America's youth are now in my hands. Be very afraid.

[kellinator]

Tomorrow is my first TA session. I'm getting more nervous to the point where I'll probably barf on myself in the classroom tomorrow morning. Not a good way to instill respect for authority in what one of my favorite professors calls "the little fucks."

I have to teach them Beowulf. What the fuck do I know about Beowulf? Well, more than they do, for sure. I'm looking forward to telling them that "when I was your age we read Beowulf in the snow uphill both ways." What if they don't laugh? Oh-my-gosh-what-if-they-don't-laugh. I will be shot for the whole fucking semester if they don't laugh. And the kid that I chewed out Wednesday is in my discussion group. Nanbear said that if I had said that to her she would have told me to stuff it. Or something like that.

I was going to read them a few lines in the original but i can't find them to print out. What if I screw them up? Like they'll know. Knowing my luck, there will be some smartass who sprung from the womb proclaiming "HWAET!!" What if I haven't prepared enough? What if they decide Katy is the cool TA and I'm the sucky TA? What if I drink too much coffee before class and need to pee?

I know that panicking will make it worse, but that just makes me panic about panicking!

Comments

Teaching

[nanbear.livejournal.com]

You will (or have) done fine today!

My comments are based on a very adult fact -- those "kids" paid money to sit in that class and listen to you. They can leave, ignore you, work on other things -- it doesn't matter. If they play "the game" to get the grade, that's all they are required to do. I spent an entire semester writing letters to people instead of listenig to the lecture. I did the work, read the books and such on my own time. The only reason I showed up to class because of attendance. I aced the class - in fact, I got the highest grade.

Walk with caution, but earn their respect. Then you will have no problems of any kind. :)