Hyperfixation Station

Fics

Part of my task is to prepare a 15 minute lecture on Plato's argument for the immortality of the soul from a passage in The Republic. I was nervous at first because my philosophical knowledge right now is a little rusty. But several reads through the passage, two online guides, and a helpful article later, I think I have a good grasp of both the argument and how to present the material. Supposedly I'll be interviewed by two members of the philosophy department and someone who knows nothing about philosophy—a genuine teaching moment!

So that's one half of the interview down. The other half is, well, the interview itself. To prepare for that, I just started reading Geeky Pedagogy by Jessamyn Neuhaus. It's a book I picked up through my work years ago and I'm now finally able to dedicate some time to it. I've only gotten through the first chapter and so far it's a fantastic read on how to be an effective college teacher. The book opens with reminding the reader that just because you know a lot about something doesn't mean you can teach it well, and who of us hasn't had a poor teacher or two!

As someone passionate about the idea of becoming a teacher, the first chapter is a good reminder about humbling one's expectations going into the profession. And for me, that eased some of the pressure I've been feeling about the interview. It reminded me that this is exactly where everyone starts: teaching their first class.

It's not going to be pretty some days. It's going to be work. But it's going to be my work, and it's going to be the work that I want to do. Learning how to be an effective teacher is just part of the practice.

So! I'll be continuing to reflect on that and reading more of Geeky Pedagogy as prep in the next few days. I'll also have to sit down and draft a couple practice answers to questions I can guess they'll ask, and thankfully I have some time coming up to think about that. That, and every other life thing I have to take care of before the end of July.

In the end, to manage all that stress, I've been re-watching Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and doing the expression meme linked above of my fursona. :') I think I'll branch out and dabble with a few other characters, but mostly I'm trying not to pressure myself into working out of habit.