IE/Plan II Oral History, Identity and Diversity
"For my Plan II Junior Seminar, I am currently taking
Oral History,
Identity and Diversity. Our assignment for the semester is to interview
three students with different racial/ethnic backgrounds, transcribe and
edit those interviews, and perform the oral histories we collect. One
of
the main focuses of the class is the importance of listening. Dr. Norkunas
told us in the beginning of the semester that our listening skills would
improve throughout the class, but I was skeptical because I've always
considered myself a good listener. Eight classes later, I discovered
I was
wrong. While I might have been above par in comparison to my peers, my
ability to listen to narrators in interviews or my family and friends
in
everyday life has improved more than I thought possible. We do these
listening exercises in class and analyze what it means to be a good
listener. I have even taken those exercises outside of class and shared
them with friends, so that they can benefit too. I am now a much more
open
and nonjudgmental listener, and I am learning so much more about those
sharing their stories with me. As an aspiring inner city high school
teacher, listening will be crucial for making personal connections with
my
students. Every student will have a story to tell, and I hope to be a
perfect vessel for their words. This will develop a mutual respect between
my students and me and will help me be a more effective teacher. My
pursuit of a teaching certificate through UTeach Liberal Arts has been
a
defining path throughout my UT days. I learn with every field experience
that teaching is my calling. The listening skills I have developed in
my
Junior Seminar and my involvement in the UTeach track will help me to
reach my future students and help me to fulfill my passions."