What you need to know about your professor

Powerpoint by Kristin A. Kiely, PhD

Myths and other mistaken ideas about professors

Myth 1The typical stereotype: “Tweed jacket with leather patches at elbows; horn-rimmed glasses; all in all a detached, rather fuzzy, graying at-the-temples figure seated in a book-lined office enjoying Darwin’s Origin of Species for light reading.”

Reality We come in all shapes, sizes, religions, and types.

The professor you “know” in class may be quite different in other situations.

Educational BackgroundDoctor of Philosophy

Spanish – Contemporary Peninsular Literature

Literature during/after Franco’s Dictatorship

Minor in Literary Theory, specifically Lacanian Psychoanalysis

Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 2008

 

Master of Arts

Spanish – Sociolinguistics

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 2003

 

Bachelor of Arts

Majors in Psychology and Spanish

Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 2001

University Affiliations Alpha Delta Pi Sorority

Member of the Following Honor Societies:

Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society

Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society

Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society

Phi Gamma Mu Social Sciences Honor Society

Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society

Professional AffiliationsModern Language Association

American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese

Southern Conference of Language Teachers

American Association of University ProfessorsMember of local chapter Board, 2008-present

Philological Association of the CarolinasMember of the Board, 2009-present

South Carolina Modern Language ReviewEditor, 2012-present

Myth 2All Professors are absent minded.

Example: One of the world's greatest scientists was also recognized as the original absent-minded professor. One day, on board a train, he was unable to find his ticket. The conductor said, "Take it easy. You'll find it."When the conductor returned, the professor still couldn't find the ticket. The conductor, recognizing the famous scientist, said, "I'm sure you bought a ticket. Forget about it.""You're very kind," the professor said, "but I must find it, otherwise I won't know where to get off."

source: http://www.jokebuddha.com/Absent-minded#ixzz3AHyoy1Iw

Reality Any of us can forget something or misplace something, but the

rate is no higher with professors than you.

However, I do have about 20 students per class, I cannot remember every single thing that everyone asks of me.

Write it down!

Myth 3Professors are only interested in teaching and especially research.

Reality Our interests are actually more varied than that.

We really care about our students and want you to come to our office hours for help when you need it.

Research InterestsSpanish Comics

Spanish Graphic Novels

Spanish Literature During the Civil War

Spanish Literature During Franco’s Dictatorship

Spanish Literature After Franco’s Dictatorship

RealityWe all have a great many interests outside of our academic life.

For example among FMU Professors you will find those who love:

Acting in plays

Such music as country, rock, hard rock, classical, jazz, etc.

Rock climbing and exploring caves

Fishing, camping, hiking, bicycling, etc.

Almost all types of sports

Physical fitness

A wide variety of movies, television shows fiction, etc.

Etc.

Favorite Books Don Quijote de la Mancha

Map of Bones

The Hunger Games

Battle Royale

Pergamino: la Bylina del hijo del Cazador de libros

Sacré Bleu

Anything Lincoln and Child

Favorite Musical Artists Alternative/Punk

Green Day

Chemical Romance

Classical

Mozart

Dvořak

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Folk Rock

Mumford and Sons

Fun.

Latino

Julieta Venegas

Diego Torres

Carlos Vives

Favorite Movies Army of Darkness

El laberinto del fauno

Goonies

The Princess Bride

The Ring

Cube

The Descent

The FamilyMy two cats are my furry children! Seti, on the left, is 6, and is very sensitive and can be a bit of a a-hole. ;) Isis is 11 and is mellow and a sweetheart. Both are attention-sluts as a former roommate called them!

Seti “helping” me grade

Isis “helping” me make the bed

Myth 4Professors are rich.

Reality A few make very high salaries, but the majority would make far

more money in other professions; some could even increase their salaries by leaving the college and teaching in the public schools.

Myth 5Professors are political and religious liberals.

Reality Professors are found over the whole range of political life from

conservative to liberal.

Professors will be found in a wide variety of religious groups.

Among our faculty you will find Southern Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Jewish, Catholics, Lutherans, etc.

Myth 6Professors don’t care if you pass or fail.

Reality We do care about your success, but the burden to succeed is on

you. You make the A or the F; we don’t “give” it to you.

In other words, you earn the grade that you get in this course; it is not a gift that I bestow upon you.

I will help you to do well, but you have to do your part by studying and practicing.

Myth 7Professors don’t like for students to come see them outside of class.

Reality Most professors do enjoy just visiting with you.

Come see us if:

It is during office hours.

The office door is open. (Or knock, but if we don’t answer, don’t be upset. We do have lots of other obligations!)

Of course, we like to have some time to ourselves and we have meetings, labs, etc. to attend

You work out a time to meet with us before or after class, during a club, society, meeting, etc.

What we expect of you

ExpectationsProfessors all vary about class attendance. The best strategy is to always attend class no matter what the professor’s attendance policy. For a language course, attendance is essential as a language requires communication.

ExpectationsWe all expect you attend examinations and turn in papers on time.

We tend to disbelieve most excuses, since we have heard so many.

If you miss an exam, then you might get a make-up exam, but the make-up exam will usually be harder than the original.

ExpectationsWe expect you to have read assigned texts, articles, chapters, etc. before class.

ExpectationsWe expect you to ask reasonable questions.

ExpectationsWe expect you to question us when you do not understand what we are discussing. If you don’t ask us about something, that doesn’t mean it won’t be on the exam.

Expectations We expect you will not show

any “high school” behavior in our classes.

Arriving late for class

Social chatter

Passing notes

Getting up and leaving class (except in the case of emergency)

Use of cell phone for any purpose.

Some ways to keep your Professor happy

(This doesn’t ensure a passing grade, but any one in a good mood tends to be “kind and gentle”).

Remember! Happiness is…Attending class (on time!)

Remember! Happiness is…Reading and completing assigned work before class

Remember! Happiness is…Having the paper, notebooks, pens, etc. you need in class.

Remember! Happiness is…Addressing your professor as “Dr.” or “Professor” unless they tell you otherwise.

Remember! Happiness is…Knowing the name and number of each course and the name of the professor, the meeting times and places.

Remember! Happiness is…Not complaining about wanting a higher grade, unless you can show that we made a mistake in our grading, summary of points, etc.

Remember! Happiness is…Remembering a professor has moods, just like you.