Do You Teach the Spirit of Hospitality?!

How many of you out there feel like a pinball?  I am teaching 5 classes this fall on top of being the associate department head and the first week always feels like getting the spruce goose off the ground, if there are those of you old enough to remember that event of long ago.  Make no mistake, however, as I am not complaining.  I love it!  I love teaching and I love the students!  They are my raison d'etre!

The one thing I have learned is that first impressions mean alot in teaching.  There is research that I read long ago that indicated the impresssion student's form of a professor in the first 10 minutes of the first class will be a lasting one and not likely to change.  So I enter each first class with high energy, enthusiasm and a profound interest in what I am going to be teaching the students and commitment to their learning.

Take today for example.  One of the ways I do energize students on the first day is in my introductory class with 200 students.  I teach them the words to the fight song by singing it.  I think school spirit and the spirit of hospitality are in the same family so I take on the demeanor of a southern Baptist preacher and get kids to stand up in class and sing the fight song like there is no tomorrow!  I start by yelling, "Do I feel school spirit moving in the room this morning?!  Some tentatively say back, "Yes!"  I then yell louder, "I said, do I feel school spirit moving in the classroom this bright sunny morning!"  The majority of students are now on board, yelling back "Yes, you do!"  I then ask for an "Amen!"  The kids yell back, "Amen!"  Then we put the words to the fight song on the screen and start singing.  You should see those 200 kids yelling out the fight song at that time.  The energy and the enthusiasm is awesome!  And that is how they leave the first day of my introductory hospitality and tourism class with 200 kids in it.  Think they are excited about our next class as a result? 

So talk to me, my brothers and sisters!  What are you doing to get your students jacked up to learn?!  Let me know, or send a video clip, to share with those in our learning community.

Now, let me have an Amen!!!!