I like teaching. I realize that it&#039s a lot of work, and I also realize that half of my class will forget most of what they learn in my class, but I enjoy teaching. I have spent the past three hours working on lesson plans, the syllabus, homework assignments and catching up on attendance. I&#039ll spend part of this weekend grading papers (I&#039ll probably do that at Nick&#039s when we&#039re watching a movie or something) and another part re-reading the materials and coming up with lesson plans. I spend a lot of time checking my e-mail for questions from my class, and starting next week, I&#039m going to start sending out mass e-mails which will inform them of all the on-campus events I can find that they can attend (they&#039re required to do three by the end of the semester). I know it&#039s a lot of work, but this bunch seems really worth it. Today we had our library orientation where we visit the library and the class has the catalog and database systems explained to them. I saw only a handful of students using the computers for checking their e-mail or playing on-line pool. When the instructor asked questions, a couple students actually responded! Then when the library instructor said that the class part was over and they could stay if they wanted in order to play around with the web site, no one jumped up to leave. Several students actually stayed to talk about their future research projects and to talk about where they can get more information. I was so happy! I think the class must be having fun with me otherwise they would have been out of there in a flash. I&#039m just so happy that the class is running so smoothly. We&#039ll see how things go when I assign the first essay though. 😉

Other than that, my afternoon is going to be taken up with phone calls to newly admitted students to confirm whether or not they&#039re planning on attending here in the fall. I&#039ve got a few other calls to make, then it&#039s working on my own homework for Language Universals due tomorrow. Busy busy busy! Time to get back to it since my lunch break ended oh, about a half hour ago (not that I noticed my lunch break: I haven&#039t left the office and spent the whole time working on lesson plans). Have a good afternoon!

Posted: January 26, 2005 at half past one in the afternoon or so.