survey

[percival]

gacked from awelkin

I want to improve as a teacher; so I'd like some feedback about the following questions:

1. Do you find me accessible? Why?

2. Do you find me intimidating? Why?

3. Would you feel comfortable joking around with me? Why or why not?

4. What do I do that makes you feel comfortable when talking to you?

5. What do I do that makes you uncomfortable when talking to you?

This is not an exercise I'm doing to boost my self-esteem; feel free to be honest!

Comments

[awelkin.livejournal.com]

1. I find you very accessible. I feel it is easy to talk to you, and I can often count on you for an honest opinion.

2. I am not intimidated by you, although I am admiring of your strong spirituality and faith.

3. I do feel comfortable around you, and I could joke with you. I just haven't much.

4. You make me comfortable because you are genuinely caring and good.

5. Nothing you've done's made me feel uncomfortable.

Catherine

[voxmaille.livejournal.com]

1. Very accessible and warm. You seem very concerned with others and their well-being, and you remember specific small details of conversations past, which I've found to be a trait that makes people seem more accessible. After all, it's a way of *noticing* someone else and we all want to be noticed. The smaller the detail, the more we are likely to think--whether or not this is a well-founded conclusion--that the other person remembers the rest of the conversation, and considered it important enough to remember. You also offer advice in such a way that encourages people to ask you for advice in the future. Others may offer the same advice, but your way of delivering it is empathetic and helpful. I suppose as a linguist you already know that quite a bit of our communication comes from *how* we say something and not in the actual statements themselves.

2. A little--but not in an awful way. One of those "I look up to you and respect you very much, so I value your good opinion" things.

3. Usually, but it depends on the jokes. I would hesitate to make some of my snarkier and less tolerant (not in a social bias sense, but rather comments about frustrating people in general) jokes.

4. You always sound interested in what I have to say and respectful of others' opinions and thoughts. You also are very adaptable when it comes to subject matter--the diversity of your interests make you more accessible than someone whose interests had a more limited scope.

5. Hmm. Not anything that I can think of off-hand. Sometimes I worry about you, but that's on a personal level and not generally something related to teaching. Nor is it really anything to do with the comfort level of conversation--rather, by definition it's uncomfortable to have empathy for someone when he or she is having a rough go of it.

[piperx.livejournal.com]

1. Do you find me accessible? Why?

Of course. Very!

2. Do you find me intimidating? Why?

You're certainly intelligent and accomplished enough to be intimidating but you're also very good at putting people at ease, so I would say no.

3. Would you feel comfortable joking around with me? Why or why not?

Absolutely. On just about any subject matter. You're very open minded, even on issues such as politics and religion. You don't seem like the type of person who is easily offended. At least, I don't think I've ever said anything to offend you. I do think (and hope) you would say something if I did.

4. What do I do that makes you feel comfortable when talking to you?

As I said above, you're very open minded and accepting. And you're a good listener. You pay attention to the details and give very good advice that shows that you have their best interest in mind.

5. What do I do that makes you uncomfortable when talking to you?

I really can't think of anything you do that makes me uncomfortable. Quite the opposite. Even with the pregnancy, which is a potentially uncomfortable situation to be in, you've made me feel very comfortable in talking to you about it, and that's really saying something.

I just hope I've never overstepped the boundaries of sensitivity. I try to take my cues from you by only bringing it up if it seems you want to talk about it. Not sure if I've succeeded here.

Bah! Sorry I keep bringing the questions back to myself. It's a good thing I never went through on that counseling path. You're much better at it than I am. :P

Piper

[cynthia-black.livejournal.com]

Sorry it's taken me so long to get round to doing this - hope it's still of some use to you, even though I've only 'spoken' to you on-line.

1. Do you find me accessible? Why?

Yes, I do, because you're willing to talk, you're not closed off.

2. Do you find me intimidating? Why?

No, I don't think so.

3. Would you feel comfortable joking around with me? Why or why not?

I think so (except WWII jokes of course ;-)). Depends on the circumstances.

4. What do I do that makes you feel comfortable when talking to you?

You listen! You seem to take the time to gauge where the other person's coming from before you answer.

5. What do I do that makes you uncomfortable when talking to you?

Can't think of anything.