Participate in Class
Sometimes, teachers make participation a high part of your grade-but you just don't know what to say (especially if you don't like the subject). Read on to find out how to participate successfully.
Contents
Steps
- Prepare what you will say before the class starts. If your teacher assigns reading, read it! This will most likely be the basis of the next day's discussion. Consider what you are learning in the context of the entire unit, and the entire year.
- Know your teacher's "style". Some teachers, especially in more objective subjects and classes, will simply ask for answers. Others will ask for opinions or interpretations, and some will do both. If you know that your teacher generally asks questions from the lecture notes from the day before, take good notes. If your teacher asks for opinions, develop some. Some teachers have a style of setting up questions; make sure you know it, because its one way you will be able to know and understand what the question is really asking.
- If the subject is math or science, a good idea is to start it with, i.e., "I think this formula is related to Newton's 3rd law because..." This will tell the teacher that you know what you are talking about.
- If another student has a question and you know the answer, never be shy and answer him/her immediately. The teacher will then know that you're paying attention.
- Show by your body language that you're engaged with honest, undivided attention. When you are ready to contribute, sit toward the edge of your seat; lean forward a little indicating that you are not just involved, but have something important to add. Still, don't be loud, too eager, or insisting on attention! Be serious, reasonably courteous, friendly and let yourself smile a little, appropriately. (In other words be humble: you can be admired as a great participator without being odd or being resented, not acting as if you are "special".)
- Disagree with the author more if you are reading a book. Don't just raise your hand and say, "Yeah, the author's right." Rather, go a step further and try to find a flaw in the writing or with an idea. On the other hand, if you happen to agree with the author's views, give specific reasons why.
- Keep homework up to date. It will keep you out of detention, and it will show you understand what you have been going through in class. They will be more likely to choose you to answer questions so they won't need to repeat themselves with student's who get it wrong.
Tips
- Speak clearly- this might seem strange, but to show that you know what you are talking about you need to speak confidently.
- Taking notes also helps, so you can look them through when preparing for a class.
- Make nice with the teacher. You don't have to be the teacher's pet, but get on his/her good side. Teachers don't play favorites, but they do have them.
Warnings
- Some people might call you a teacher's pet - ignore them. If they think sitting at the back, messing around and doing nothing is cool, it's their problem.
- Never insult a student or teacher in a debate.
- Don't just reiterate the thing the teacher said-if you have nothing to say, don't say it!
- Don't raise your hand every second.
