Tennessee Nine - Text
Caucasian male, born 1948, in Memphis. Spent five years in Lake Charles, LA, from ages 10-15. He traveled and taught internationally for 3 years. Working as a professor in Memphis when recorded in November 2005.
Recorded D'Arcy Smith; edited by Paul Meier 2.14.06. Running time 00:03:56.
TRANSCRIPTION OF UNSCRIPTED SPEECH
People ask me all the time about what it is like living and teaching overseas. Well, (uh) I think (uh) I advise all my teachers to consider (uh) possibly working overseas, in American school or international school, because they’re so (uh) interesting. The kids are from all over the world, the parents are supportive, (uh) lot of chances to travel, and (um)-- and it is a really great experience. I’ve been over-- first (uh) time overseas was in Africa. Forgot about that one-- Lasutu, Africa, in the Peace Corps, and (um) that was right after I’d gotten my Master’s in geography. I taught at the University of Botswana, Lasutu and Swaziland, and (uh)-- without a teaching certificate. So I came back to Memphis, got a certificate ’n’-- a teaching certificate, an’ therefore was able to teach in Maracaibo, Venezuela; Sao Paolo, Brazil; and in (um) Barranquilla, Colombia, at the international American schools there. And again, th-- the kids were wonderful, and th-- the faculty were from all over. (Uh) And, a little bit later on, I w-- traveled over to (uh) Germany, an’ taught in Wiesbaden, Germany, at the Department of Defense school, which was a little bit different than these private international schools. We h-- (um) in Germany we had the military kids i-- in the classes. An’ a little bit later on, in Shenzhen, China, which is all Chinese kids (uh) trying to learn English, and (uh) really interesting experience. Going to Hong Kong ’bout every other weekend (uh) was (uh) really exciting place to be….
UNSCRIPTED SPEECH TRANSCRIBED BY JACQUELINE BAKER, ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR TRANSCRIPTIONS, July 7, 2008