It’s a pretty typical scenario: a professor poses a question to the class, and the students stare back blankly. The room stays silent for a few moments until the professor, in a deflated sort of way, either gives up on the question, answers it for the students or calls on a random student, forcing that student to speak up.
It happens all the time, in all ranges of classes. If a class includes particularly active participants, the professor is notably excited. I’ve had a professor tell a class of mostly interested participants, “I haven’t had such an engaging classroom in a long time.”
I don’t think we, the students, fully appreciate the work professors put into their lessons or the love they hold for the subjects they teach — every time we avoid eye contact, avoid questions, avoid discussion and even avoid class (don’t act like you haven’t skipped) we’re essentially telling our professors we don’t really value the knowledge they’re imparting on us.
Of course, I understand that it can be hard to talk in class, especially if no one else is saying anything. Nobody wants to be the obnoxious know-it-all kid, who just talks to please the professor. It’s easy to forget that professors ask questions for a reason, though. They want to engage their students in a dialogue and to expand their students’ world views. Often, as I talk to a professor in class, I realize that my particular viewpoint is a little skewed, and I can work through my issues through conversation.
Besides the fact that talking in class helps you with your own personal mental growth, it also gives you a leg-up with your professor. This may seem selfish or opportunistic, but it’s just true. If you build up a good working relationship with your professors in class, they can be a huge help out of class, too. They can help you rework poorly written papers, find internships, give long-term career advice and even become mentors and friends. My dad, 40-some years out of college, still maintains contact with his favorite St. Lawrence University English professor from college, and their correspondence isn’t at all unheard of.
I think sometimes students don’t want to talk in class for fear of sounding stupid or saying the wrong thing. I can’t possibly understand this fear. In my experience, when a student says something incorrect in class, the professor is understanding and helps the student come to the right conclusion. Maybe I’ve just lucked out with my professors, but they aren’t mean people, and they aren’t going to make fun of their students for saying something wrong.
Or maybe people are afraid of what their peers think of them, to which I say, honestly, “Who cares?” Nobody is going to remember what you said in class more than five minutes after you say it. People are caught up in their own worlds and definitely don’t care what you’re doing or saying, even if it’s wrong or outrageous.
College is all about personal growth, and part of that growth is learning to come out of your shell. Opportunity presents itself from participation. The more you participate, the more doors will open for you.
mcelfrdh14@bonaventure.edu
