Professor Burnett Speaks Out About Teaching
Maryam Elfeki
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Arts & Culture
Speech remains a requirement at most universities and enhances students' public speaking skills. Dr. Kara Burnett, a part-time Wright College instructor, teaches speech at both the Narragansett and Humboldt Park campuses for three years. Burnett seemed to burst at the seams when asked how much she loves teaching communication. Burnett also works at Oakton Community College, DePaul University and at College of Lake County.
Wright Times: What is your role at Wright?
Kara Burnett: I am a speech teacher here at Wright, in the Performing Arts department. I teach the hybrid class of both interpersonal communication and speech. Speech is learning to develop and present speeches. Interpersonal communication is learning about language and non-verbal communication and how to build your skills on being effective when communicating and interacting with others.
WT: Where did you receive your teaching degree?
KB: I did my Undergraduate and Master's work at the University of Cincinnati both in communication and I obtained my doctorate at the University of San Francisco in organization and leadership because the Ph.D. communication field is very structured and the leadership program in San Francisco is an international one. I got to go to China, Laos and Thailand. I got to talk to people from Brazil. I visited places and talked to people that I probably never would have had the opportunity to visit or talk to.
WT: What attracted you to Wright?
KB: It was kind of by chance. I was hoping to move here from Cincinnati because I had a sister who lived in the area. I put in an application for a full-time position here and they called me in the summer and offered me a part-time position. I took it. The emphasis for me was to get involved in the city. It's been great teaching at my first school here. I am very dedicated and I hope to continue teaching at Wright.
WT: What drew you into teaching communications?
KB: I originally wanted to be in the movie business. I wanted to be a director and the communication studies program had film and media elements. I started taking some of those classes. I soon realized there was a lot of sitting around and boring stuff. I knew I really enjoyed the actual part of talking to people. That is the inter-personal communication which is part of the speech classes. Once I took communication and speech classes I thought, 'Yes this is what I am supposed to be doing.'
Wright Times: What is your role at Wright?
Kara Burnett: I am a speech teacher here at Wright, in the Performing Arts department. I teach the hybrid class of both interpersonal communication and speech. Speech is learning to develop and present speeches. Interpersonal communication is learning about language and non-verbal communication and how to build your skills on being effective when communicating and interacting with others.
WT: Where did you receive your teaching degree?
KB: I did my Undergraduate and Master's work at the University of Cincinnati both in communication and I obtained my doctorate at the University of San Francisco in organization and leadership because the Ph.D. communication field is very structured and the leadership program in San Francisco is an international one. I got to go to China, Laos and Thailand. I got to talk to people from Brazil. I visited places and talked to people that I probably never would have had the opportunity to visit or talk to.
WT: What attracted you to Wright?
KB: It was kind of by chance. I was hoping to move here from Cincinnati because I had a sister who lived in the area. I put in an application for a full-time position here and they called me in the summer and offered me a part-time position. I took it. The emphasis for me was to get involved in the city. It's been great teaching at my first school here. I am very dedicated and I hope to continue teaching at Wright.
WT: What drew you into teaching communications?
KB: I originally wanted to be in the movie business. I wanted to be a director and the communication studies program had film and media elements. I started taking some of those classes. I soon realized there was a lot of sitting around and boring stuff. I knew I really enjoyed the actual part of talking to people. That is the inter-personal communication which is part of the speech classes. Once I took communication and speech classes I thought, 'Yes this is what I am supposed to be doing.'
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