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5 comments
Diana,
Can you continue your history education while you teach English? True, it might take away a bit of the incentive to get the History degree done, but it also might yield more opportunities to follow up interesting topics that otherwise would get shortchanged.
Sounds to me like they’re -very- interested, so being coy (but flexible!) is probably a good way to go right now. Keep the lines of communication open, though.
If you -do- end up having to study a ME language, how about Persian? I had a TA in math who was from Iran, and he said that Persian has the same Indo-European roots that the major European languages (including English) share.
Dave
Hi, Dave.
I may have screwed up the timeline in my entry. Here’s the timeline, if I take the direct hire position (and if they decide in the end if they want me…as optomistic as I am about it, they may decide I’m too cocky or inadequately qualified or something–it ain’t over ’til the dieting lady sings):
I first finish my MLA in History. That’s May of ‘06. I’ve confirmed with my leadership that I won’t be PCSed until Summer of ‘06, so no problem there. I can’t teach at the Academy without (bare minimum) a Master’s degree of some sort, and this would be it. Since my undergrad is in English, I’m sure I more than qualify as an English instructor, even with the non-English specific master’s degree (history is close, though).
They PCS me to the Academy where I teach English (literature? writing? who knows?). If I please them, in two or three years, they sponsor me for a three-year PhD program (in English) at a civilian institution, to return and teach some more.
If I take the offer to teach English, I wouldn’t pursue the MA in History, and therefore wouldn’t have to learn another foreign language at all.
The perks of History are an interest in the subject, as well as a second master’s degree and a future PhD in the subject, as well as a guaranteed job somewhere when I retire, particularly if I go with Middle Eastern history, which is rare and very much in demand. Also, I have a good idea how to teach history. The drawbacks of the history route are that I’ll be going to school pretty much indefinitely (at least, it’ll feel that way), and I must learn a difficult foreign language in my spare time.
The perks of the English job are that I’m already qualified (except for the piece of paper that pronounces me a master’s grad) and get a break from going to school for a while, it’s easier for me than history (in almost every sense), and I already know the language. The drawbacks are that I must rediscover myself when I find myself out of school with all kinds of time on my hands, and I won’t be as marketable when I retire (although I readily admit that I don’t necessarily want to market myself when I retire).
Oh yeah. The only thing I’ve known my whole life is this: I want to be a writer.
I spoke with my parents Friday night to get their input on it. They both said without equivocation (and with endearing “since the time you could talk” stories) that I have a talent for English and I should go with it.
I’ve had time to think about it, and time to relinquish my hold on my self-imposed MA in History goal, and it seems more and more sensible. I think I shall take the English offer, but first I have to be sure. I’ll contact them Monday and find out what I need to do and when I might know for sure if they want me.
d
Diana,
Thanks for clarifying. It sounds like you’ve mostly convinced yourself that the English position is the way to go.
Something I wondered about after I first read this - is it possible that Col. Wells or somebody at the Academy is reading your blog? This is the only place I’ve encountered your writing, but based on what I see I’d say you’re a good choice for teaching composition. (You might be even better at literature, but I don’t know your work.) If they’re watching you here, this might not be the place to be discussing your career plans. Loose lips sink ships, after all. (Grin)
Dave
:D
Oh, I doubt it. The history personnel officer asked me early on if my undergrad was in history, and I told him it was in English. We were discussing my possibly being taken as a direct hire into the history department, which would explain why the deans were discussing this possibility.
Nevertheless, I’m not ashamed of what I print here, so if they find it, well…I hope they enjoy it.
d
Take it! Sounds like an awesome job. You’d get to hang out with Eric for all 5 minutes of the week when you aren’t teaching, grading, or preparing to teach.
Since we were on the topic of pedantry earlier (however briefly), I just ran across this page:
…and found myself so incensed that I felt the need to email the Hotmail staff about it. I fear I was far from diplomatic… the little angel on my shoulder did his best, but failed to prevent me from using the phrase “illiterate bastard” in the message. I sure hope that doesn’t hose my credibility… but they can check it for themselves with all those fine Microsoft Office tools, as I suggested.