Yeah, I know I shouldn't want to be their friend, but I'd rather they felt relaxed enough to tell me if they didn't understand something. I've also found that there are a certain few students in each of my groups who are an absolute god-send. They engage and then make sure their groups do the work properly. I think I probably do verge on the side of too informal, but I'd rather that than austere.



Me too! When i was an undergrad I got the distinct impression that some of our seminar tutors had been chucked in there without knowing anything and I would hate to be that person. I also don't particularly want to have to spend 2 days reading a preparing for a 2 hour seminar. I have my own work to do.

Another question: how do other people handle it when hardly anyone in the group has done the required reading? I was visibly annoyed on Friday. If they haven't done it then they cab't discuss it and it kind of mucks up my seminar plan.

I'm relieved other people have struggled through lack of support -I thought I was just being a bit useless for finding it overwhelming! Even though the initial seminars I've been doing have already been well planned (I'll start planning mine for the next sessions), I'm finding it difficult to know what attitude to take with the students. I"m worried they'll see through the fact that it isn't a topic I'm overly familiar with and I won't have enough examples for them. I'm also concerned that I just want them to like me - is that bad? I want them to learn, but I want them to enjoy the sessions. It's how to do that without making the atmosphere TOO casual...