Got an interesting offer a few minutes ago. Advice appreciated.

[Lyric]

One of the teachers from the Adult Ed Center called to congratulate me on getting accepted into college, and made me a very interesting offer. She wants me to teach an adult class on Poetry over the summer--broken up into two sections. The first section would be on Poetry Appreciation, and would focus on helping low-income adults gain a wider exposure to, and appreciation for, poetry. The second would be a Poetry Writing & Composition course for adults.

This is an amazing honor, but I'm not sure about it. Firstly, I don't have a college degree in English. All I know is what I can do by instinct, and what I've taught myself through research. What if I get something wrong? Admittedly, it's a cheap class meant for poor people (the cost for each section is $10, and that's for 8 classes). I just don't want to make any mistakes.

Secondly, I'm not sure how to be a teacher. Is it even fair to potential students to give them a teacher who isn't a trained professional?

Your thoughts?

[bicentennial_baby]

1. Hm

I'm a tutor, and have tutored/taught large classes of ESL students in the past, all without a teaching degree. I think if it's right for you, you will find it comes to you instinctively. Also, for $10, I don't think they're going to feel cheated having a teacher with such an obvious love of English, writing, and reading. :)

Did you share your concerns with the person who made the offer?

[Lyric]

4. Yes, and she feels that

I have enough ability and experience to do well. Maybe it's just because I hold teachers as sacred in my heart, and I have a hard time seeing myself in that role.

Don't get me wrong--the thought makes me REALLY excited! I just don't know if it's "right". :shrug:

[bicentennial_baby]

5. I say go for it!

I think you can do it, and it will most likely enrich your own learning experiences further. There's nothing quite like being on the other side of the desk, so to speak, trust me. Very enlightening. :)

[plcdude]

2. I would advise you

to pursue it further with the one who made the offer in order to make clear their and your expectations for this teaching experience.

[Richardo]

3. I would ask those questions of the person who made the offer

She obviously thinks you can do it...she would probably welcome the discussion.

Congratualations and good luck!

[johnnie]

6. The teacher obviously thinks you are capable

I say go for it. It will be good experience for you too.

[RogueSpirit]

7. Go for it

If you are inexperienced and got that offer, then that means you have a passion that is recognized. You should do it. If nothing else, it will look good as volunteer work on a resume or some other type of application.

[Dora]

8. Of course it's fair.

If you feel called to teach, and obviously someone has called you to do so, then I advise you to listen to opportunity knocking.

You mention being college-bound yourself, and teaching experience is an invaluable addition to your college resume.

I strongly urge you to make the leap. Putting together a syllabus for a poetry appreciation course should be easy enough (teach from what you know and love), and facilitating a poetry workshop for adult writers demands more social skills than canonical knowledge.

Absolutely. Do it.

[Lyric]

9. You nailed it right there.

I *had* been worried about creating a syllabus. This isn't something that's ever been offered before as a class here, so there isn't a set syllabus to teach. If I do this, I'll be creating the entire thing from the ground up.

That's actually the best part, though. I'd rather teach from what I *know* than to try and follow someone else's idea of a well-rounded curriculum. For *me*, it's wonderful, perfect, exciting. I just needed someone to tell me that it wouldn't be unfair to my potential students.

I'm already writing down what I want to teach for the first section. I think I'll choose a poet from a few major genres to concentrate on, with a bit of bias toward English and American poets. Byron, Poe, Eliot, Whitman, Plath, Frost, Angelou...I'm so excited!

[Oeditpus Rex]

15. That freaked me out once

Many years ago, I knew a dean or something at the local adult school, and I tossed out the idea of teaching a basic photography class. He said, basically, "Cool. Write the course outline."

Huh? Why can't I just wing it? :shrug:

More recently, I guest-taught journalism to eighth-graders and they let me wing that. Didn't even ask what I was gonna talk about on a given day. (In retrospect, I should've been more aware of the typical eighth-grader's attention span and brought bowls of Ritalin or something.)

[Parche]

10. Poetry Job

Roses are red, violets are blue, that is a good job, I would take it if I were you!!!! :rofl::rofl:
:hi:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

11. I'll just address your last question.

Not to be rude in any way, but there's a reason they asked you and not a trained professional.

They are likely two-fold:

1) There probably isn't a professional that would take the job for the money being offered. There aren't enough qualified professionals to go around for full-cost jobs, much less one like this.

2) You've demonstrated a love of poetry that gives you a better chance of reaching these people than someone just there to collect the meager paycheck.

[Midlodemocrat]

12. Go for it. If you run into trouble, just ask DU for help.

There are some amazingly prolific writers here.

Do it. Do it. Do it. :hi:

[Joe Fields]

13. You can wallow in self doubt, or you can enjoy the journey.

:hi:

[idgiehkt]

14. you absolutely have what it takes

you are an enormously talented poet. Most people who are devoted to poetry want to learn from people who are good at poetry, not from people who may be good at teaching (which I'm sure you are good at too). Don't deny these folks this opportunity.