One of the most common things I’m asked about is what it’s like to be a college professor and what are the classes that I teach. Keeping in mind the results of the blog survey, indicating many of you having an interest in hearing more about my every day life and topics in psychology, I thought this was a great way to incorporate both!
In the video I discuss how I got into teaching, what I actually teach, and what I love and … not-so-love… about my job.
As I said in the video if you have any questions about the classes I teach, or what it’s like being a teacher, please ask me!
I also have to share these photos I took of Salem being a beast on the couch the other day. Someone on twitter called him the kitty godfather.
He’s gonna make you an offer you can’t refuse.
Have you ever thought about teaching?
Do you feel weird seeing your professors out in public?
Great post Erica! Psychology is so interesting and I look forward to more posts about it. I’m really interested in the psychology behind personality, especially the concept of introverts vs. extroverts — is that something that you cover? I’m an introvert, but most people I know are extroverts, and I often feel like they don’t understand me (or vice versa!). I would love to learn about methods for bridging the gap, or hear your thoughts on this topic in general.
I’m glad you enjoyed the post! I’ll add your suggestions to my on-going list of topics. I’m very interested in the growing population of people who have social anxiety or introversion. Our technological advances have isolated this generation more so than any others and society is seeing a marked increase in the number of people who have difficulties in social settings!
Thanks for sharing your experiences with teaching, Erica! I too teach at the college level and was terrified initially. I was a shaky, sweaty mess. It’s been five years since my first class and I have improved dramatically, but I still get nervous in the beginning with a new group. Teaching is very draining– I agree most people don’t really get that. The other thing that I dislike sometimes is how repetitive it is. I try to make it fresh for myself and students, but some days I do just feel a little off. I hope you share more about teaching and public speaking– I’m so interested in the topic. I think the most dificult part for me is actually introducing myself in the very beginning!
I’m so glad I wasn’t the only first year teacher who was a total hot mess! I also still get nervous on the first day of class. I remember someone asking a professor in graduate school if he still got nervous after teaching for 40+ years and I’ll never forget his reply “The day I stop feeling at least a small amount of nerves before the start of a new semester is the day I need to stop teaching.”
I should have mentioned the repetitiveness as being another negative! I taught FOUR sections of the same class last term and my life felt like one semester-long deja-vu. Not fun! I’ll add ‘getting over public speaking’ to my list of potential topics!
I have thought about teaching. I still do, actually! Thanks for sharing your experiences. Also, Salem cracks me up! What a cutie.
You should try to teach then! What subjects? Do you have your Masters?
omg I love you cat! he’s s cute :)
Thanks! He’s totally bipolar and will attack me randomly but I still love ‘em :)
Okay so don’t hate me for this comment but usually I’m so not a cat person and yet I think your cat is the cutest I’ve ever seen!! What breed is he?
Lol, your complimenting my cat, I could never hate you! He’s listed as just a Domestic Long Hair (mutt, basically) but people who’ve seen him are convinced he has some Maine Coon in him because of his mane and ridiculously long body.
Great to hear perspective from another relatively young professor — I just finished up two years of teaching a night class as an adjunct (in addition to my full time job), and I know precisely what you mean about the energy–though there was a bit of leeway with a studio class, sometimes I could turn the tables and have the students run a critique. The teaching routine itself definitely did get better after the first semester, but one thing I never could get a great hold on is the grading and correcting. As much as I loved teaching a creative class, there were many times that I yearned for a simpler way to evaluate projects — correct vs. incorrect would have been amazing, but it was always so hard to separate the student from the project when evaluating.
I definitely felt weird seeing professors out in public when I was in school, especially when it turned out that a couple of them frequented similar places and we had slightly overlapping social circles, but I think my first run-in with a former student ‘in the wild’ takes the cake. After my first semester, I ran in to a student at her summer job working retail. And proceeded to buy a bra from her/store. Awkward!
Lol!!! That would have been pretty awkward buying a bra from a student. I’m fairly certain it was worse for the student!
Grading is definitely another negative I should have mentioned. I’m fortunate in that I’ve designed my classes now to turn in one homework journal at the end of the term with all their assignments I’ve given throughout the term so I just have one huge assignment to grade versus many small ones. Aside from that I give out 4 tests (all multiple choice) and that’s the extent of the work. I wouldn’t even know where to begin grading creative work!
Kind of one of those damned if you do, damned if you don’t situations at that point, as I’d already been in the store awhile and had a couple bras in hand by the time I saw her and said hi. So at that point… might as well continue my purchase…eek.
I’ve always wanted to be a professor, but I can still relate! I am adjuncting whilst working on my doctorate in literature. Talking to people about what you love is an amazing thing- especially when the students start to get interested and excited as well!
Teaching while going to school was the roughest time for me! I can empathize with how busy, and sleep deprived, you must be. Do you plan to teach once you completed your Phd?
Yes, it is busy and just a little bit hectic :) I do plan to teach full time once I’m done – it’s what keeps me committed to the dissertation in the moments it’s looking too daunting!
At least your so close to finishing! I couldn’t fathom going past my Masters (for now). I hope to be rich and have tons of free time later in life so I can go back and get my Phd ‘for fun.’
Your Salem is adorbs!
:D He’s a total mama’s boy.
I’m a PhD candidate in Biological Anthropology. In the Fall I taught my first course and I agree with you 100% on everything. I was a mess before nearly every course, but the biggest predictor for the success of the course was my energy level. This was also a 3 hour course in the evening. It was very rewarding, but took a lot of work and energy. I was usually completely drained by the end of class. Right now I’m supervising a distance course online which is interesting, but I miss the interaction with students.
I’m looking forward to seeing your future posts on Psychology. I’ve always found that Psych and Anthro are very closely related. I would love to see tips, advice, and strategies for teaching as well.
I taught an online class once years ago and it was total chaos and am teaching one this term. It’s …. interesting. I took quite a few myself as an undergrad and I’m convinced you don’t learn nearly the same amount online as you do in class. Particularly courses like Psych and Anhro as I’m sure you all get into the same lively discussions as we do! I taught 3 night classes in a row last term (Mon-Wed) as well as day classes every day. I’m pretty sure I blacked out the entire month of October. People just don’t get it unless they’ve done it! I’ll have to think for a bit on any unique teaching strategies/topcs I can offer. I’m happy to see so many of my readers are instructors!
I LOVED watching your vlog today. I feel like I get to know you so much better when I watch one of your videos. I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it much on my blog, but I used to be a teacher. I taught 6th Grade Writing at a low-income charter school here in Houston, and I know what you mean when you say that a person can’t fully empathize with what is demanded of a teacher until they’ve been one. Everything you said about the energy you have to come to work with every day and never being able to be “off” is right on. But the rewards of having engaged students, interesting discussion, and ultimately, changing lives, makes it all worth it. :) Thanks for opening up!
I’m glad you enjoy the videos! I started doing them mostly because I always love it when I see my favorite bloggers do them (speaking of – when are you joining in the vlog party!?) I didn’t know you used to teach! I can’t imagine the energy needed to deal with 6th graders all day. I volunteered for a year with high-achieving, but high risk, 4th and 5th graders on the weekends and it was rewarding but so challenging. I will say that they were, overall, better students than my college kids that year! What made you decide to move away from teaching?
Your cat is too cute/funny!
Seeing him sit ‘like a person’ is always the highlight of my day!
I love The vlog and finding out more about you! I am a psychology major and I’m graduating in may and I absolutely LOVE psychology but I am not going into it. I do always read up on it ad stuff though because it is just so interesting. I bet you’re an awesome teacher haha I’ve never had a total newbie teache rbefore so I wonder how that would look, but clearly you must have done well even in your first few years sin they kept wanting you to stay and students liked you :) did students have a problem taking you seriously since ou started so young? I see that a lot although more frequent in high school from what I remember than college. Did you face any challenges other than public speaking?
I think I was really lucky in that my students have always taken to me pretty well. Even though I remember how horribly nervous I was that first year my mentor told me later on that he was really impressed with how good I was in front of a classroom. We are always our harshest critics! I’ve found that I carry myself and dress very professionally when teaching so that helps them take me seriously. I used to worry that older students wouldn’t think I knew what I was talking about but they are always my best students (and most respectful!) What are you doing if your not going into Psychology?
That was such a great video! Can’t wait to read upcoming posts about psychology, etc :D
Thanks! I have a lot of work to do since I’d like to approach them as I would a genuine freelance writing project for publication but I’m excited to post up at a bookstore this weekend and get to work!
You are SO freaking cute!! How is your hair so shiny?!? Haha you should vlog about how to get awesome hair ;)
LOL. I just switched to a new shampoo (that I love) and am going to do a ‘natural product’ beauty post soon!
I have my masters in social work, but have never had the desire to teach. The only time I was ever weirded out by seeing a teacher in public was when I was at my college bar and saw 2 of my old HS math teachers. THAT was weird.