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[tracebearden]

Hi everyone--I am trying to finalize a job application that, in addition to a cover letter, C.V., and writing sample, also asks for "1-page (each) statements of teaching and research interests." I know how to write about my research interests (though one page is tight) but the teaching interests portion seems less clear to me. If I read that phrase correctly, they aren't asking for a teaching philosophy or a description of classroom practice.  I am currently assuming they want to know 1) what classes I have taught that relate to the job 2) what future classes and themes I am interested in teaching and 3) how I might fit my interests into classes they currently offer (especially those listed in the job posting).

Does anyone have other ideas on this? Am I grossly misreading things?

[glowdart]

I think you're on exactly the right track.  I've always assumed (perhaps erroneously, so see what others have to say) that the "Statement of Teaching and Research Interests" was an attempt to figure out the following -- in a format that prevents the fluffery/ bulls***/ flowers and sunshine of the Statement of Teaching Philosophy and the submission of a 5-page grant application summary of your current research project that people often send for their research statement: 

1 - What do you want to teach?  (Be careful treading on toes here - I could do blah blah vs. I want to...)  What special topics could you add?  (Don't go overboard, though).
2 - What can you teach that we wouldn't otherwise know from your CV.  For grad students, especially, we often end up asking in phone interviews, "Can you teach X & Y senior-level courses?  How would you do that?" This statement is a place to tell us that, and be sure to address courses that are mentioned specifically in the ad. 
3 - Similarly, what are your research plans.  We know what you're doing based on your CV, but what else is in the can or on the back burner?  What's your future agenda?  How does this relate to your current agenda?

If you can, then expand a bit on the how & why for each; that requires really tight writing, but it's better than a list of course titles. 


And, FYI for certain candidates whose materials I've read over the years and who might be reading this post, there's an art here to not repeating the information in your cover letter, but under no circumstances should the same exact verbiage appear in your cover letter and in your statements.  If I'm reading the statement after the cover letter, then I want to know more - not the same thing I just read. 

[tracebearden]

Thanks so much for the excellent feedback!

[tuxedo_cat]

If the job ad specifies primary and secondary areas of expertise that they want candidates to fit, I would tailor the "teaching interests" statement to those items.  It is helpful to be as clear as possible about your different levels of preparation and experience.   So you could say something like, "I have two semesters of experience teaching Introduction to Basketweaving, and I have TA'd for an advanced course in Methodologies in Basketweaving."

For less concrete experience, you could say, "I am also prepared to teach Postcolonial Approaches to Basketweaving and the Early Modern Survey of Basketweaving."  But if you say that, you should be able to put together a sample syllabus and speaking intelligently about how you would teach such a course during an interview. 

Try to address as many of the secondary areas (if the job ad is written that way) as you can, given your actual ability to teach those topics.