Mohammed AL-Abdulla

4/3/13

                                                               Nancy Cervetli

Talking with Nancy Cervetli, an English teacher at Avila University was really interesting. First I asked her about her background.

           

            According to Nancy she has a Ph.D.  In English Literature, (British Literature) and Feminist Theory from the University of Iowa. She has been at Avila University for twenty years. So, because of that she feels that she is at home. Also, she taught many classes in all different levels. For example, she taught Gender Bodies, Core Literature, upper division English, and Senior Seminar. She also likes teaching and interacting with students. She likes that because it keeps her intellectually alive and there are lots of interesting challenges and conversations.

            Second, I asked her what techniques that she uses with students. According to Nancy, in classroom she lets the students talk. She wants it to be a student centered classroom. So because of that she likes to do small-group work.  For example, she will make four to five groups in the classroom at one time.  Then, when the students come back from their discussion, she likes to make a circle were all the groups sit and talk about the questions and their response on them. According to Nancy, sometimes they do oral reading from the literature and discuss it in that way. She also likes to do some lecturing, but her goal is to get students to dialog and critically think through conversations between each other and listen to other people’s point of view that might be quit different from their own.

            Third I asked her what was the best technique that she saw that worked on her students in learning and understanding. According to Nancy she could say critical thinking, such as asking hard questions, and bringing up controversial ideas such as controversial ways at looking at things. Also, using some literary theory and writing. According to Nancy, the most important ones were critical thinking and writing.

            Fourth I asked her about her future plan. According to Nancy, this is her last semester at Avila University. She is retiring from this position and moving back to Iowa. Her family lives in Iowa and she really likes Iowa.

            Fifth I asked her about her future plan for her family. According to Nancy, she just published a book about less than a year ago. So because of that, she will have some projects and speaking engagements. Also, she will have some conferences about this biography she has written about a nineteenth century neurologist. So that will keep her busy for a while and she will talk about it whenever she travels.

            Sixth I asked her what is her best way of looking at things. According to Nancy, it is by getting them done, to wake up in the morning and do them. Also, according to Nancy she likes her work. She likes reading books, grading papers, book reviews, biography, history, and intellectual engagement.

            Finally, I asked her what is her favorite hobby. According to Nancy, she said that her favorite hobby is reading and exercising.