I Am Not Alone: Reaction to the Take 20 Video

The most comforting part of Todd Taylor’s film Take 20: Teaching Writing is it demonstrated to me that I am not alone. Every instructor has anxieties about teaching for the first time. While I may not display my concerns about teaching, I do have them and knowing that highly respected and accomplished professors had similar experiences helps to alleviate my anxieties. I think that the Take 20 video is a valuable asset to all teachers, regardless of discipline, and it should be mandatory viewing for all graduate students pursuing teaching careers.

I like that it provided references to authors and articles that can provide guidance to new teachers, and that the teachers who were video taped offer advice and general methods for instruction. Such as “What are the aims of your writing courses?”, “How do you organize your course syllabus?”, “How do you design a lesson plan?”, and “How do you create a writing assignment?”, to name but a few. All of the sections of the video contained at least some information that new first year composition instructors would find useful. Another interesting observation that I made was the synergy between many of the teachers. They would name the same authors and articles as influential, most of them stated that they still enjoy teaching writing, and that they find teaching students to write is fun. In all of my excitement about applying to and being accepted into graduate school, orientation, grading, and course work, I had forgotten that teaching is supposed to be fun. Take 20 helped to remind me of that.

Stylistically, the video was edited in a way to change the impact of its reception. The black and white sequences are intended more like video diary entries. They are the teachers’ thoughts and opinions on a particular question. The black and white sections feel more relaxed, or not as scripted. In contrast, the sequences in color feel more structured, less organic.

While the Take 20 video is important for all teachers, both current and future, it is only a beginning. I plan on reading several of the articles mentioned in the video to broaden my understanding of the art of teaching writing. Perhaps the most useful purpose of the video is reassurance. I have never taught in a classroom setting with thirty plus students, and the knowledge that some of the best in the field of composition did and still do feel anxieties about teaching is a comfort to me. It also helps to keep in mind that some of the reasons I chose teaching as a profession, is that I enjoy imparting knowledge and seeing that knowledge applied. While I am going to make mistakes, I am more comfortable with that because I have video testimony that others have made them as well.