprah also likes people who triumph over adversity. Regarding English, what are your strengths?
4-What are you looking forward to as a student in SPAWR? Are there any particular topics you would like to cover?
5-What is your favorite English book? Favorite English movie? Any other English ‘favorites’?
Class Clown Andreas, answering the last question, wrote: I like the 'Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy,' because it is very British, as well as 'Blade Runner' the movie. I don't like 10,000 American and British atomic bombs and the 10,000 the Russians got either, but I am content with France having several hundred because they had very bad experiences with one of their neighbors.
I got to put all their papers in the special folder I have just for this class (SPAWR/Tuesday) and look over them later. I wrote little comments and I just felt soo great about it. All the students are really nice--friendly, fairly eager to learn... I hope they will work hard. The saddest thing is how hot some of the guys are (alas, the Hans in my class isn't hot!)... Heather, you are the teacher. You are the teacher. hehe... I am more organized than I have ever been--everything is laid out in this huuuge binder with plastic pockets and tons of detail... It is amazing. It is a little scary to be the teacher cause you can't cut class... not that I ever did (nerd!) but now there is actual pressure. Eek. But I loved loved loved teaching. I can't wait to meet my other two classes--I hope they are as awesome as this class!
I came home and made lunch, and afterward Ina & the kids surprised me with a present for my 1st Uni Tag! It was this big paper cone decorated and filled with treats and sealed with tissue paper and a ribbon on top--it looks almost like a bouquet. In Germany, it is tradition when kids start their first day of school (and only the first day ever, in first grade) they get these cones filled with treats, and lots of presents, and take pictures... There is even a special church service! Since this was my first day of school in Germany, I got one too!! Amazing!
It was a totally wonderful experience :) and I am still superpsyched about opportunity. It will mean a lot of studying and learning for me, too. The students want help with, among other things, commas (I hate commas! they are wonderful and I want to use them everywhere!!!) and prepositions (oh, sh**). So, if anyone has any tips or fun websites about those, that would be great!
# posted by Heather @ 11:19 PM 
