Enthusiasm

[stoutfellow]

I am, by nature and preference, a quiet person - shy, reserved, bookish. It may be possible to be an effective teacher while still displaying those traits, but I haven't found it so. Over the years, I've taught myself to be more demonstrative when teaching.

Last night, in my abstract algebra class, I was introducing the students to the concepts of ideals and factor rings, giving them examples and ways to think about these ideas. I grew excited, gesticulating, visually representing the act of modding out an ideal... and suddenly the pitch of my voice went off the scale. (I suspect that, had any dogs been nearby, they would have howled in response...)

I stopped, collected myself, and completed the thought in a more normal register. It took a minute or so for order to restore itself.

Enthusiasm is a good thing, right? Right?

Comments

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Awww...

Of course it is. I hope your students appreciated it.

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

I imagine that any student perks up when the teacher is displaying animation about the subject...especially when it's so abstract. Keep the enthusiasm going!

[toraks.livejournal.com]

Enthusiasm is a good thing, right? Right?

Definitely!!!

I'm sure they took it the right way!! :-D

[filkferengi]

Hey, you showed some passion--good for you! Savor that.

Besides, enthusiasm's contagious [in the good way]. Who knows whom you may have inspired?

[carbonelle.livejournal.com]

Enthusiasm, is, of course a good thing.

In moderation.

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Enthusiasm, is, <i>of course</i> a good thing.

In moderation.

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