This teacher angst regarding student boredom ceased to haunt me when I
realized that it really isn't my job to make the subject matter
interesting. I remind students that people their age have found this
material endlessly fascinating over the centuries - in other words, I put
the responsibility back on them. So when a student complains "This stuff
is boring!" my response is "I really don't care! I love it. I'll
explain to you what makes it fascinating to me, and I'll keep on
explaining it until you understand it." So the response that it's hard
to interest the uninterested is really very well taken. Many students -
the bored, the apathetic, the cynical, dare I say the mindless - make it
a career to be uninterested and try to put the responsibility on the
teacher to entertain them. My former shrink used to counsel that a
child's favorite toy is its parents, and I think the same advice holds
true for students and teachers. It's a little late in life for me to
become a game show host or, God forbid, Vanna White. I've already had
one mid-life career change, and I'm not about to have another. And
besides, once a student finds out that lack of interest will translate
into lack of a passing grade, interest is suddenly rekindled.
Geoff Layton
At 09:57 AM 8/31/01 -0700, you wrote:
>>>>
A while back a professor wrote to this group asking how he could
make a seemingly boring grammar book, the name I will not repeat, more
interesting for his uninterested students. Someone answered back
something along the line that it is hard to interest the uninterested.
It is haunting me that I never answered my opinion on the issue. One of
the most important things taught during a teaching credential program is
that it is the teacher/professor's responsibility to make the material
interesting. I would recommend taking an interactive approaches class.
Learn different strategies and methods to get the students up, working
together, and getting to know each other. Do you know how many adults
watch and enjoy games? They play on baseball teams, watch Wheel of
Fortune, Jeopardy, they sing in the church choir, etc. Make it fun!
Their interest will follow.
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