Interesting Answer

Today I spent 7 hours interviewing 10 professors and associate professors for a junior development program that the State Department hosts every year. College teachers from all over the world apply and if selected, will get to teach and learn along side professors at US universities. The ultimate goal of the program is to let professors here see how professors in the US write curriculum, assess and evaluate student needs and work/relate with them. Eastern Europe (and a lot of other countries) use the old school method of teaching...teacher speak, student listen. Getting to the point, today I learned several new things:

When asked, 'Why you are applying for this program': "Well, I got my PhD so the next step is to go abroad." ....(just to let you know, not a good answer.)

When asked, 'Do you have an evaluation form for your students to fill out at the end of the semester so the students can give you feedback?': "Why would I do that? They don't have anything positive to say."

And my ULTIMATE favorite....When asked, 'What are the characteristics of a good teacher?": "Well first of all, they have to have children."

Needless to say, today I practiced my neutral political face and the 'smile and nod' move. We all laughed at the whole thing in the end. I look forward to more exciting comments tomorrow when we interview 9 more candidates.