English: Communication in Professional Life Notes.

Q1. Is Professor Morrie's method of teaching in Tuesdays with Morrie conventional? Comment.

Answer -

Introduction

Tuesdays with Morrie: An Old Man, A Young Man and Life's Greatest Lesson is a 1997 memoir by American author Mitch Albom. It tells the true story of his meetings with his old professor, Morrie Schwartz, who was suffering from a serious disease called ALS. Through their conversations, Morrie shares important life lessons about love, relationships, happiness, and dealing with death. Even in his last days, Morrie continues to teach and inspire, making his way of teaching very special and meaningful. Thus in Tuesdays with Morrie, Professor Morrie Schwartz's teaching method is far from conventional.

"About the Author"

Mitch Albom is an American writer, journalist, and musician born in 1958 in New Jersey. Initially aspiring to be a musician, he later pursued journalism at Columbia University. He gained fame as a sports writer for the Detroit Free Press, winning numerous awards. Albom is best known for bestselling books like Tuesdays with Morrie and The Five People You Meet in Heaven, selling over 40 million copies worldwide. Beyond writing, he engages in charity work, running volunteer programs in Detroit and an orphanage in Haiti.

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"Story In Brief"

This story follows Morrie Schwartz and Mitch Albom, focusing on Morrie's final years and his inspiring approach to life despite his illness. Years after Mitch graduated, Morrie, a passionate teacher and dancer, was diagnosed with ALS in 1994. The disease gradually robbed him of movement and speech, but he refused to let it define him. Surrounded by supportive friends and family, he turned his experience into a lesson on death and dying. His home became a learning space where visitors gathered to discuss life's deeper meanings. Accepting his limitations with grace, he allowed others to assist him without shame. Believing that dying didn't mean losing purpose, he even held a "living funeral" to hear the kind words people would say about him. Until his final days, Morrie remained a teacher, sharing wisdom on life, love, and mortality, leaving behind a powerful legacy of courage and acceptance.

"Conventional means following traditional or widely accepted ways of doing things.
It refers to methods, ideas, or behaviors that align with established norms or expectations."

Therefore, Professor Morrie's method of teaching in Tuesdays with Morrie is not conventional. Morrie Schwartz's teaching was unconventional in every sense. As a professor of sociology at Brandeis University, he focused on human relationships, emotional intelligence, and personal growth rather than mere academic achievements. His classroom was not confined to a physical space; rather, it extended to his home, where he conducted his final lessons on life during his last days.
"Morrie's Unconventional Teaching Style"

Professor Morrie Schwartz taught in a very different way compared to regular teachers. Instead of focusing on strict rules, exams, and career advice, he taught about emotions, human values, and how to live a meaningful life. His teaching style was personal, interactive, and based on real-life experiences. This made him an unusual but very inspiring teacher.

1. A Teacher of Life, for Life

• He was a "lifelong teacher" whose impact was deeply personal and emotional. Morrie's approach was based on trust and openness, allowing people to share their deepest thoughts and worries with him. Instead of focusing on career success, he taught how to live a meaningful life. Even in his final days, Morrie remained a teacher, with his conversations serving as lasting lessons on finding joy, purpose, and meaning.
• Even in his final days, he continued to teach, wanting to be remembered as "A Teacher to the Last." Through his unconventional teaching, he helped Mitch realize 5
  that chasing superficial achievements left him spiritually unfulfilled. Their final conversations continue to inspire readers, proving that Morrie's approach to teaching was unique and deeply impactful.

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2. Life as a Classroom
Unlike most professors who conduct lessons within the confines of a university, Morrie transformed his home into a classroom. Their classroom was far from traditional. It was Morrie's study at home, where lessons took place every Tuesday after breakfast. Each Tuesday, Mitch visited Morrie, and this unique course focused on "the meaning of life," not through textbooks but through Morrie's personal experiences and the wisdom he had gathered over a lifetime. Throughout their sessions, Morrie and Mitch explored deep and meaningful topics, including love, work, community, family, aging, forgiveness, and ultimately, death.

3. Graduation of Life: Morrie's Final Lesson
Their final meeting was brief, marked by just a few words, yet it carried profound significance. Morrie passed away on a Saturday morning, surrounded by his loved ones, after spending two days in a coma. His funeral took place on a damp, windy day, attended by a small group of close friends and family. Mitch saw Morrie's grave in a peaceful spot with trees and grass and he recalled Morrie's request:

"You talk, I'll listen." (Albom 188)

Mitch decided to try it. As he spoke in his mind, it felt almost natural, as if Morrie was really listening. Glancing at his watch, he noticed it was Tuesday. Morrie's funeral marked the end of this journey, which Mitch referred to as their "graduation." There were no tests, but Mitch took on the responsibility of capturing all he had learned.

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