i had such an interview a few months ago and will start teaching in October. before i went to the interview i asked some friends what to expect. i was told i might be asked questions like "how would you handle a 'silent class'?" or "how will you include those in discussion who never talk?" or "what would you do about a confrontational argument in class?" or "what would you do if someone starts being offensive?". at the actual interview, however, none of this was asked. rather, they wanted to know about my expertise on the subject. not in an exam way, but rather like "in what contexts (courses, classes, essays, dissertations, current research) did you deal with this and this topic?". and they wanted to know about my previous teaching experience, what it had entailed, which was a bit daft since that was exactly what i had to write about in my application.

thanks juno, it's been a while now yes it is tough and yes it was at the time typical for arts and social sciences subjects in switzerland (though not everywhere). things are changing now with the bologna-reforms so i doubt this form of exam will continue to exist much longer.
while being exhausting, it was also fun - and, i believe, a lot more "real" than normal exams. when in life do you have to write on 4 topics in two hours without access to books/internet? but, situations where you have a few days, access to any info you need, and a strict deadline at the end, are much more common... a bit like what chris is doing right now

my masters exams included a three-day (72 hours) take-home exam. in these 72 hours I wrote 10'000 words and the quality was good enough to earn the best grade.
of course, i was prepared (i had to submit three different topics to the examiner and on the day the exam started got a question out of one of these topics): i had read the literature, thought about the structure of possible papers, and even started writing little "general" bits like background info. and of course, i had made sure i'd have optimal conditions: my mum was there and cooked healthy meals and made sure i drank enough, my partner made me go to bed at night, a number of friends came running at my calls, proof-read sections for me, discussed structure, went for short walks during breaks with me... and stayed the last night when I worked until 5am, making sure i put the parts of the document together correctly (deadline for submission was 9am). so - it can be done. but afterwards i felt like dead for a while!

i agree - haven't studied there myself either, but know people who have. it is a well-known, high standard university.
as many german universities they have constant financial problems so are economising wherever they can. this may result in departments being dissolved and in bad teacher-to-student-ratios, and they don't have the means to invest into renovating buildings and such. if you can live with that, you'll be fine in berlin!

mnie toshe!

*ggg* howcome you speak russian? i've just returned from st. petersburg... was great!

ah, rick, thanks but i don't even remember what you might be referring to. would you mind giving me a quick pointer? i suppose i could use that advice now

i don't think you have to pay anything back. if in doubt, you can read up your original award with its terms and conditions!

perhaps you will find a way to come back to your PhD in a little while? stopping now does not necessarily mean quitting for ever. maybe now is just not the time for it.

good luck!

oh drat, that must be awful! can you take half a day off? just to get at least some distance... if you can't do that - have a cuddle with your cat, or go for an hours walk with your dog, or go for a ride around the block with your bike...
i'll send you lots of final-weeks-energy through the cable!

it seems to me you found a good solution. better than waiting to see what they do and then after be angry! without being too pushy you made your claim clear and transparent. nothing wrong with that!
i hope it turns out well.

things you need to work at home:
a jug of water and a glass on your desk. chessplayers' experiences have shown that mental capability is significantly reduced if you don't drink enough.
similarly: something to help you make regular breaks - and something that helps you get back to work after the break.
make sure your boyf doesn't expect all the housework and cooking to be done when he gets home, just because you've been home all day.
if you want to do "nibbles", do consider nibbling "brain-food" instead of sugary stuff.
something that makes you start in the morning, and something that lets you stop without feeling bad about it in the evening.

i think that is a completely natural thing - it would be a sign of overconfidence if it didn't happen. the point is: it is impossible to see your own work in hindsight the same way you see it while you are doing it. figuring out something is hard work. reading through what someone found out - especially if it was yourself - makes the same thing seem simple, obvious.

so, to get over that, you need to self-confidently say: wow, i figured this out all by myself! and i even managed to make it so clear that in hindsight it seems obvious! now that's a feat!
instead of saying to yourself: oh, all the while i was working on that stupid problem and thought it is really hard and only now i finally realize what it is all about and it is so simple - i must be really stupid not to have figured it out earlier. i'm sure everyone else would have figured it out much quicker...

hmmm well, no, i would say if you are finding it hard to find a job now, it won't be easier when you have a PhD. for some jobs even harder. the exception, of course, are jobs in academia which are hard to get, often with low wages, and little job security. not the ideal situation to pay back high loans.


of course it depends a bit on what kind of subject you are thinking of and on what kind of jobs you are interested in.

you can re-apply for ESRC in your first year, for your second and further years.
did you find out everything about funding from your "home" country?

good luck!

our (rather neglected) garden is full of huge hairy spiders. when i go out to hang up the washing i take a broom stick with me and wave it in front of myself, in order to avoid walking right into one - they like to build their webs right across the path... i must look really comical

i get scared of those which have a cross on their back, because someone once told me that they don't just bite, but are actually poisonous, and that a bite will feel about like a wasp sting.