2008/09/11 Amsterdam
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Questions

Looking back

Last night after my second class a student approached me while I was waiting for my taxi.
“Can I ask you something, Mr. Grunberg?” the student asked.
“Of course,” I answered.
“It was intense,” she said, “but some of your questions were personal. It felt like being in therapy from time to time.” I answered: “I don’t know how to speak about reading and writing without acknowledging that it is a personal experience. And discussing a text is a personal thing to do as well. Asking for a definition of let’s say power is already a personal question. But please alert me next time when you feel I cross a border."
I must admit that her comment made me feel insecure for a few minutes.
On the other hand I had warned the students. Before I started my first class I said: “You are looking at me, but I look back at you.”


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17 comments Last_comment
If eyes could peel, your eyes surely could peel an onion.
said Jan Thys 11/09/2008 12:42 • x
That's not really a question. It has more of a remark.
said Mieke Dutoit 11/09/2008 12:50 • x
Identical twins
This is a very nice picture - especially since it's not quite clear whether they are really reading the same book.
said Teresa I. 11/09/2008 13:18 • x
To me, this was a very pleasant meeting. I had many questions afterwards - some pretty existential. To ask oneself questions is a great way to get to know oneself. Please do not hold your horses next class, mr. Grunberg!
said Deru Schelhaas 11/09/2008 13:52 (Updated 13:53) • x
Deru
Don't worry. But next Monday I feel obliged to stress that it is perfectly okay to not answer certain questions.
said Arnon Grunberg 11/09/2008 14:44 • x
Jan
Taken out of context, that sounds like a particulary disgusting pick up line :-)
said dries van cann 11/09/2008 16:18 • x
Recording
I wish the classes would be recorded and made available online. But I guess it would be too intrusive given the apparently rather personal conversation in the room.
said Michel V 11/09/2008 16:37 • x
Arnon
There's no need to be insecure, they're just not used to the way you teach.
In my days we had Adriaan van Dis. He gave us lots of homework.
said Margot Morgan 12/09/2008 10:50 • x
Margot
I give them assignment as well.
I have been told that Adriaan van Dis was reading some of my essays with the students.
said Arnon Grunberg 12/09/2008 11:04 • x
@Arnon - is your class conclued by an exam? Ie - does the material you teach 'count' in that sense? If so, then I think I'm able to explain your students' attitude.
said noa fenenga 12/09/2008 11:30 • x
Arnon
Don't believe everything they tell you.
said Margot Morgan 12/09/2008 13:09 • x
Margot
Actually it was a professor who told me this.
said Arnon Grunberg 12/09/2008 16:44 • x
Noa
I do teach a Plato course as well, there students will get grades, based on their participation in the discussions and a final paper.
In this course there are no grades. The students will write a paper at the end, but that is about it.
If their participation was not satisfactory I'm supposed to mark this down on my list.
This is a result of Judith Herzberg's class many years ago. She gave all her students an A+.
said Arnon Grunberg 12/09/2008 16:49 • x
Arnon
The willingness of your students to attend your course already deserves a +.
said Mieke Dutoit 12/09/2008 17:48 • x
Arnon
What do your students have to read from Platon?
said Manon Kadoke 13/09/2008 03:01 • x
Manon
We read Symposium.
said Arnon Grunberg 13/09/2008 13:41 • x
A very wise woman Judith Herzberg. I dare say wiser than your 'B+ plus max' professor (so incredibly and exhasparatingly Dutch of him, wouldn't you agree?).
said noa fenenga 15/09/2008 03:28 • x
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