Tuesday, January 31, 2012

What has Teaching Taught me?

From the past two years I have been teaching creative writing in college to degree students. Initially apprehensive as I had heard constant complains that nowadays students are more addicted to their cells than academics, I took up the job with a fair degree of anxiety hovering over my head.

 Before this, I had never taught anyone anything. Neither did I have the experience nor the confidence. Doubts constantly surfaced in my mind. Would I be able to teach them anything? Would I be able to discipline the students?

All this is now a thing of the past. I have adapted to my new role like a duck to water. Everyday my students teach me something new. Words that I had never heard before (words that my creative students have up conjured from their over active imagination) are thrown into assignments.

Most assignments hover at the doorstep of romance. Twilight has seeped into their collective conscious. My students are teaching me how to stretch my limited  resource of patience. I have constantly confessed that patience is not one of my better known virtues. My students are ensuring that it becomes my most  well- known trait.

One thing my students have taught me in abundance is getting critical with my own writing. Reading few assignments makes me aware of all the information dump yard that some students turn the stories into. And then there are the students who skip over the crucial details just to get closer to the end of the story. It’s obvious that they have rushed through their assignments just to get rid of my reminders about delayed assignments.

Teaching them has made me appreciative of all the creativity a tiny human brain possesses. Their excuses range from accidents to sudden tooth-aches while the hand hovering over the stomach makes me wonder whether it’s the tooth or the stomach causing all the problem.

I often urge them to exercise all the creativity while doing the assignments. Most students forget that I too studied in the same college. While the students have changed, the excuses have remained constant.

For those of you who are into teaching what have your students taught you? For those engaged in other professions what are the things that life or people around you  have taught you? We would love to hear about your learning experiences.
                 
  
              

16 comments:

  1. Rachna, In agreement once again! I work with team of guys sometimes less than half my age but they are full of ideas and know a lot! I consider the younger lot as a talent pool and a privelege to work with them!

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  2. Can't say I've ever taught (in a class setting, anyway) about writing, but I've made my share of mistakes in the past and am willing to help those I meet who want an honest opinion. I'm impressed with the next generation of writers I've met recently. :)

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  3. Why am I not surprised that you teach creative writing! What level/grade do you teach?

    I have never had the priviledge of teaching anyone. But at work, yes there is so much to learn from junior staff. They are constantly looking for new information, latest trends in the social media world and are never averse to trying new things. That's what they teach me.

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  4. Greta insights! It's spectacular when you can get elements of your day job to lien up with your writing...and grow as a person on top of that. Sounds like fodder for a story...hmm;)

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  5. It's so true that you learn a lot from teaching! I think I learn more from teaching than anywhere else. I haven't taught creative writing, but I have taught in my church, and I found my knowledge grew so much as I prepared lessons-- and then as I listened to what those I taught had to say. Teaching is a wonderful opportunity!

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  6. Madam, really inspiring post. I will also be a teacher starting this academic session. I wish to learn together with my little students.

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  7. I'm about to do some of my first writing classes (as a teacher, or at least one of many) so I'll be able to tell you soon!

    As for the other teaching I do, I'd say the enthusiasm from the students is the best thing. I love that energy.

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  8. Hahaha yeah I think nothing changes, although I must say I find it rather annoying that someone would join a class like creative writing and then find excuses not to do it. I mean, don't they know how many of us writers would die for the excuse to devote more time on writing?

    :-/

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  9. This is so interesting! Yes, I'll bet you learn a lot by teaching. Heck, I learn a lot just by beta reading!

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  10. Rachna, how interesting to read about your teaching experiences! Sounds like you are gaining as much as you are giving, and enjoying the journey. Certainly your students have a talented teacher :-) I've been an elementary (special education) teacher, a tutor, and an advisor to a youth group's newsletter staff in the past. Now I love to play school with my three-year old granddaughter. Maybe one day I'll give her some writing tips, too :-)

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  11. Hi friends..teaching has been fun and also a bit tiring as just keeping pace with my students' excuses is like running a marathon.

    But, on the other hand it has also sharpened my writing skills. I am more critical with my own stories and work. So, not many complains :)

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  12. Just by reading you, I am sure that you are a wonderful teacher...Your students must be so proud of you. You know the craft and are able express beautifully...so why not?

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  13. O you are a teacher? I wish I had someone like you for my teacher, who teaches what she practices. You teach them creative writing and you yourself indulge in writing so much... I loving it.
    I am a teacher too but I didn't have the option to choose Literature as I wished, thus I am a maths and IT teacher. But that didn't stop me from learning and loving literature... and like you I have many stories woven with wits and mischief of students. I love them.

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  14. What a question, what have they taught me. I suppose empathy is the main thing, to start with it rather than consulting it at some late stage in a project, discussion or whatever.

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  15. Decades ago I taught freshman composition as a teaching assistant at two different universities. Unfortunately, at this level, almost all of them were interested in just getting a grade and completing the dreaded "composition" requirement. But like you, I learned a lot from the better students especially. They were eager to share their writing. They had fresh ideas. I did enjoy the experience, but it WAS a lot of work - all the papers I had to read and respond to. Teaching isn't easy; that's one big thing that I learned. And it did at times seem like I was "running a marathon" as you say above. I wish now that I had kept a "teaching journal." It would be interesting to look back. Are you keeping one? IF you have the time.... :-)
    Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror & Other Memoirs

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  16. I did teaching for a short time and I found I learned as much as the students, if not more. It truly is a marvellous profession.

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