A Brief Foray Into Norwegian Higher Education and What I'm Reading These Days

Hi All,

Met with Jan Erik Mustad, who is my co-instructor, for English 137, which I'll be primarily responsible for in the Fall. An avid scholar, Jan Erik is the foremost Norwegian expert on British and Irish history, culture and politics and is the go-to consultant for the Norwegian news service on British elections, Irish affairs, etc. He'll be teaching the British culture section of the course while I'll teach the American cultural history and the children's lit. I will be teaching on Fridays only, for a total of four hours a week, except when students have practicums.

The teacher training system is quite different than in the U.S., and the Norwegians, as I understand it, in part because of disappointing k-12 test scores, are revamping the curriculum and raising teacher accreditation standards. In our course, designed for incoming freshman who want to specialize in teaching English, students will, three weeks after they begin our course, immediately begin a teaching practicum. By law, faculty can not require more than 80% student attendance and the reading load has an upper limit that may not be breached. In most classes, the primary assessment is a 4-6 hour final exam. Classes end Thanksgiving week, and most people leave for holiday during the month of December. I'm under some pressure to write because the university gets additional funding for faculty who publish.

I also talked to the chair of the history department about additional teaching for Bill. He wasn't sure at this point and directed me to a colleague, whom Bill has already been in touch with. Bill and I may be able to begin Norwegian classes. We'll find out more on Monday.

The University is on land that was a former military base, and the hiking trails and wooded areas that surround our apartment are on grounds once used by the military for training practice. Because it overlooks the city, the area is known as rather exclusive, but it seems to be designed for people with cars. The nearest grocery store is a good walk away, down a steep hill and then some. A bus, however, comes most of the way up the hill.

I can say one thing with complete assurance. I will be in much better physical shape after this year.

The boys are wrestling, must go.

Oh, before I forget....I've been reading In Cod We Trust, a delightful account of a Fulbright student's year in Norway. So, from time to time, I'll pass along tidbits Eric Dregni gleaned from his year. An old saying: The Norwegians eat to live. The Danish live to eat. And the Swedes live to drink.