Things I Have Learned by Teaching Communications

Being an adjunct college instructor is a lot of work, but it is also enjoyable and rewarding. I have been teaching writing and communications courses, mostly through online programs, for over a year now. Evenings and weekends are taken up with grading assignments, papers and discussion threads. One of the spare, upstairs bedrooms is where I conduct classes online and hold “office hours.” It has been a rewarding experience so far.

If I had to name one thing I have taught myself through teaching writing and communication courses, it would be that I still have so much to learn about writing and communication.

The majority of the students I teach are adult learners. Many of them are working full-time and going to school part-time in order to improve their opportunities. Many of them are people who could not finish college when they were of traditional “college age”, but now they are going back and trying again. You have to give these students a lot of credit (no college pun intended). They want to earn that degree and better themselves.

And here is what I have learned, and continue to learn from teaching: I am not even close to having all of the answers. Just because I have the teacher’s edition of the textbook does not guarantee that I have all of the answers. It is humbling.

I have learned that just because I have that teacher’s edition textbook that might have additional information on a specific communication concept; it does not guarantee that I fully grasp that concept. Reading and re-reading helps.

I have learned I do not understand every rule of grammar and punctuation. I also have learned that many of the rules I do understand, I still think are illogical, just as I did when I was in elementary school.

What I have learned by teaching communications is that there are so many theories and principles that I might never get around to studying, understanding or teaching so many of them. We are all students. Always.