Matthew Floyd

SED 322
April 27, 2017
Interview Transcript: Alberto Balbuena
Transcript from conversation between Alberto Balbuena and Matthew Floyd. Alberto is an 18-
year old, Honors student at Marcos de Niza High School that hopes to attend ASU in the fall as
an Education major.

Matthew Floyd: Alright, so can you go ahead and state your name?
Alberto Balbuena: My name is Alberto Balbuena.
Matthew Floyd: Im just interviewing you a little bit about what you want from a teacher and a
classroom environment. So to start off, when you think about the teachers youve learned the
most from what did they do to help you
Alberto Balbuena: What I learned the most from is teachers like Ms. Webb, Ms. Sneed, and Ms.
Danskin was because they taught me about character. Character being trustworthy, well-
respected- they showed me respect so I showed them respect. So Im very responsible and they
showed me a lot in their teachings. I dont know how else to explain that in a way other then-
they just do it, they know how to do it.
Matthew Floyd: Have you ever had a teacher that didnt show you respect
Alberto Balbuena: Yes, yes. Ive had a teacher my seventh grade year that came in very
disrespectful the first day of school and said you guys are on my time, my world and shes just
throwing demands at them and she like wasnt the teacher that I would ever model- because I
want to be a teacher.
Matthew Floyd: Do you think her not showing respect, how did that affect your learning?
Alberto Balbuena: If theyre not showing us respect, the students, then were not showing them
respect- well see them as another student another someone that isnt acting as an adult, in an
adult manner. So theyre just acting in a very childish way.
Matthew Floyd: I see, I see. So what are some ways that a teacher can connect with you? I
know that Ms. Webb has a really good connection with her students. But even looking at some
other teachers, what are some ways you feel that a teacher can connect with you?
Alberto Balbuena: Connecting with me is being able to be there for you, for me via email- can
shoot them an email like anytime of the day that they are there and they can shoot you back an
email, or being able to meet with you during conference periods, or sit down with you after
school. Just getting to know you. Like you get to talk to them about persona issues, theyre there
to help you through whatever you are going through, you have a lot of homework the next day
they are able to work with you. They have to be able to communicate with them. Communication
is key.
Matthew Floyd: Absolutely, good point. Can you state which class you are in with Ms. Webb?
Alberto Balbuena: I am in Advanced Composition in Ms. Webbs third hour class.
Matthew Floyd: Do you feel motivated to work hard in this class?
Alberto Balbuena: Very. I feel very motivated because I am taking it for dual-enrollment which
I am taking so I can transfer that credit over to ASU.
Matthew Floyd: One last question for you: Suppose you could design your own final project for
this class, anything you want as long as it fits the curriculum of the course, what kind of project
would it be?
Alberto Balbuena: Well Im very into politics. Very into writing a lot; Ms. Webb was grading
my work today, showing that Im a very wordy person in my essays. So I would say that I would
do a thousand word essay on everything that weve learned in this class and how we would learn
it at the University level. Or just being able to talk about anything we want and learned and put it
into an essay. So instead of a final exam, a 1000-word essay- maybe even longer, like ten pages
or so.
Matthew Floyd: You enjoy writing?
Alberto Balbuena: Yeah I enjoy writing a lot.
Matthew Floyd: Okay, well thank you for helping me out. Im going to go ahead and tend the
video.
Alberto Balbuena: Okay.