And Geoff makes a good point, too! I guess
I enjoy doing the "game show host" bit sometimes. But I agree that it is
imperative to make the students responsible for their own learning (otherwise,
they won't bother to learn -- indeed, sadly, some never do).
Paul E. Doniger
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, August 31, 2001 5:45
PM
Subject: Re: Something is haunting
me.
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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