Teaching college - level Spanish, and other issues

Online teaching #2

2014-07-09T19:01:00.001-07:00

I was going to write an in-depth reflection about my first online teaching experience, but it will have to wait a few days. Today, the only thing I can say is "OMG, WE ARE IN THE FINALS". Mascherano and Romero, I love you. Perdón Sabella, for everything I said against you. THE FINALS, in Brazil!!! A-R-G-E-N-T-I-N-A!

Online teaching #1

2014-06-11T18:22:00.001-07:00

I am half way through my intensive, 6 weeks long, SPAN 101 fully online course. Two very preliminary conclusions.

a) Because I didn't have pedagogical support at all, I read a lot of articles about online language teaching on my own. One of the things that is repeated over and over is the importance of community building, and to design activities to be done in groups. I carefully followed the advice. Well, I am sure it works for a semester long course. But in a 6 weeks course, it is a mess. I started receiving emails from students complaining they couldn't reach their group partners almost immediately (and those were the ones that actually bothered to complete the activity). Sometimes, it was the members of the same group, saying they couldn't reach each other. Six weeks go fast, so I would be very careful asking for activities the students can't complete on their own, because it is hard to come up with alternatives.

b) Organization is essential. I just spent hours trying to find where students uploaded a recorded assignments. Although the instructions were very clear as to where they should do it, half the class managed to upload it in the wrong place. Make everything as obvious as possible, and repeat yourself over and over if necessary. Chances are, somebody will need the triple message

Online teaching

2014-06-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

So I am on week 2 of teaching my online SPAN 101 class. I will write more extensively about it when I finish the course, because so far I have mixed feelings about it. One positive thing is that I am finally learning some useful technology stuff (not technology for the sake of technology, but with pedagogical applications). Also, because my university changed from Blackboard to Canvas, I have been exploring its possibilities. Today, I learnt to create quizzes on Canvas and to apply rubrics to assignments! Laugh all you want, but I am very proud of myself. It was all self-taught!

Friendly advice to foreign professors, brought to you by Pearson

2014-05-16T18:29:00.000-07:00

"Nunca haga comentarios racistas, machistas, feministas, o que puedan resultar ofensivos para las personas que pertenezcan a otros grupos raciales o sociales." ("[In the classroom] never make racists, machistas, FEMINIST or any kind of comment that may be offensive to students that belong to other racial or social group")*

This was included in a document titled "Sugerencias para profesores del extranjero", ("Suggestions for foreign professors"). The document is a part of the Instructor Resources that come along with a Spanish language textbook published by Pearson. The rest of the document is only slightly less offensive. I just can't...

*Feel free to correct the translation if you don't think it is accurate.

Update on the previous post

2014-05-14T10:47:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was ambivalent over whether I wanted or not to become Chair of important committee. Well, the situation resolved itself pretty quickly. I will not be Chair. Not because they elected somebody else, but because in an unbloggable meeting today somebody came up with a suggestion that is incompetent and bad for many reasons. Half the committee supported it, and the rest stayed silent. Except me, but nobody had my back. I can't really write too much about it, but let's just say that the election of new Chair is tabled until I don't know when. Furthermore, I withdrew my name from the game: I simply refuse to Chair a committee that is becoming incrisingly disfunctional, and where half-baked ideas are enthusiastically received with no consideration for best practices and proper procedure.

On to plan my literature class for the Fall....

Ambivalent

2014-05-13T08:18:00.001-07:00

This may go *poof* soon, but I think I need to write it to clear my thoughts and get on with what I need to do today.

The Chairship of Most Important Committee on campus is vacant, and there is a decent chance that I become the next Chair. A few months ago I expressed my interest and was enthusiastic about the possibility. It is an incredible opportunity for leadership and for learning more about my institution. I also believe that in certain committees, faculty actually do have the chance to shape and/or influence your insitution future. Also, Now, I am more ambivalent about whether I want the job or not. Why?

1- There is the possibility that I become Chair only because no other member of the committee wants it. It is a lot of work, and many people will probably criticize you no matter how good a job you are doing. That, in itself, is not a problem for me. I know that many members of the committee would welcome me as Chair. But I do know that a few people are trying to convince somebody else to become Chair (this other person is somebody I deeply respect) because they think I do not really understand or completely fit with my institution's culture. That is just code for "that Hispanic lady speaks her mind too often and is aggresive. She doesn't understand that in this country, we are more polite". They are right in a sense. I do speak up when I feel it's necessary. I could even be considered hot-headed for American standards. But I understand the culture of my institution perfectly well. I am just not willing to tone it down (more than what I already have) just to "fit". It really is a cultural clash, in a sense (university politics in Argentina are noisy, heated and can be a contact sport sometimes. That is also how higher education is still free in my country). And I am not willing to let that part of my personality go. At the same time, I am not sure I want to serve in such a context.* Yes, stepping down would mean that I don't want to fight the status quo. But the possibility of burning out and becoming bitter is too high, and I have never felt the need to be a martyr for a cause (I am being hyperbolic here, but I think I am also clear about what I think).

2- As I said, it is a lot of work. Amazingly enough, being Chair comes with a 2-1 course load reduction, so I don't think I would be overworked. I would have time to devote to it. And here is the problem: teaching is my passion. It is the end of the semester, and I have a lot beautiful notes left by students piling up in my desk. This year, a few of my favorite majors are graduating, and I am very proud of them and how I helped them (one, in particular, who went through some really tough times but managed to graduate with a double major and a 3.6 GPA). Last week, my Chair asked me what classes would I give up in the Fall if I became Chair of the committee... and I didn't want to give up any! I am excited about teaching.

3-And yes, I am scared of the possiblity. It means putting yourself out there, and become a target. And I don't know whether I have the personality for it or not. Some people thrive in those situations. Myself? I have never really tested how I would react.

*it is not only that. I have been dissapointed by a few other people I had in high esteem, and who have bend over backwards to justify a few situations I find unjustifiable.

As you can see, some days I want to be Chair of Committee, but others I find myself secretely hoping that they convince somebody else to become Chair. The situation will resolve one way or another very soon, but it has been keeping me awake last week

Pedagogical question

2014-04-28T17:02:00.001-07:00

How do you teach an upper-level class where half the class is getting high As and the other is getting mid to low Cs? It is to late to put it to use now, but it has happened to me this semester with my 300-level Latin American Civ class, and I haven't found a solution. The problem isn't their Spanish skills, just that the lower half does not seem prepared for the out of the box, I want you to think and not memorize, assignments I demand from them. The upper half are some of the most brilliant students I have had in a while. But the mix isn't working, and I don't know how to solve the dilemma. And yes, I am tired of suggesting them to make use of my office hours. The only student that took me up has seen amazing results, and not only her motivations but her grades have improved tremendously.

Gabriel García Márquez

2014-04-17T14:18:00.003-07:00

Gabriel García Márquez, one of the most famous Latin American writers from this century, has passed away. He was never my favorite writer (I always prefered Mario Vargas Llosa). Garcia Marquez won the Literature Nobel Prize in 1982. I wanted to share with you something that I find incredibly touching every time I watch it: an amazing clip that I always show my students when we are studying Colombia. It shows the TV news program announcing his win. Even if you don't understand Spanish, watch the reaction of the people on the street, celebrating with joy. The video comes from Accesso, the amazing Spanish program that rhe University of Kansas has developed for their Intermediate Spanish program. Click on the link, scroll down, and there you will find the video I am talking about.

Using Facebook to get help with your homework

2014-04-15T13:13:00.002-07:00

This semester, I am teaching two sections of Intermediate Spanish I. Last week, they had to write a composition (in class, Google translate killed compositions as assigments at the lower levels Spanish courses). The prompt was something like "Describe how do you use technology and the Internet on your everyday life and in college" (it was a little more detailed, but you get the idea). So far, I've had 8 students (out of 20 compositions graded) that wrote that they love Facebook because it helps them connect with friends, meet new people, and GET HELP WITH THEIR HOMEWORK. Can somebody explain me what does that mean, exactly? And even worse, should they be telling that to a professor?

Urgent question

2014-04-14T19:38:00.000-07:00

As you can see from my previous post, I have been insanely busy. One of the unintended consequences is that I left filling my tax return to the last minute. Ergo, I am mailing them tomorrow, deadline day! It is the first time since I moved to the US that this happened (I am usually send them in February). The question is: how long will I have to wait in line in the post office tomorrow? I have this mythical idea that I will have to be in line all day, but I am sure that the introduction of tax filing software and e-filing changed the situation. However, I would like to have a ballpark estimate, so I don't miss an important meeting I have tomorrow.

Overwhelmed

2014-04-14T12:07:00.000-07:00

So today I woke up, look at the huge pile of essays, assigments and tests that I need to grade, and wanted to go back to sleep. Instead, I just cancelled my classes in order to have 8 straight hours devoted to it. So far, it is going better than expected. It's amazing what you can accomplish without wordly distractions

Letter of recommendation

2014-04-03T10:57:00.002-07:00

Among the many service activities I am a part of this semester, one is being on a search committee. In reviewing candidates' applications, I just read one where one of the letters of recommendation was written by a Nobel Prize. Just that...

Typical foods from Argentina

2014-03-14T15:59:00.003-07:00

Dear students:

The following are NOT considered "typical" foods from Argentina:

- tacos
- vodka
- fish (except in Patagonia, where trout may be considered "typical")
- guinea pigs (????)

Thanks
Spanish Prof

*Facepalm*

Prayer

2014-03-12T22:25:00.001-07:00

Today, the students in my language class had their midterm exam. We've practiced a lot, but some students weren't feeling very confident, I think. Right before the class started, and I give the exams, a student raised his hand and asked me: "Profesora, would you lead a prayer for us?". I was suddenly puzzled, not knowing how to react. I put my best smile on and answered: "I' sorry, I am Jewish, so I won't be able to lead the class in prayer. But if you feel the need to prayer, please go ahead". And I soon as I said that, three more students starting praying. First time something like this happened to me after almost 7 years of working here.

And even worse, now I am REALLY scared of starting grading the midterms

Teaching on auto pilot

2014-03-08T13:56:00.002-08:00

This is a weird semester, teaching-wise. Two sections of Intermediate Spanish I, and my good-old friend Latin American Civilization I (it covers from Pre-Hispanic civilizations until Independence). In a sense, I feel like I am teaching on automatic pilot. I know this sounds bad, or like I don't care, but it is not exactly it.

I put as much effort and diligence as usual. I plan my classes, adapt to the need of my students, and have devoted a lot of time trying to bring one particular section of Spanish 3 up to what my standards are, since they are struggling. So what do I mean by teaching on autopilot?

This is the fourth time I teach Latin American Civilization I. Both the major and the minor requires that students take one of the following courses: Latin American Civ I, Latin American Civ II, or Spanish Civilization. Because of rotation issues, students end up taking whatever is offered the semester they decide to take that requirement. Therefore, in Latin American Civ I, I always end up with a majority that has little or no interest in the colonial period. The three previous times I taught the course, I spent a considerable amount of energy trying to design a course that was both challenging and attractive to my students (and to me, since it is not my field of expertise). I revamped the syllabi, changed readings, spent a lot of time trying to find resources, etc. The results were usually the same. Some students liked some readings, others liked different ones, but I never got students fully engaged in the course. My students evaluations were good but not outstanding (in the 3.8-4.2/5 range for the numerical part). Comments were usually something like: "The professor is good and shows enthusiasm, but the topic is dry". This time, I gave up. I accepted that I will not create a course that my students like and respond as well as Latin American Civ II or other upper level courses.* So the syllabus is almost identical to the last one (ok, I changed a few things, but that is in my nature). I am my usual enthusiastic self, but I don't stress if students seem disengaged at times. Whatever they get out of the course is fine, and if they don't like it...well, too bad. So I spend less time prepping for it, and stressing about it, or trying to make it attractive. I teach on autopilot, in the sense that I already know most of the material, have class notes and lectured prepared, as well as assignments. So far, the course is going well, with no surprises but no deep insights either.

Regarding Spanish 3, last year one person revamped it with no input from the rest of the faculty (long, unbloggable story). I hate the results, the book chosen and the course design. Last semester, when I had to teach it for the first time, I had anxiety attacks for almost a month regarding it. Until I realized that I had tenure, so if I didn't want to assign the prescribed online homework for day X (yes, that is the level of micromanagement that one person designed the course with), well, nothing was going to happen. So, without changing the book, I did my own redesign and guess what? Nothing happened. I was confronted once about not following the syllabus to its last comma, I stood my ground, and the person backed off. I am not saying that my version of the course is great, just more...rational. Last semester, the section I taught was exceptional, to the point where I was afraid I was going to be accused of grade inflation. That's how good they were. This semester, one section is struggling and the other is OK. They take it because it's a gen ed requirement, not because of their deep love for Spanish. And it's OK. I am stuck with a book I hate and a course design I try to make the best out of. I know I am doing my best with what I was handled, but I stop spending hours online to complement the really awful material (particularly the cultural sections) the book has. That's what I mean by teaching on autopilot.

I will be curious to see my students evaluations this semester. Usually, I can predict what a particular class will say. This semester, I have no idea.

*I got the best evaluations of my career last semester in my "Introduction to literary analysis" course where I used the novel Plata quemada as the starting point to teach narrative and critical theory. Those of you in the field will understand what a challenge that is (for the professor and the student).

Using OpenHire for faculty searches

2014-02-16T15:18:00.003-08:00

I have a question for my readers: how many of you have any experience (or works at a place that has decide to adopt) the software OpenHire (http://www.silkroad.com/HR_Software/OpenHire-Applicant-Tracking-Software/Overview.html) for Faculty searches. If so, how was your (or your colleagues) experience using it?

Driving in the snow

2014-02-14T17:56:00.001-08:00

I am about to drive to the airport to pick my sister, who somehow managed to get into one of the few non-cancelled flights from NYC into my city. Here, it snowed around 3'', and the roads are not clear. I hate driving in the snow. My sister doesn't have a phone, so I can't call her and tell her to grab a taxi. I am about to cross the threshold of nervousness into full-blown anxiety. Aghhh

Unexpected summer expenses

2014-01-18T13:09:00.000-08:00

Weddings. Two of them. This is seldom an issue in Argentina, where there is much less mobility, so people get married in the same city they grew up. In the U.S, so far, all the weddings I have been invited to, except one, were in town. The exception, I flew from my current location to Orlando, because a student I had my first semester as a TA in grad school was getting married, and invited me. It was a significant cost, but how could I not go?

This upcoming summer, two former students are getting married, and they both invited me to their weddings. I am flattered and touched. And I will go. It is a symbol of what I value most about my job, the connections I establish with my students. But now, I need to figure out how much will it cost me and B. to attend. One wedding is in St. Louis, the other one is near Cleveland. Both locations are within driving distance (if you leave aside the fact that B. has arm problems so he can't drive for too long, and I absolutely hate driving for more than an hour in a row), so that will cut down the cost. But there are still hotels, etc. Maybe I should take the opportunity to do some kind of tour of the Midwest. The fist wedding is in St. Louis at the beginning of August. The other one, in Cleveland, is a week later. Any suggestions of a road trip in-between?

Report to Tony Grafton, two years later

2014-01-16T18:00:00.000-08:00

A few years ago (November 2011), Historiann tagged me, and other academic bloggers, to write a piece that addressed Tony Grafton's article at the New York Review of Books, where he goes over the different explanations that one can find in recently released books as to who is to blame for the crisis in US higher education. As Historiann explained:

Grafton concludes that given the tremendous diversity of the American “system” of higher education, we need more fine-grained and close-up studies of how higher education is working–or not working–for American students, administrators, and faculty, and the larger communities they serve. . .

and therefore she had call us, the academic bloggers, to contribute to the project. I was then a tenure-track, Assistant Professor in a mid-sized religious university at a mid-size city in the Midwest. I got tenure last year.

I have been thinking about that piece lately. I went back and re-read it. It is a clearly optimistic post. While I recognize that I may have skipped some unsavory things because I was a nobody on the TT, I recognize where my enthusiasm was coming from, and I believe I was giving an honest account of my perceptions. To be clear, I DO NOT think I was naive them. However, I am becoming more pesimistic by the day. This is due to a combination of internal factors (specific to my university), and external factors. Let's see:

These are all quotes from the original post:

My university has a well-earned prestige in the region, as a rigorous liberal arts institution where students receive an individual attention from faculty. It is true.

Search committees usually look for candidates who have a research agenda but also is committed to teaching and challenging the student.

The administration backs, as much as it is possible, the product it sells.

To sum up: I love my job, I like my colleagues and my students. My Dean is awesome and I don't have major complaints about the administration.

In addition, I would say that the student population hasn't changed that much in the past few years. So where is the problem? Except for the complains about the administration, everything I said still holds. At some point, I wondered how sustainable (high tuition, high discount rate), the model my university provides is. And here is the first crack: apparently, not too much. There are budget problems, former cash cows that don't meet enrollment targets. And what you get from some of the higher ups is a mixture of disconcert, paralysis, and "let's try many things and see if something sticks". In short, we lack a vision for the future. And it is scary. The Chief Academic Officer, probably the most lucid of all of the higher ups, resisted the MOOC fad for over a year, putting his job on the line for it. At the same time, he wants to take as many classes as possible online, and the support we get to do it is minimum. And he is the good guy. At this point, most faculty just want a vision and leadership, and it is not happening.

And I didn't even mention external factors (maybe in another post). I wonder, of all the bloggers who contributed to Historiann's call, what do they think about what they wrote now. Does it still stand? Have you changed your outlook? Just curious...

*

Jonathan Mayhew has a new blog

2014-01-16T10:00:00.001-08:00

I can't cook anything that takes more than 15 minutes to prepare, so I doubt I'll be a regular reader. But I know many of my readers are great chefs, so go over there and enjoy the treats:
http://mayheweats.blogspot.com

PhD debt survey

2014-01-14T19:29:00.001-08:00

Karen Kelsky did an informal survey about PhD debt. Here are the preliminary results

All I can say is WOW...I am stunned. I will never understand this country's attitude to debt. I am not being judgmental. Because of its chronic unstable economy, in Argentina it is very rare to acquire long-time debt: there is almost no credit. There really is a cultural difference. I remember how nervous I was when I got a loan to pay for my first car. Six figures for a PhD in the Humanities? It wouldn't have crossed my mind.*

*To be fair, even if it had crossed my mind, I would have not been able to get loans as a foreign student. So full ride it was, very frugal living, and $5K of credit card debt that probably financed going out on the weekends and the MLA trip and job applications

Responsibility-Centered Budget Model

2014-01-14T12:52:00.000-08:00

Has anybody heard about the so-called Responsibility-Centered Budget (RCB) model of higher education? Does any of my readers work at an institution that has implemented it? If so, what are the pros and the cons? It has started to circulate that my institution wants to move to a Responsibility-Centered Budget Model, and from everything I gather, it sounds like a very bad idea from an educational point of view. And probably even from a financial point of view (provides wrong types of incentives). However, I am not a finance person, and I am trying to educate myself. Any insight into Responsibility-Centered Budget will be greatly appreciated.

Tenuredsplaining

2014-01-12T00:32:00.000-08:00

In this post, I want to give a shoutout to Lee Skallerup (@readywriting) for the "conversation" she had on Twitter early on, where among other things, a certain TR didn't seem to understand that the MLA was heavily policed and therefore a lot of grad students and adjuncts can't make it to the panel (and afford the cost to do it). Despite what was said in the Twitter "exchange" , Lee works tiredly to organize, online and offline. Lee is an amazing new voice to have for those of us who give a crap about highered. Those of us who try to do something, little by little, in our jobs, even if we don't pompously portray ourselves as public intellectuals.

Civility

2013-12-30T16:24:00.002-08:00

Last May, I wrote for the first and only time about Rebecca Schuman. I had some disagreements with her (and I still have). I explained those disagreements. I ended the post saying: "If you disagree with her, be civil. Otherwise, you are just a jerk". As soon as I posted it, I emailed it to Rebecca. And guess what happened? Nothing. Or yes... She had no problems with my disagreements. We are now Facebook friends. Maybe the response (or lack of thereof) has to do with the fact I was being civil and not calling her names? With the fact that I was treating her as my interlocutor and not as a child who needs to be shut down? Probably...

Helping a student celebrate an anniversary

2013-12-11T21:36:00.005-08:00

I got an email tonight from a former student (in a SPAN 102 class). He met his girlfriend in my class, and when he asked her out on the first date he promised her that they would celebrate their 11 month anniversary as if it were their 50 year anniversary, because that's how important and in love he was (apparently, it took him the whole semester to get the courage to ask her out). I have kept in touch with both of them, and really like them. Well, the 11 month anniversary is coming up, and he wants to plan something special and somehow make me do an appearance or something. He doesn't know exactly what to do, but would like to brainstorm with me. I'd love to help him, but I have no idea how. Any suggestions?