How to Overcome Communication Issues With a Teacher
Some students have difficulty approaching teachers for extra help or guidance, so here are five quick tips on how to have a discussion with a teacher in a respectful manner.
- Take a deep breath.
Taking a calming breath or a minute to yourself can help you refocus. This is most useful when the teacher says something that is confusing to you. It can also be helpful when your teacher has a habit of talking in circles or making confusing comments. When you’re irritated, it’s easy to find everything your teacher says or does annoying. So, when you calm down can help you view the person from a new perspective.
- Think about the class, not the teacher
If this is a class that you really like and the teacher is making it complicated or confusing, think about what you’re learning. Personally, some of my favorite subjects in the past have been taught with teaching styles that I don’t particularly like. What I did was focus on the topics that I was learning about and thought were interesting, which greatly helped my course experience. However, if you’re taking a class just for the grade, the next three tips are better for you.
- Ask questions
If your teachers are explaining material in ways in which you don’t understand, you can ask clarifying questions like: “Could you repeat that?” or simply, “I don’t understand what you said. Could you explain it one more time?” Respectfully stating your confusion is a great way for you to still retain the information. As well, each time you ask a question, your teacher learns what does and doesn’t work for you in terms of learning styles.
- Positive Reinforcement
Positive reinforcement is a form of feedback that’s for your teacher—telling your teacher that you enjoy the activities/assignments they’re doing. For example, you could say how you liked a science-themed Kahoot to review for an upcoming quiz. I know it sounds a bit weird, but positive reinforcement has proven to help change people’s behaviors and could make your class better.
- Talk to your teacher
I know that some of us don’t want to talk to our teachers if we don’t have to, but it can really help. Similar to asking questions, this is a way for your teachers to learn about your personal learning style. It’s good for them to know that you’re having issues with their teaching method. This will help them change things up and if not, you can clarify after or during class.
I hope these quick tips are something that you can use the next time you’re struggling with communicating with your teacher.