We look into Grace Idahosa’s lecturing journey through the Politics department of Rhodes University.
Lecturing has its high and lows but the experience has been okay so far. There are days when I like it sometimes I do enjoy it. All in all I enjoy teaching; it just when I have to deal with the administration part of it that’s been difficult. Then there are dynamics of dealing with different problems the 1st years bring from high school. However I am impressed with the students because in the past years some students complain about the accent or that you are not good enough because of your skin colour.
So far the students have raised concerns that I talk too fast. I guess it is different when a white person talks too fast but then it’s a problem when a black person talks fast said Grace Idahosa. We have also experiences issues with the microphone at sometimes when not everyone can hear. However, I think it’s just an excuse students make in order not to attend classes by saying I speak fast said Idahosa. I have tried talking slowly and it seems to be working so far. I talk at the pace that I think. So it’s difficult for me to slow it down. So I decided to write everything down so that I can remind myself. It is easier if I write the notes down the day before class. If I happen to forget something when I do remember it I simply write it down or add it when talking.
Being a black female lecture is not much of a barrier than my age. Some of the students are politically aware and are happy that there is a black female in front of them. There is disrespect sometimes, but I don’t pay attention to it. I relate to the students as peers when in class. Although when I am in class I do not laugh with the students expect after class even though I may say something that makes them laugh. They see me as this relaxed person outside the classroom and a different person in the classroom and I think that is why they think I am confrontational said Idahosa.
A few students feel that I am confrontational she added. If I was a different race, class or age, they wouldn’t see my telling the student in class when they are making noise or disturbing to come and share said Idahosa. They feel me giving the student the mic is confrontational although I do not see how that is confrontational. Idahosa explains confrontational as going off on a student or shouting at a student in front of the entire class. Some students want to undermine you and your authority on things in class. I feel that it has to do with my race and gender. If it were an elderly lecture or man being strict and asking a student to walk out or share their thoughts they would not see that as confrontational.
I find preparing for the lecture even before the lecture starts so that you are familiar with the material. If I prepare the night before and not look at it in the morning there are some things that escape my mind. I am more confident if I also go through the material the morning and actually go through what I want to say. I feel more comfortable, confident and prepared for the lecture.
My personality does not need me to rely on institutional support, coming from Nigeria one does not receive much institution support there. You learn to be independent and do things on your own and want to do things on your own. However there is a support system in place in the department.
One thing that was challenging with lecturing for me was not having a space where I can be alone in the office as I had to share the space with other people. A separate space where you can go and prepare for lectures helps with concentration, because I can read as much I want and also gather thoughts after a lecture.
So far I love lecturing; it’s been a good experience. You would think teaching is easy but it’s not. It’s like the greatest thing that you can do for society, being a lecturer. Being a lecturer you cannot really see the fruits of your labour. You just hope that you have done your job. You need to be called for that.