onefixedstar: (academic)
onefixedstar ([personal profile] onefixedstar) wrote2004-03-10 02:25 pm

Review session fun

I just found out that I get to practice my public speaking skills next month: two hours, 594 students, Convocation Hall, and me. Well, me and another TA. At least they're mostly first year students, which lowers the intimidation factor a little, although the environment should make up for that and then some. Even with the Con Hall aura, however, I suspect it will still be a less anxiety-inducing experience than conference presentations typically are. I wonder if we get to use all those wonderful Con Hall gadgets?

My phone keeps ringing, but there's no one there. Probably telemarketers whose computers got ahead of their callers. It's getting irritating.

[identity profile] stillvisions.livejournal.com 2004-03-10 02:34 pm (UTC)(link)
Fun fun... Never had to address anything near that size, at least not as a teacher. For smaller crowds though, I've found that I'm not one to get stage fright (might be different for that size though); usually I just go off on a rant and forget they're there, or once I make them laugh (with or at me) it's all good.

Good luck, and remember to have a few good stock snappy answers to "what's on the exam" and its variants.

[identity profile] onefixedstar.livejournal.com 2004-03-11 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I think the first comment we're going to make--probably up on the screens--is that we don't know what will be on the exam. And then we'll flash that up again every time they ask. ;)

Smaller crowds don't bother me in a teaching situation--the usual twenty student study group is fine. I'm not sure yet whether 600 will bother me, but we'll see.