Since I left academia, I never thought I would write a letter like this again. But because you will soon be defending your dissertation in an oral examination, through the "viva voce” - your "living voice"; I write this with you in mind. I felt this would encourage you because, like me, you are a teacher at heart.
The highest degrees awarded by a university are those of "doctor" or "master". Did you know in their original usage, they both mean “teacher”? "Doctor" shares the same root as "doctrine" or teaching. “Master" comes from the root word "magister" which also means teacher. Hence, earning these degrees makes its recipients teachers of the knowledge they have received and created.
This explains the format of the oral examination. The candidate first presents an oral exposition of the thesis and then defends it in dialogue with the examiners. This parallels the two modes of teaching: the lecture and disputation. Hence, the oral examination is the ultimate test of subject matter expertise, examining the candidate's ability to teach a subject using a lecture and discussion (Shulman, 1986).
I hope you will remember this, during that frightful day when you are expected to prove your worth. No, you’re not proving anything that you not already are. You are there to educate your audience and have a discussion with them on a subject that you have chosen and made the centerpiece of your many years of education. You, my friend, are the expert and teacher. And we are your students.
You have my full support,
Shuyi
References
Shulman, L. S. (1986). Those who understand: knowledge growth in teaching. In S. Wilson (ed.) (2004). The wisdom of practice: essays on teaching, learning and learning to teach (pp. 189-215) USA: Jossey Bass.
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