Getting the point across about the field that the student is entering
For me teaching a culinary career is difficult for the fact that it not only requires physical abilities but a lot of mental ablilites. A lot of other careers require this. What is an easier way to relay that information besides through personal experience?
Hi Kevin,
I would rely on people in the field to come in and talk about the realities of the career. Have them explain about the rigors of doing the job or how they have to climb, twist or fit into certain spaces to replace or repair something. This will help the students to see what is ahead of them. With our current culture you can only show them the realities and let the make the decision about whether they will be able to do the work or not.
Gary
The field in which my students will be entering requires quite a bit of physical ability. Flexibility is a must. Some of my students are too big to fit in some areas that they will need to access in order to be successful. How do I approach this issue?
Hi Emily,
You hit it dead on. They have "personalize" the content if it is going to be of value to them. Once they do that their motivation will increase as will their efforts.
Gary
I try to engage the student's understanding of their own passion for cooking and for the professional environment that is offered through their upcoming career. Then they get an opportunity to visualize how their personal contributions will be valued within their working environment and how to work toward needed career goals.
Hi Marilyn,
You make a number of good points. A person can position themselves to where they get opportunities to enhance their careers. By following the points that you made this can happen. Many people who are waiting for their ship to come in are at the train station waiting for it. Meaning they don't network and strive for excellent. This is what branding is all about. They need to see how they can brand themselves and a lot of the branding comes from the effort they put into their career development.
Gary
I tell a student even when I first meet them, that they have to engage themselves completely, whether it is reading, watching the Food Channel, reading Bon Appetit, or baking for friends, or cooking for church, cooking dinner or making cookies for a bake sale, or growing their own vgetables, they have to get themselves in the groove. I say, it is not being in the right place at the right time,it is immersing yourself in the right place and the right time that you realize your dream
Hi Adrian,
I use guest speakers and field trips to show students the "real" requirements of the field. In addition I have students job shadow individuals in their area. Through the job shadow the students start to see the entire holistic requirements of the field. This really helps them to bear down in their class and lab work because they can see both the physical and mental skills they must have to be successful.
Gary
