Yesterday at an interview I found myself trying to articulate why I find teaching so fulfilling. Here is an expansion of what I said there.
- I am an introvert who is not especially comfortable at parties and dislikes small talk (i.e., conversations where the main goal is simply to be friendly rather than to discuss anything in particular).
- Nevertheless, to be happy, I need to connect with people beyond my family. In fact, I crave such interactions.
- Therefore, teaching is fulfilling in part because it is a form of social interaction with rules that are helpful to introverts. There is no awkward casting about for something to talk about for a couple of minutes; an agenda of substantive topics provides fodder for months of ongoing, “meaty” discussions. Likewise, there is less of a need to figure out who wants to interact with whom; the circle is pre-defined to include everyone in the course. Finally, as the designated expert in the room, I have the privilege of offering my perspective without needing to fight for attention. And as the moderator of the conversation, I can help other introverts find their voice as well.
[Update, Oct. 21: distinguished bio-blogger and fellow introvert Stephen Heard offers related thoughts.]
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