Elena turned ot to be the best interviewee, and prior to me she had been interviewed by quiet a couple influential sources. here's her interview for CBS during the times she was unemployed, before she found her vocation for teaching
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/26/eveningnews/main5792877.shtml
And here's mine:)
1. Elena, what has shaped your professional choice? (educational background, volunteering and other professional experience)
Multiple factors have shaped my professional choice as bilingual teacher and education reform advocate. As a Cuban-American, I have lived in many Hispanic countries and attended bilingual schools. I studied International Cultural Studies for my undergrad and am now pursuing a graduate degree in Bilingual Childhood Education. Volunteering kicked off my teaching career during the recession when I volunteered as an ESL teacher at the International Center New York. I found I had a real talent to teach and loved doing it at the same time. After finding my niche (in between unpaid internships and waitressing), I started tutoring low socio-economic children, coming to terms with their everyday obstacles. This has played a significant role in shaping my professional choice because I realized I want to make a bigger impact in my community for educational reform as a bilingual teacher.
2. What helped you find your vocation?
Volunteering. The fact that I loved what I was doing for no financial compensation really made a difference in my psyche towards careers. Its about what you love to do, not about how much money you make.
3. Have you heard of "emotional labor" and if so, do you consider yourself performing it?
Not until recently :) Emotional labor is a very interesting subject when it comes to teaching. I definitely use my 'emotions' when I work, especially when I grow attached to my students. Does my salary depend on it? No. Therefore, I don't really consider that fact that I perform emotional labor. Although this only really works for one-on-one tutoring sessions when I can really be myself. I think I would perform some emotional labor if I were to work as a public school teacher (that in which I plan to do when I graduate). There are so many rules schools have teachers abide by in terms of their 'conduct', and but I suppose this goes for any job really. The bottom line is...would my salary depend on it? The answer is no.
4. How stressful is your job?
Not at all. I really feel like teaching comes naturally to me. I am very comfortable with my students. Teaching is by far less stressful job I've ever had. The most was when I waitressed. Now I have learned that was mostly due to my 'surface acting' in my emotional labor demanding job where I was ridiculed to smile all the time (it drove me crazy!). The only stressful aspect about my current job is the lack of money, but I have learned to live a life without luxury and materialistic things. I am very satisfied.
5. How do you like your schedule?
I love my schedule. I have pure flexibility to change sessions with students whenever I see fit. I think a 9-5 job would drive me insane.
6. What are your professional goals?
My ultimate goal is to be politically involved in education reform. I want to institute optional bilingual classes in every kindergarten and elementary public school. I am very influenced by the European education model. My years of teaching in a public school after I graduate will offer me the experience and necessary tools to really make a change.
7. Please, describe your relationships with students and their parents.
I feel like there is a very thin line between teaching a parenting. They both go hand in hand. Parenting is teaching. I'm just the 'extra' vehicle that provides knowledge to my students in a way that parents are not trained to do. Teaching also requires discipline, another parenting tool. The worst comment I could ever receive from a student is "your not my mother!". The boundaries are very thin its easy to confuse one for the other.
8. How does it feel to be exposed to kids with lack of skill all the time?
I love it. Its what makes me a teacher. My job is to fill build that skill and is challenge that I enjoy to tackle. The instant results are proof that I am good at what I do.
9. Do you feel higher involvement with your private students (one-on-one tutoring sessions) than in class?
Not necessarily. Both have their pros and cons of course, but I believe when it comes to attention, involvement, both can be equal. 'Bad teachers', for lack of a better term, are incapable of gaining the attention of an entire class. They simply 'talk to the board' and don't pay attention to whether or not students are really paying attention. Good teachers are constantly aware of their students involvement and now how to avoid distractions.
10. What other jobs supposed to involve emotional labor have you had? How did you do on them?
Refer to #4. I was a horrible waitress.
11. How absorbing is your current job? Do you have enough time/space/energy for your private life?
Emotionally, it is very absorbing. I become very attached to my students care a lot about them. None of this really effects my private life. I have always liked keeping work and play separate from each other :)
12. On the scale 0 to 10, how would you describe your content with your current position?
7....only because I know I am on the verge of kicking off my career. I still have grad school to finish, teaching in a public school, and gaining a significant political position. I won't be truly satisfied until I can create major change in the system.
13. What do you think about incorporating modern technologies into education? Skype classes? (Role of computers making kids dumber and distracting) What do you think is the right proportion of computer exercises and direct contact with a live teacher? (examples)
I think incorporating modern technology is a wonderful idea, especially for language classes. Students can connect with other students all over the world through programs like Skype to practice their new language. For example, American students learning Spanish and connect with Mexican students learning English. I believe some private schools are using this, but I'm not quite sure. I believe that the proportion of computer exercises vs. live teacher definitely depends on age. Elementary students for example need more 'live' teacher time for distraction/monitoring purposes. It would be very difficult for a teacher to monitor 20 computers at the same time for hours to tell if the students are gaining any knowledge form what they are doing. Older students, especially at the college level, can use for computer time and little 'live' time, if it’s even necessary. There are a few language schools in South Korea that are paying American teachers to give classes online (the hours are from 5 till 9 am usually).
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/26/eveningnews/main5792877.shtml
And here's mine:)
1. Elena, what has shaped your professional choice? (educational background, volunteering and other professional experience)
Multiple factors have shaped my professional choice as bilingual teacher and education reform advocate. As a Cuban-American, I have lived in many Hispanic countries and attended bilingual schools. I studied International Cultural Studies for my undergrad and am now pursuing a graduate degree in Bilingual Childhood Education. Volunteering kicked off my teaching career during the recession when I volunteered as an ESL teacher at the International Center New York. I found I had a real talent to teach and loved doing it at the same time. After finding my niche (in between unpaid internships and waitressing), I started tutoring low socio-economic children, coming to terms with their everyday obstacles. This has played a significant role in shaping my professional choice because I realized I want to make a bigger impact in my community for educational reform as a bilingual teacher.
2. What helped you find your vocation?
Volunteering. The fact that I loved what I was doing for no financial compensation really made a difference in my psyche towards careers. Its about what you love to do, not about how much money you make.
3. Have you heard of "emotional labor" and if so, do you consider yourself performing it?
Not until recently :) Emotional labor is a very interesting subject when it comes to teaching. I definitely use my 'emotions' when I work, especially when I grow attached to my students. Does my salary depend on it? No. Therefore, I don't really consider that fact that I perform emotional labor. Although this only really works for one-on-one tutoring sessions when I can really be myself. I think I would perform some emotional labor if I were to work as a public school teacher (that in which I plan to do when I graduate). There are so many rules schools have teachers abide by in terms of their 'conduct', and but I suppose this goes for any job really. The bottom line is...would my salary depend on it? The answer is no.
4. How stressful is your job?
Not at all. I really feel like teaching comes naturally to me. I am very comfortable with my students. Teaching is by far less stressful job I've ever had. The most was when I waitressed. Now I have learned that was mostly due to my 'surface acting' in my emotional labor demanding job where I was ridiculed to smile all the time (it drove me crazy!). The only stressful aspect about my current job is the lack of money, but I have learned to live a life without luxury and materialistic things. I am very satisfied.
5. How do you like your schedule?
I love my schedule. I have pure flexibility to change sessions with students whenever I see fit. I think a 9-5 job would drive me insane.
6. What are your professional goals?
My ultimate goal is to be politically involved in education reform. I want to institute optional bilingual classes in every kindergarten and elementary public school. I am very influenced by the European education model. My years of teaching in a public school after I graduate will offer me the experience and necessary tools to really make a change.
7. Please, describe your relationships with students and their parents.
I feel like there is a very thin line between teaching a parenting. They both go hand in hand. Parenting is teaching. I'm just the 'extra' vehicle that provides knowledge to my students in a way that parents are not trained to do. Teaching also requires discipline, another parenting tool. The worst comment I could ever receive from a student is "your not my mother!". The boundaries are very thin its easy to confuse one for the other.
8. How does it feel to be exposed to kids with lack of skill all the time?
I love it. Its what makes me a teacher. My job is to fill build that skill and is challenge that I enjoy to tackle. The instant results are proof that I am good at what I do.
9. Do you feel higher involvement with your private students (one-on-one tutoring sessions) than in class?
Not necessarily. Both have their pros and cons of course, but I believe when it comes to attention, involvement, both can be equal. 'Bad teachers', for lack of a better term, are incapable of gaining the attention of an entire class. They simply 'talk to the board' and don't pay attention to whether or not students are really paying attention. Good teachers are constantly aware of their students involvement and now how to avoid distractions.
10. What other jobs supposed to involve emotional labor have you had? How did you do on them?
Refer to #4. I was a horrible waitress.
11. How absorbing is your current job? Do you have enough time/space/energy for your private life?
Emotionally, it is very absorbing. I become very attached to my students care a lot about them. None of this really effects my private life. I have always liked keeping work and play separate from each other :)
12. On the scale 0 to 10, how would you describe your content with your current position?
7....only because I know I am on the verge of kicking off my career. I still have grad school to finish, teaching in a public school, and gaining a significant political position. I won't be truly satisfied until I can create major change in the system.
13. What do you think about incorporating modern technologies into education? Skype classes? (Role of computers making kids dumber and distracting) What do you think is the right proportion of computer exercises and direct contact with a live teacher? (examples)
I think incorporating modern technology is a wonderful idea, especially for language classes. Students can connect with other students all over the world through programs like Skype to practice their new language. For example, American students learning Spanish and connect with Mexican students learning English. I believe some private schools are using this, but I'm not quite sure. I believe that the proportion of computer exercises vs. live teacher definitely depends on age. Elementary students for example need more 'live' teacher time for distraction/monitoring purposes. It would be very difficult for a teacher to monitor 20 computers at the same time for hours to tell if the students are gaining any knowledge form what they are doing. Older students, especially at the college level, can use for computer time and little 'live' time, if it’s even necessary. There are a few language schools in South Korea that are paying American teachers to give classes online (the hours are from 5 till 9 am usually).
Irka, this is great stuff to work with. I think, as we discussed before, the best focus for you is going to be around teaching itself and its connection to emotional labor. If you look down a few posts at the guidelines for option one, your next step is to edit this into a "Terkel-style" format: this will from the point of view of the interviewee speaking, and then you can write your reflections. I look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeleteRemember to get me your essay #2 as soon as possible - if you want you can email me at laura.tanenbaum@gmail.com
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