I'm 78 years old who taught for 25 years as an Adjunct in both Los Angeles and Helsinki. The points made in this video are one hundred percent on target.
Coffee is your friend before class - after a day of work you got to show up and bring it - or students will tune you out. Energy - knowledge - passion- engagement - (agree that connecting with students is the greatest------and we who do it are not in it for the bucks)
I just got hired as an adjunct professor to start on the path to be a tenured (hopefully) full-time professor. This video was great insight into the world I'm about to enter.
I am an adjunct professor and this is my second-semester teaching. I have 9 students this semester. You're spot-on! I hate keeping my students till 8:00pm. The pay is a joke. I am happy that I have a small number of students each semester. I am also a graduate research assistant. What research journals?
Hi! Just now finding your channel. I’m an adjunct instructor in Sweden (meaning I’m employed full time but I don’t have my doctoral degree and only part of my role includes teaching). I’m going on my fifth year and will have a lot more classes in the year to come and is looking for professional development tips as a teacher!
Excellent video - superb analysis of the highs and lows, pros and cons. All the comments are very accurate and insightful. Key point: Make sure you adjunct for supplemental pay only, then you must have another real, full-time job to pay the bills and prepare for retirement. I was Adjunct for 25 years and I loved it, but my regular job prepared me financially for retirement. Best wishes to all of you. mark o. age 68 retired [ still do some P/T teaching...as she says, it keeps our skills sharp ! ]
I love being an adjunct instructor because of the flexibility in the job. And YES to how we can get to know our students fairly well. Especially for in person classes. Online classes are good too.
Oh my goodness. I wish that I had watched this video before starting the semester. It would have helped to set the tone for me as a new adjunct instructor.
Oh, the games academics play, we could write/record/document volumes on these Kafkaesque experiences and the drama...do you prefer a maze, or a labyrinth???
Love your videos!! I am a college student who is pursing a psychology degree in hopes of becoming a psychology professor, however, I have several questions about the hiring process and requirements
I teach Bible College Christian Philosophy 1 1/2 year now. I sit on the board as the Vice President. I love teaching because I love seeing my students that teach graduate and move on to greatness.
Thank you for this video and I especially thank you for the last Positive Note... Absolutely need that to keep going, till it becomes absolutely hopeless.
Thank you for making this video. I am considering becoming an adjunct professor at my local community college. Your video has given me more insight into what to expect should I make the decision to move forward.
Thank you so much! This video is amazing and realistic! Loved every part of it, especially the end. You are right, teaching is rewarding and fulfilling!
love this video! i'm a full time lecturer, but i am very good friends with some of the part-time/adjunct lecturers in my department and i can hear them agreeing on you with so many things! especially the part about not having to deal with work politics haha. one more thing they'd add is probably that they don't get the same work perks as full time staff for big things such as health insurance :O to smaller things like campus restaurant discounts. i have a question though, at 9:05 you talk about having to figure out how to organize and engage the class/create the syllabus/grade/create assignments/etc.. do you need to have prior teaching experience/teacher qualification for the job that you have? i am definitely shocked that you'd have no standard or existing course structure to go off though. did they expect you to design an entire course or curriculum on your own? but it sounds more like they should have provided a teacher training course for you or you'd have to have prior teaching experience. just curious! :)
May Liao thanks for your comment!! I thought about the health insurance thing when I was editing - definitely a huge downside and not on my radar screen only because I get insurance through my other job. But such a bummer for people who are trying to make a living as an adjunct. To your second question, I can see how I made it sound like they take just anyone off the street 😂 which is not the case. You have to have a terminal degree (generally a PhD) in the field as well as prior teaching experience, both of which I had when I was hired. We also have set learning objectives for each course (although how you achieve those objectives is really up to you as long as your syllabus/teaching methods pass inspection during faculty evaluation). But specific teacher training is not required, which has always seemed strange! At least for me, knowledge of the subject matter does not feel like the same thing as knowledge of how to teach that material to others. And there is really nobody to ask when I have a pedagogical struggle or question I can’t answer. All a big part of why I started this channel, so I could find other college teachers like yourself who are thoughtful about practice and willing to engage in discussion. Now that I’ve commented your ear off, what is your favorite part about being a teacher so far?
my comments haven't been all that short so no worries about commenting my ear off! :D about your response to my second question. where i teach, you also do not need specific teacher training either - you actually just need at least a master's degree or higher in the related field and some prior teaching experience to be considered for the job. whereas if you want to be a teacher for kindergarten til high school you'd for sure be required to have specific teacher training such as a postgraduate degree in education or teaching credentials. it is strange like you said! funny how when you get to the university level knowing HOW to teach goes away. it's actually an issue because lots of lecturers/professors are hired solely for their research and expertise in the field and that gives the uni a better reputation - but they also have to teach every semester! so i have a lot of students that suffer in their classes and tell me they don't learn anything and they struggle a lot because that prof "can't teach". it's hard to have both at the university level sometimes. in terms of my favorite part about being a teacher, it's that teaching is a profession where i have the chance to help and inspire. i've had some very influential teachers in my life who were also my role models and they made me want to be curious - read, watch, listen and learn more. so now i can do the same for my students hopefully! another thing is that i love the subject of languages and communication and since i teach English i get to share that passion. you didn't ask haha but... my least favorite thing is that it's mentally and physically draining - in ways being a teacher is like being an entertainer - you have to practice/rehearse, make sure the audience (students) doesn't fall asleep, make it somewhat enjoyable/exciting, crack a few jokes now and again, be standing the whole time, etc. lol maybe i'm being a bit dramatic but it's an exhausting gig is what i'm saying :)
May Liao oh my gosh, you’re not being dramatic at all. It’s so true! It’s physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding and you have to put so much of yourself out there for every class. Then there are 20 minutes after class is over where I can’t stop talking a mile a minute followed by the inevitable crash and teaching hangover 🙄 what a life!! 😂
Hi Lila, cool video! I have a bit of a random question - I am currently running a series of interviews to better understand the adjunct professors' perspectives on student reporting. I would love to get your input on this - Would you maybe be open to having a chat?
Thanks for this video. You have me thinking and I’ve been watching other videos as well about the life of an adjunct professor. So do you find that most teachers who want to teach at the college level have to start out as adjunct professors or is there an equal amount of opportunities for both adjunct and full time employment. I’m thinking of getting a 2nd masters and from what I’m hearing, it ain’t worth it.
@@star999nine yes that is what I heard. Right now I am a current high school teacher as well as adjunct. I only teach two sections at a local community college, but full time at high school. I think I'll stick to high school and just keep things as they are. Thank you again for your input.
I have been teaching at the middle school level for twenty years and my new MA in American history has opened the door for me to get my feet wet as a college adjunct professor part time.
Hi Doctor Lila. Thank you so much for the great video! Its the info. that i needed. My question for you is, is there a math class specialty you would reccomend such as Algebra or Statistics?
Good afternoon I have been subbing at for high schools as well as elementary schools in the city I live in. I have been working on my doctorate in the mean time. Right before COVID-19 I became a permanent employee. I discovered that my time of studying became more and more limited. I am now thinking about pursuing a remote adjunct position. I was wondering if you could share some insight on the subject of time in completing my online doctorate? Thanks Victoria!
Hi Dr Lilla.. I'm looking to do adjunct online as a mid-career English and creative writing individual ... How did you apply for your position. Any an all suggestion are helpful. Thanks for this channel...
Hi ma'am. Im a Bs nursing graduate with an MA in Biology education and Phd in Biology education. Do I qualify to teach college level students with these credentials? Or should I align my bachelors degree to my graduate degrees to qualify?
Evie Redding I would love that! Cant wait to see yours. I don’t know if you saw my other comment but was wondering what you thought about doing a collab of the first year teacher tag.
I''m sure that you are an excellent teacher, but need to aim for becoming unionized. All the effort you have put in can be washed away when you and others are told: "Oh sorry the budget's being cut, your $800./month job is now zero. If you were supporting your child, then what? And you shouldn't accept that treatment from the "professor" at the copy machine. That is disrespectful BS.
YOU FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE!!! 6) having cheap, meaningless sexual relationships with students that disappear by the end of a term or two! 😉 that counts for the BEST and the WORST thing about the job, depending on your emotional investment in the fun. 😉
I am an Adjunct music instructor and your video helped me get my position. Thank you!
I recently completed my doctorate. I plan to secure two adjunct professor positions next semester or quarter. Thank you for this video!
I'm 78 years old who taught for 25 years as an Adjunct in both Los Angeles and Helsinki. The points made in this video are one hundred percent on target.
Coffee is your friend before class - after a day of work you got to show up and bring it - or students will tune you out. Energy - knowledge - passion- engagement - (agree that connecting with students is the greatest------and we who do it are not in it for the bucks)
I just got hired as an adjunct professor to start on the path to be a tenured (hopefully) full-time professor. This video was great insight into the world I'm about to enter.
I am an adjunct professor and this is my second-semester teaching. I have 9 students this semester. You're spot-on! I hate keeping my students till 8:00pm. The pay is a joke. I am happy that I have a small number of students each semester. I am also a graduate research assistant. What research journals?
W Cunningham “what research journals” 😂 glad to have you here!!
This is spot on! I teach at 2 colleges and have a full time job. It is rewarding but it’s a lot of work!
Thank you so much for your candor. I have just accepted my first adjunct position and am eager to start. It's good to hear the good and the bad.
Hi! Just now finding your channel. I’m an adjunct instructor in Sweden (meaning I’m employed full time but I don’t have my doctoral degree and only part of my role includes teaching). I’m going on my fifth year and will have a lot more classes in the year to come and is looking for professional development tips as a teacher!
started teaching 3 months ago. this is very spot on so far!
Good points. I am about to embark on a teaching career as an adjunct. You are right, teaching is very rewarding. Thank you for the information.
Excellent video - superb analysis of the highs and lows, pros and cons. All the comments are very accurate and insightful. Key point: Make sure you adjunct for supplemental pay only, then you must have another real, full-time job to pay the bills and prepare for retirement. I was Adjunct for 25 years and I loved it, but my regular job prepared me financially for retirement. Best wishes to all of you.
mark o. age 68 retired [ still do some P/T teaching...as she says, it keeps our skills sharp ! ]
I love being an adjunct instructor because of the flexibility in the job. And YES to how we can get to know our students fairly well. Especially for in person classes. Online classes are good too.
I’m considering becoming an adjunct professor and your video is the fist piece of information I came across. Very helpful
Oh my goodness. I wish that I had watched this video before starting the semester. It would have helped to set the tone for me as a new adjunct instructor.
Worst thing. THE PAY.
Oh, the games academics play, we could write/record/document volumes on these Kafkaesque experiences and the drama...do you prefer a maze, or a labyrinth???
Love your videos!! I am a college student who is pursing a psychology degree in hopes of becoming a psychology professor, however, I have several questions about the hiring process and requirements
I teach Bible College Christian Philosophy 1 1/2 year now. I sit on the board as the Vice President. I love teaching because I love seeing my students that teach graduate and move on to greatness.
Thank you for this video and I especially thank you for the last Positive Note... Absolutely need that to keep going, till it becomes absolutely hopeless.
Thank you for making this video. I am considering becoming an adjunct professor at my local community college. Your video has given me more insight into what to expect should I make the decision to move forward.
Thé best part of teaching as a grad student was my union! Fight for higher pay, security and benefits through labor solidarity.
OMG!!! This video could not be more true. This was too real.
Thanks for this video. Just starting as an adjunct prof and this is very helpful. Good video!
Thank you so much! This video is amazing and realistic! Loved every part of it, especially the end. You are right, teaching is rewarding and fulfilling!
PREACH!! love your videos. just found them
This is brilliant! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for this video!!!
I am considering jumping in to the adjunct world!
love this video! i'm a full time lecturer, but i am very good friends with some of the part-time/adjunct lecturers in my department and i can hear them agreeing on you with so many things! especially the part about not having to deal with work politics haha. one more thing they'd add is probably that they don't get the same work perks as full time staff for big things such as health insurance :O to smaller things like campus restaurant discounts.
i have a question though, at 9:05 you talk about having to figure out how to organize and engage the class/create the syllabus/grade/create assignments/etc.. do you need to have prior teaching experience/teacher qualification for the job that you have? i am definitely shocked that you'd have no standard or existing course structure to go off though. did they expect you to design an entire course or curriculum on your own? but it sounds more like they should have provided a teacher training course for you or you'd have to have prior teaching experience. just curious! :)
May Liao thanks for your comment!! I thought about the health insurance thing when I was editing - definitely a huge downside and not on my radar screen only because I get insurance through my other job. But such a bummer for people who are trying to make a living as an adjunct.
To your second question, I can see how I made it sound like they take just anyone off the street 😂 which is not the case. You have to have a terminal degree (generally a PhD) in the field as well as prior teaching experience, both of which I had when I was hired. We also have set learning objectives for each course (although how you achieve those objectives is really up to you as long as your syllabus/teaching methods pass inspection during faculty evaluation). But specific teacher training is not required, which has always seemed strange! At least for me, knowledge of the subject matter does not feel like the same thing as knowledge of how to teach that material to others. And there is really nobody to ask when I have a pedagogical struggle or question I can’t answer. All a big part of why I started this channel, so I could find other college teachers like yourself who are thoughtful about practice and willing to engage in discussion.
Now that I’ve commented your ear off, what is your favorite part about being a teacher so far?
my comments haven't been all that short so no worries about commenting my ear off! :D
about your response to my second question. where i teach, you also do not need specific teacher training either - you actually just need at least a master's degree or higher in the related field and some prior teaching experience to be considered for the job. whereas if you want to be a teacher for kindergarten til high school you'd for sure be required to have specific teacher training such as a postgraduate degree in education or teaching credentials. it is strange like you said! funny how when you get to the university level knowing HOW to teach goes away. it's actually an issue because lots of lecturers/professors are hired solely for their research and expertise in the field and that gives the uni a better reputation - but they also have to teach every semester! so i have a lot of students that suffer in their classes and tell me they don't learn anything and they struggle a lot because that prof "can't teach". it's hard to have both at the university level sometimes.
in terms of my favorite part about being a teacher, it's that teaching is a profession where i have the chance to help and inspire. i've had some very influential teachers in my life who were also my role models and they made me want to be curious - read, watch, listen and learn more. so now i can do the same for my students hopefully! another thing is that i love the subject of languages and communication and since i teach English i get to share that passion. you didn't ask haha but... my least favorite thing is that it's mentally and physically draining - in ways being a teacher is like being an entertainer - you have to practice/rehearse, make sure the audience (students) doesn't fall asleep, make it somewhat enjoyable/exciting, crack a few jokes now and again, be standing the whole time, etc. lol maybe i'm being a bit dramatic but it's an exhausting gig is what i'm saying :)
May Liao oh my gosh, you’re not being dramatic at all. It’s so true! It’s physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding and you have to put so much of yourself out there for every class. Then there are 20 minutes after class is over where I can’t stop talking a mile a minute followed by the inevitable crash and teaching hangover 🙄 what a life!! 😂
Hi Lila, cool video! I have a bit of a random question - I am currently running a series of interviews to better understand the adjunct professors' perspectives on student reporting. I would love to get your input on this - Would you maybe be open to having a chat?
I hope you are doing fine. Amazing video !
Very useful
Thanks for this video. You have me thinking and I’ve been watching other videos as well about the life of an adjunct professor. So do you find that most teachers who want to teach at the college level have to start out as adjunct professors or is there an equal amount of opportunities for both adjunct and full time employment. I’m thinking of getting a 2nd masters and from what I’m hearing, it ain’t worth it.
@@star999nine yes that is what I heard. Right now I am a current high school teacher as well as adjunct. I only teach two sections at a local community college, but full time at high school. I think I'll stick to high school and just keep things as they are. Thank you again for your input.
I have been teaching at the middle school level for twenty years and my new MA in American history has opened the door for me to get my feet wet as a college adjunct professor part time.
I am you. You are me. Great vid!
Hi Doctor Lila. Thank you so much for the great video! Its the info. that i needed. My question for you is, is there a math class specialty you would reccomend such as Algebra or Statistics?
How do you lesson plan for college students??
Good afternoon I have been subbing at for high schools as well as elementary schools in the city I live in. I have been working on my doctorate in the mean time. Right before COVID-19 I became a permanent employee. I discovered that my time of studying became more and more limited. I am now thinking about pursuing a remote adjunct position. I was wondering if you could share some insight on the subject of time in completing my online doctorate?
Thanks Victoria!
Hi Dr Lilla.. I'm looking to do adjunct online as a mid-career English and creative writing individual ... How did you apply for your position. Any an all suggestion are helpful. Thanks for this channel...
What is your full time job?
Why did you stop making the videos?
Higher ed as we knew it will end soon. Or maybe we'll have to redefine what a student is.
Hi ma'am. Im a Bs nursing graduate with an MA in Biology education and Phd in Biology education. Do I qualify to teach college level students with these credentials? Or should I align my bachelors degree to my graduate degrees to qualify?
I am a recent graduate with my MBA (Academic Practitioner) in Tennessee is online better to teach?
Are adjunct paid per month for the semester they are hired for
I loved this video! Would it be okay if I make a similar video? I would certainly credit you, of course~ :D
Evie Redding I would love that! Cant wait to see yours. I don’t know if you saw my other comment but was wondering what you thought about doing a collab of the first year teacher tag.
Oh that sounds fun! I’m in the process of a cross-country move (hence the moving vlogs on my channel lol), but once I’m settled I’d love to do that.
Do you have a PhD? I'm trying to figure out right now whether I need to do a PhD.
That's not the best way to go about deciding whether to do a PhD or not.
@@Kevin-sy8uf what's not the best way? I asked her a question, but I didn't state how I was trying to figure out whether I need a PhD.
@@abbeymore1 I meant it respectfully. But your question implied that her answer would factor on your decision.
@@Kevin-sy8uf it's been a while, but I'm pretty sure that my question was based on what she was discussing in her video.
Sounds like our college 🙉 implying that this is a global phenomenon in education
Obviously, your head football coach is putting the majority of the school budget (salaries) in his pocket. What they get paid is CRIMINAL.
That's why many PhD's teach at the local county school.....adjuncts = Low pay, No benefits....
Adjunct pay is the worst worst worst worst thing ever ever ever ever.
I''m sure that you are an excellent teacher, but need to aim for becoming unionized. All the effort you have put in can be washed away when you and others are told: "Oh sorry the budget's being cut, your $800./month job is now zero. If you were supporting your child, then what? And you shouldn't accept that treatment from the "professor" at the copy machine. That is disrespectful BS.
What a crock! Teaching is a job and being an adjunct is exploration.
YOU FORGOT THE MOST IMPORTANT ONE!!! 6) having cheap, meaningless sexual relationships with students that disappear by the end of a term or two! 😉
that counts for the BEST and the WORST thing about the job, depending on your emotional investment in the fun. 😉