Sometimes I come away from teaching pumped up about teaching college students. So much potential with these young minds.
Other times I'm rather discouraged, and now is one of those times. I just taught the first class of summer school, and as I was lecturing I used a word that produced a few quizzical looks. So, I stopped and explained it, and still... Finally, I asked how many student had known what the word meant? Out of 21 students, only one did, and she's attends a private college (and is just picking up an extra class over the summer).
That esoteric word: parsimony.
Other times I'm rather discouraged, and now is one of those times. I just taught the first class of summer school, and as I was lecturing I used a word that produced a few quizzical looks. So, I stopped and explained it, and still... Finally, I asked how many student had known what the word meant? Out of 21 students, only one did, and she's attends a private college (and is just picking up an extra class over the summer).
That esoteric word: parsimony.
I would not have known what it meant. I looked it up, though, and now I know.
ReplyDeleteDid they even try guessing at the meaning? It would be interesting to hear what they thought it meant.
ReplyDeleteSad to say ,students coming from private education have a better foundation than most others...lower student to teacher ratio makes a big difference.
I should have had them guess...
ReplyDeleteI thought briefly about telling them that parsimony is the green stuff served on the side of meals (instead of parsley).
But... if Andre didn't know what it means, maybe its a more specialized word than I had thought.
Well, of course, it's the middle of summer.
ReplyDeleteWhy would people be thinking about being married by Parson Brown?
...
.......
You see, marriage is a ceremony. Parson... Pars-cemony.
.....
(ribbet)(chirp)
From reading one of our journals, I'd say most PhD's don't have a clue what it means either!
ReplyDeleteI was writing a book review a couple years ago and looking for a real zinger to end the review and decided on "Parsimony is dead." It's good to see the general student body is recognizing my contribution!
Geee, I thought it was part of the "parsnip" family or a new word for "alimony" ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm feeling rather brilliant this morning ( for a nice change since I don't always understand your lovely charts/percentage tables*smile* - I did know what it meant ;)
I refuse to comment on the grounds that I may incriminate myself.
ReplyDeleteJohn, the (ribbet)(chirp) is really funny! Just add (dry cough), and you my classes reaction to one of my jokes yesterday.
ReplyDeleteDan, I hadn't thought about it, but I think you're right that parsimony is in short supply in our profession.
Sarah, I hadn't thought about the link to alimony... maybe a brief alimony agreement?
Ben, a very parsimonious refusal!
parsimonious alimony...cheap, cheap cheap or is that "chirp"?
ReplyDeleteParsimony: them thar orange puckery fruits.
ReplyDeleteOne week many years ago, I asked students to keep a list when they read the assigned chapter -- words they didn't know, and words they thought they knew but weren't sure.
ReplyDeleteNothing like a dose of reality to change expectations.
After that, whenever I caught myself using a word like "parsimony" or "austere" or anything I thought would not be in their vocabulary, I repeated the idea in a paraphrase using the most common words I could think of.
Now I'm no longer surprised by what students don't know -- vocabulary, history, arithmetic, geography, etc.
What I also find interesting is that "what students don't know" is a favorite topic among professors. For some reason, we love to sit around and tell these stories.
Funny about the fruit...
ReplyDeleteI might try a journal about not understanding... that could be useful.
You're right about student-stories. Mine tend toward funny things they say or do, but this thing struck me because it made me wonder how effectively I could teach if I have such a different vocabulary. Though, maybe using a different vocabulary is part of teaching...
wonderful how one little word can get this much attention!
ReplyDelete