Know Your Profs is an ongoing series of profiles on the instructors at Camosun College. Every issue we ask a different instructor at Camosun the same 10 questions in an attempt to get to know them better.
Do you have an instructor that you want to see interviewed in the paper? Email editor@nexusnewspaper.com and we’ll add your instructor to our list of teachers to talk to.
This issue we talked to English as a Second Language instructor Gill Atkinson about job satisfaction, her hopes for cultural diversity on campus, and her love of thin-crust pizza.
1. What do you teach and how long have you been at Camosun?
I teach English as a Second Language students in career and academic preparation courses in the English Language Development department, and I’ve been at Camosun for 10 years.
2. What do you personally get out of teaching?
I enjoy finding out about people and cultures, and I’m privileged to teach students from all over the world and from a huge variety of backgrounds. It’s fascinating to find out about them and their lives, and how they found their way to Camosun.
3. What’s one thing you wish your students knew about you?
I wish they knew that I have lived in several countries, so I have an idea of what they are going through and what it feels like to start a new life in a strange place where you know no one and may not speak the language well.
4. What’s one thing you wish they didn’t know about you?
They probably know far more than they want to about my cats.
5. What’s the best thing that’s happened to you as a teacher here?
It’s always great to bump into former students who tell me how their time at Camosun helped them. It’s really rewarding to be able to help people succeed in their educational and work goals. This is always a good feeling and makes the hours of marking and preparation worthwhile. I also have terrific colleagues who are supportive and make working at Camosun such a great job.
6. What’s the worst thing that’s happened to you as a teacher here?
Students who really don’t want to be in class.
7. What do you see in the future of post-secondary education?
I can’t speak about post-secondary education in general, but because of events in other parts of the world, Canada is increasingly becoming a popular choice for international students, so I’m optimistic that we can continue to have a diverse college community.
8. What do you do to relax on the weekends?
I love to sit in my garden and read.
9. What is your favourite meal?
A real thin-crust Italian pizza, followed by gelato.
10. What’s your biggest pet peeve?
Noise. I’m really bothered by people who inconsiderately disturb others with their music or other unwanted sounds.