Musings by a Non‐“Born Teacher”

• Published date: 01 January 2011
• Date: 01 January 2011
• Author: Lynda J. Oswald
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-1722.2010.01087.x

Perspectives on Teaching

Musings by a Non-‘‘Born Teacher’’

Lynda J. Oswald

n

When I was asked by the Journal of Legal Studies Education (JLSE) Editor-in-

Chief Tonia Murphy to write this essay on teaching perspectives, I was

slightly bemused. I know extraordinary teachers, both within my school

and within the Academy of Legal Studies in Business (the Academy)F

faculty to whom teaching seems to come as naturally as breathing, who are

larger than life in the classroom, who teach with a degree of energy and a

flair for drama most of us can never hope to emulate, and who seem to

infuse enthusiasm and passion for whatever subject they happen to be ad-

dressing into every student they encounter. We have all seen these incred-

ible teachers in action, and they are a wonderful sight to behold. They

seem to have been born to teach.

I do not consider myself to be a member of that august and select

group. I am passionate about teaching, and I care very much about how

and what my students learn. I am forever plotting and planning new ways

to enhance their educational experience and the lessons they take away

from my classes. But I do not pretend to find it easy. Teaching to me is

work–rewarding and highly satisfying work, but nonetheless hard work

that requires serious and sustained effort.

I am in awe (tinged with a liberal dose of envy) of those faculty to

whom excellent teaching is seemingly effortless and natural. The present-

ers at the Academy’s annual Master Teachers workshop inspire me, and yet

I doubt that I will ever teach with the ease and grace that they seem to

display in the classroom. When it comes to teaching, I am more of a

yeoman, who performs capably and diligently, with perhaps rare and ran-

dom flashes of brilliance, and who strives for continual improvement, but

who works hardFreally hardFto get to that point.

So, I wondered what reflections on teaching I could offer that would

be relevant and useful to readers of the JLSE. And then it occurred to me

r2011 The Author

Journal of Legal Studies Education r2011 Academy of Legal Studies in Business

143

Journal of Legal Studies Education

Volume 28, Issue 1, 143–148, Winter/Spring 2011

n

Michael R. & Mary Kay Hallman Fellow,Professor of Business Law, Stephen M. Ross School

of Business at the University of Michigan.