In life, you’re going to have dozens of encounters with people you don’t agree with, but what do you do when your professor is one of them? It’s normal to feel conflicted when trying to decide whether or not you’re going to speak up to your professor, because at the end of the day, your grade is the most important thing and you don’t want anything affecting it.
However, if you’re anything like me, you’re a firm believer in sharing your opinions and questioning things you don’t quite believe in… even if it’s with a professor. What I keep in mind though is that just because I may disagree, doesn’t mean I have to address it in a rude or negative way. Here are six tips to help you when your prof gets problematic.
1. Remember these two factors
The most important things to remember about your professor is that it’s their job to help and talk to you, and the one thing you have in common is that you’re both human (if nothing else, remember that they probably love candy as much as you do). Keep this in mind so you don’t feel super intimidated.
2. Know that professors are aware that the class will be diverse
I’ve had professors in the past say they know not all of their students aren’t always going to agree with them. With that being said, they expect you to come to them every now and then to share your thoughts on what they discussed in lectures whether you agree with them or not. It’s not foreign to them to have people say “I didn’t quite agree with what you said about… ” so don’t feel like you’re offending them especially if you don’t notice anyone else speaking out against what they’re saying.
3. Understand that speaking up may also benefit you
If you challenge the belief of your professor, you’re making them really think of a response to your question/statement. This shows that not only are you listening but you’re analyzing what they’re saying. Professors notice these things and this will make them remember you compared to other students who just take notes and nod to everything they say.
4. Always be cautious
Now if your professor is saying something offensive that isn’t sitting well with you and you don’t know how to address it in a respectful way, don’t say anything yet. You don’t want to say something you’ll regret that will make them remember you for a bad reason. Think it through a little, discuss it with a friend/family member, and then talk to your prof about it after lecture (or their office hours). It’s important to analyze and ask questions before you make a comment because sometimes you may misunderstand things and that can lead to responding the wrong way. Sometimes you just need a little more background information to come up with a more accurate statement.
5. Remember that professors are humans, too
Like I mentioned previously, your professors will occasionally make mistakes and sometimes they don’t catch them. I’ve never encountered a professor who was upset with a student because they corrected a mistake that was made. Your prof will likely appreciate this because it shows them you’re paying attention. Just remember to be respectful when pointing out mistakes; think about how you would like to be confronted in a similar situation, and act accordingly.
6. Know that every professor is different
I’m sure overall if you decide to speak up to one if you do it in a respectful way, you won’t receive much backlash. Instead, you’ll gain their respect. It’s all about how you address things and keeping in mind that they are the ones who calculate your grade at the end of the semester.
–– Briyana Johnson