Those who can't do?

[ieatbigboogers]

Whew, just got through with my first tutorial session. That is, my first time standing in front of a bunch of nineteen year old science and business majors for an hour, trying to get them to think critically about literature. I didn't crash and burn, but it wasn't exactly a moment of glory either. I had to break early, cuz I couldn't get a

Comments

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bec_87rb]

I was just thinking of you, man!

So, no vomiting, passing out, crying or anything? YOU WIN.

I have been running meetings with people above my pay grade and sweating it big-time; you have no idea how unfit to do this I feel. Or maybe you do? ;)

Isnt' it wonderful when you're done and nobody died, you didn't faint or accidentally scream out, "COITUSSHITCUNTBARBARYSMOOZLEFUCKITYFUCKTURD" or something awful when your brain, contemplating all those faces expecting you to know what the hell is going on, ground to screeching halt?

Argh. At a meeting on Tuesday, I got asked a question, and I rambled, blah, blah, blah, crash, burn, argh, and I finished lamely with, "That doesn't help you at all, does it?" At least he smiled when I said it.

So charity work in Mississippi, then? Remind me, this is Habitat for Humanity, or what?

[suegypt]

Sounds like you did just fine. I'm proud of ya!

[chhinnamasta]

What do you see to be the root of your students' silence?

Perhaps if you ease in with less complicated questions, first, you'll break the floodgate, and more discussion will ensue? Maybe use a few simple questions to build up confidence, before diving into the more complex ones? Or, try breaking the complexity down for them, a bit, when there's a silence? Or, how about asking them why they're silent? They may have no idea what you're looking for. I notice that, once a person has spoken up in a group setting, the likelihood of them speaking again rises.

[chhinnamasta]

What size is your tutorial group?

[ieatbigboogers]

25