Went well! Really! Went very well. I ran about 3 minutes short of the time, but all things considered it was a success.
The only glitch was that the phone on the stage of the lecture hall started ringing like halfway through my lecture. Strange, no? So I picked it up, and just said: this is a lecture hall. Do not call back. Then I hung up. The entire class erupted with laughter. I wish now that I had answered it and found out who it was–but the lecture must go on.
Little things I’ll keep in mind for next time:
- It’s helpful to summarize the preceding lecture briefly–in one or two sentences–before beginning in earnest
- Time really does speed up at the podium…slow slow slow
- Minor brain farts are an inevitability. Just recover, don’t freak out, and return to notes.
- Students are surprisingly generous and forgiving, and looking for opportunities during lecture to laugh or get engaged. Either that, or they are asleep. (I saw a few nappers). If they are asleep, then it’s pretty much impossible for you to do a bad job as a lecturer.
- Reading from a script really is OK, so long as you have moments where you either engage with students, or just speak more spontaneously. But TAs I spoke with afterwards said that it didn’t sound artificial or dry to have read thusly…so! Yes to fully written lectures.
- Slow down some more.
It was a good experience. I feel much more confident about my ability to be an academic…it’s an unexpected feeling. Lecturing is kind of fun.
Splendid!! I had no doubts, but still, what an enjoyable report. I love the phone part — surely your cool about unexpected events endeared you to many students.
Happy lecturing in future!
Comment by lisa — January 22, 2009 @ 10:52 pm |
You rock, Apricot! My lecture last semester ran 9 minutes short of the time, and I know I went super-quickly. Almost every grad student I’ve talked to says the same thing about their first lecture: “I talked way too fast, and had to let them out early.” But I know we’ll get the hang of it, and someday we will be known as engaging and charming lecturers whose classes are sought out by all
BTW, The Boy just had an on-campus interview at Dartmouth, and they seem to luuuuuuuuve him (one of the junior profs is taking him skiing today!). If he gets an offer, can I pick your brain about life in Hanover?
Comment by Lindy — January 23, 2009 @ 8:44 am |
Eek! Daaaartmouth, eh? Fantastic. I hope he gets an offer, and if he does, I will provide all the dirt on Hanover. It’s a lovely place to live; you’ll really like it, if you don’t mind a lot a lot a lot of wilderness.
Thanks, Lisa! Yay for lecturing!
Comment by apricot — January 23, 2009 @ 11:44 am |