How you communicate with your professor affects how
well you do in a course.
In general, professors are likely to be impressed
with students who show a genuine interest in their
course material and ask good questions. The best way to
get on your professor's good side is to be an
"interested" student.The following are some strategies to
demonstrate your interest and curiosity:
-
Don't criticize, condemn, or complain
to the teacher about his or her performance:
rather: focus on, and discuss, the material and your
understanding of it.
-
Let the teacher know what you
appreciate about the course
-
Smile
-
Know and use the teacher's name
-
Listen to what the teacher has to say
about himself or herself
-
Talk in terms of what the teacher is
interested in
-
Let the teacher know that you think he
or she is important
-
Avoid arguing
-
If you are wrong, admit it quickly and
emphatically
-
Ask questions rather than give orders
-
Try honestly to see the teacher's
point of view
-
Let the teacher know that you
sincerely want to do well in the course
-
Always have the course textbook in
your hand whenever you see the instructor
-
Hand in all assignments on
time throughout the semester
Adapted from How to Win
Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie, New
York:
Simon and Schuster Inc., 1936.
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