How do I deal with a difficult lecturer?
@Danniella1110 (106)
July 20, 2012 9:35am CST
Back in high school I was always the favourite. Never particularly teachers pet but I would make sure I would have a good relationship with all my teachers. Later in college however, having a condescending lecturer was all too new. Not the condescending part, but how long it took for me to win her over. Truth be told I just kind of gave up. It is very hard I find to ask her questions after and or during lectures because for her there is no room for not being able to pick up quickly or her lectures are flawless therefore you should be able to understand without further questions. The smallest mistake is the end of the world to her. And not only to me does she looks down on; some of my classmates as well for example ;
"This question is very easy. Lets give it to Alice. I am sure you can answer it Alice."
Everyone found that this request had an essence of insult plus her tone.Plus she sticks her nose in everyones business even family matters for example I was absent because I had to attend court for family issues, she found out about it through an e-mail and did not know how to keep her mouth shut, instead she blatantly asked me in front of everyone in class
"Are you having family problems?"
I stay away from others talking behind a lecturer or teachers back and there is more to life than winning someone over therefore I ask you, is there a way to make this learning experience less spiteful?
8 responses
@Gautam1002 (730)
• India
20 Jul 12
I do not appreciate this attitude of hers' at all. This is a very bad conduct on a teacher's part to treat her pupils' like this. I also had some experiences like that of yours but certainly not to such an extent. I am going to enter a college very soon. An experience like that is not at all motivational. If I would have such lecturers, and instances like that of family matters, I will really get disappointed. I hope I come some day with a good post as my experience with my college lecturers'.
@Gautam1002 (730)
• India
21 Jul 12
Thank you for motivating me. I am entering into one of the finest colleges of my country and I hope to get really world class lecturers. I know the importance of a good teacher and his role in getting a student interested towards his subject. You should not feel bad. I feel you have given me a point to think,though not very much seriously. If I ever get a lecturer like you mentioned, I will also have a similar disappointment in me. But till then I will enjoy all my classes and ofcourse my college days. After all I have been waiting for it since my childhood.
@Danniella1110 (106)
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21 Jul 12
Oh dear now I feel bad that I scared someone before entering one of the best experiences anyone will have- the college experience! Her lectures produce results especially in external exams which are the ones that matter more. I just cant help grinding my teeth in class when she picks on my classmates let alone me. I hope the best for you too - with a good experience with your future college lecturers , nevertheless what will matter more in 10 years is your certified education rather than a meanie for a lecturer, as long as you perform and deliver A's, I am sure there is nothing more pleasurable than smiling in class even when he/she is trying to bring you down. All the best!
@amydickson93 (1)
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22 Jul 12
That's really horrible to hear that your lecturer is like that! I think what I would do is firstly - talk to her. Don't get ratty or angry with her but just tell her how you feel after all this is college and it is a lot different from school. You deserve to be treated with respect. If there is no way she is listening to what you have to say then I would say that you should speak to someone higher up.
I once had to complain about a lecturer and although she didn't like me, she learned very quickly that her job was more important and she had to get on with it.
I hope this helps
@Danniella1110 (106)
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22 Jul 12
Hello! Welcome to mylot! I appreciate your response and I am curious about what happened, was it like a bad experience following? Was she ever unfair in grading your tests or exam? And yes , thank you , it does help!
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
20 Jul 12
I guess you just have to bare with it for the whole semester and hope and pray that you won't ever get another subject with her the whole college life. I don't know if you can, but I see some people who did, unlike me. I am just weak. I drop classes when I don't like the teacher for a very valid or personal reason. I remember years ago, I had an a professor under English 102 that would start his every lecture by first stating how untrue, ridiculous, etc. Christianity is. I just don't get it. There was one morning I wanted to say so many things to him in class but fortunately, I didn't get enough courage to do so. I am a Christian and so was the majority of the class, and he is a Muslim, but it is English subject so I didn't see his point for that. Even if it was any other subject, I believe he should have kept his opinions to himself as it was really disrespectful and insulting.
Anyway, I just hope that you get to stand this lecturer for the whole semester. Don't worry, if you do survive this, it will be great because there are just so many professors with this kind of attitude in college and having already gone through one will make it easier for you to go through the rest. I wish you good luck!
@Danniella1110 (106)
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20 Jul 12
Thank you choybel! This is good a push to just hold on till the end of it. It is though a bother for the teaching faculty who can be unprofessional at times. Especially talking about sensitive issues, politics race and religion. I am deeply sorry on his behalf as I am a Muslim myself. In Islam, we believe that it is really important to get our blessings from the ones who teach us. Because in someway, that is that extra oomph to help us excel in our studies, that oomph. And I guess this was the main reason I felt that it was important to have a good relationship with this lecturer, didnt matter what religion but just a good relationship. So, that lecturer of yours, I dont think it was fair of him to do because your students require your blessings and you shouldnt discriminate because they are there to learn and gain knowledge from you. He should know this as a Muslim.Dont be mistaken though, its just a matter of principle this extra oomph thing, it is not how we say; a definite because in the end, Gods' will. Anyway, thank you for your response, I shall hold on a while longer and keep the grades up so she wont be able to tear me apart.
@succeednow (1633)
• Singapore
21 Jul 12
Yes, you should not feel spiteful because the person hurting most would be you yourself. There are all sorts of people in this world. Some of them you like and others you dislike. Be tactful in your dealings with lecturers like them. If you are unable to do that then it may be best that you avoid them as far as possible else it might lead to ugly scenes. The important thing is not to be affected by their weird behaviour.
@Danniella1110 (106)
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21 Jul 12
Hello! Yes, not being affected by their weird behaviour is the nicest way of putting it and its true. Some of my friends chose to give up on the subject because of her behaviour. I would not call them quitters because I guess they have other plans in life in getting what they want, they just did not want to deal with someone like this. I refuse to give up though, I will not give her that satisfaction . Haha. Have you ever had to go through something like this?
@StainedGlassRoses (64)
• United States
20 Jul 12
That is so rude. I feel like there's no reason whatsoever for teachers to be treating their students that way...If it's really geting to you you could got to the dean, but otherwise I think it's important not to give up. I've had the same thing happen to me, and I showed her up and passed our exam with a 101%. Ha!
@Danniella1110 (106)
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21 Jul 12
Hello and wow wow a 101%, very impressive indeed! It is funny isnt it, even if we dont exactly like them that when we do pass with flying colours , we still credit them for our success. It's like I dont know if things had gone in a different way if she wasnt so stuck up. Haha. Anyway, congratulations, much respect for your patience with putting up with your teacher/lecturer.
And about the dean thing, oh my gosh, it is very tricky, because the external test results are pretty good but when it comes to the internal exams which are the ones that she grades are not exactly something to be proud of. Like I said, is she deliberately being this way to push us ? Is there no better way to encourage your students ?
@bent31 (85)
• Canada
20 Jul 12
Wow, that's not a very good professor at all.
I too have experienced a couple professors who could not meet the needs of students (such as you described).
You may ask how did I end up passing the course? Well, I surrounded myself with a group of knowledgeable and friendly people who are also in a similar position as me. Sometimes it's best to study in a group so that way you can find out different ways to a solution.
Honestly, if you can't understand the professor because of his/her accent or their attitude towards you, the best solution might be to socialize with other people who is experiencing the same.
Best of luck! Work hard, party hard! :)
@Danniella1110 (106)
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21 Jul 12
Haha party hard indeed! Funny you should mention accent as that is one of the things that some of my foreign friends here would touch on. The fundamental of not being to understand what the person is saying I guess is harder to deal with than a lecturer that has a 'different' method of encouraging students. Everyone has their struggles in order to ace the test but I am glad you found your way! And surrounding yourself with good people gives a positive atmosphere so the struggles that you go through dont seem so bad after all . Thank you bent31 , I will start with rethinking my choice of friends and observe the changes that come with.
@mensab (4200)
• Philippines
20 Jul 12
i thought she is difficult, but it sounds like she is not. well, personality-wise a teacher or lecturer has to play certain roles with which s/he can be effective. i guess your lecturer has found her role and she is effective in that case. otherwise, her evaluation will tell her to adjust to the manner in which the students and her superiors would appreciate her efforts in teaching.
@Danniella1110 (106)
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20 Jul 12
I truly appreciate your response. She is a highly-regarded lecturer and just perhaps sometimes I do hope to go into class to not be looked down upon. For an exam recently, I had gotten the highest mark in the subject which was 1 mark below the highest mark in the world award, which surprised her more than it surprised me, I would not have gotten the mark if it werent for her.There are worse things in life than a mean lecturer I guess LOL. All the best mensab!
@natliegleb (5175)
• India
20 Jul 12
that is because he is targeting you each day and you must learn to tackle him with ease and lecture's are not flawless since they always try to pounce upon their fact and they always assume their point is correct and you must have to impress him the hardest way.When he tries to corner you ,make sure that you are always in the correct zone and also state that you dont have family problems and answer him quite blatantly the truth.
Dont ever feel bad for your attitude ,it all depends on how your behaviour is and how you are handling this issue at any time.
So always dont stay calm and become the soft target of the lecturer.
Be sure that you are acting comfortable infront of him and never ever feel nervous or keep fretting for sure
@Danniella1110 (106)
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21 Jul 12
Hello! I appreciate your response and thank you for understanding! It is so true, that I do have to put forward this comfortable and confident persona in front of her because she will pick on you if you show even the smallest signs of insecurity. And even if I was answering or well anyone was anyone answering correctly, if you are not confident then you are wrong, instead she will rehash and repackage what you said and say oh it is correct. LOL. Thank you, confidence really is key!
