ERIC Number: EJ1439147
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Jul
Pages: 27
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0007-8204
EISSN: EISSN-1943-2216
Available Date: N/A
Who's the Teacher? What Tony Danza Taught Us about English Education
Jacqueline Bach; Susan Weinstein
English Education, v46 n4 p300-326 2014
This study examines the reality TV series "Teach: Tony Danza" and argues for its value as a teaching tool in the secondary English methods class. Drawing on television studies, in particular, theories surrounding reality television, the authors suggest that their students' knowledge of the conventions and practices of reality television shows opens up a space for them to focus on the "real, but not quite real" representations of Danza's experiences teaching. His celebrity status creates a distance between him and our preservice teachers that allows them to feel comfortable analyzing and critiquing his often-problematic practices. The authors, having used excerpts from this series in methods courses with undergraduate and graduate preservice English teachers, find that the series, along with its accompanying, interactive website, provides opportunities for students to interrogate questions of classroom management, assessment, student teacher relationships, and course content.
Descriptors: English Teachers, English Instruction, Teaching Methods, Methods Courses, Preservice Teacher Education, Preservice Teachers, Television Viewing, Classroom Techniques, Teacher Student Relationship, Course Content, Evaluation Methods
National Council of Teachers of English. 1111 West Kenyon Road, Urbana, IL 61801-1096. Tel: 877-369-6283; Tel: 217-328-3870; Web site: http://www.ncte.org/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A