Laurie Taylor Column

TEACHING: ON THE FRONT LINE

What is your experience of teaching? The THES asks teachers how they manage.

Name? Dr Piercemuller.

Age? Pardon?

Age? A long way off early retirement.

Job? Reader designate in the School of Media and Cultural Studies, University of Poppleton.

Qualifications? You name them, I've got them.

Experience of teaching? As broad as it is wide. To tell the truth, I've always thought of myself as essentially a teacher. So when I was offered a job lecturing at Poppleton, I jumped at it. Here was the chance to stand in front of students and arouse within them the same sort of enthusiasm that I felt about my subject. Oh yes.

Hours spent teaching? It varies according to my research commitments. This term, my teaching is mostly confined to two first-year seminars a week - but two exciting groups of students. Largely illiterate, and mostly silent. But it's the challenge that counts. Yes indeed.

Hours on research? I believe that if one is a true academic, then in a sense one is always researching. Even when one is sitting on a foreign beach miles from one's own campus.

Teaching bugbear? Teaching.

How would you solve it? Extended research leave.

Best teaching moment? Coming in to teach and discovering that the students have organised another boycott.

Worst teaching moment? Teaching.

Outside interests? Recreational drugs and a little blackjack.

Dr Piercemuller, thank you for answering our questions.

Thank you for having me.