A: Professor Smith, I’m from the Student Union newspaper. Many students want to know a western professor’s main duties and compare them with a Chinese professor’s duties.
B: Well, I do a lot of research and writing. It’s tough to be a professor.
A: Chinese professor are also facing increasing pressure, as they are required to do more research than before. Professor Smith, do you spend al lot of time on teaching?
B: Yes, I have to prepare class notes, give lectures, host seminar, and hold office hours. In fact, teaching is an important part of being a professor, though some professors believe that research is more important than teaching.
A: With all those responsibilities, you must make a lot of money, I suppose.
B: I wish. Salary is a sensitive topic in the west. Let me say something about research funds. Actually I spend a lot of time applying for grants to fund my research.
A: How are you going to use the grants?
B: With that money, I can offer assistantships and scholarship to graduate students who can help with my research project.
A: Now I see why they call you “boss”. But being a professor sounds pretty competitive1.
B: That’s true. A lot of young teachers want to be promoted to a professorship.
A: What you said has given us a fairly clear picture of a western professor’s primary responsibilities. Thank you very much for your time.
B: You’re welcome
