Let's face it, going to a big university and having to take so many different classes, we are ought to experience a variety of professors, all with unique personalities. There are those professors that you adore and the professors that you compare to Satan himself. We've all been there and experienced it first hand.
However as a student, it is not always appropriate to speak our mind to our professors, but if we could this is what we would say...
1. "Maybe I wouldn't fall asleep in your class if you weren't so boring."
Having an 8 a.m. is hard enough, let alone having to sit through a boring lecture for an hour and fifteen minutes.
If you don't want us to fall asleep in your class, put some pep into your voice, make your class more interactive instead of going blah, blah, blah.
2. "Believe it or not, no your class is not more important than all my other classes."
So many professors are guilty of this. How often, they pile us with homework expecting us to have memorized their textbooks, but ya know, it's not like we're taking 5 other classes besides there's. Oh and being involved in extracurriculars, guess you don't expect me to be involved in those since you give me five hours of homework a night for your class.
Being able to have a social life? Ha, yeah I know, completely out of question.
3. "Participation grades are the death wish for shy people."
I know you want people to be involved in class, but that's what the extroverts are for, they thrive off of it too. Just because, us shy people don't want to participate doesn't mean we don't pay attention and follow along. We just would not prefer not to be forced to talk.
Oh, and calling on us on the spot out of the blue, yeah that's like stabbing us in the chest and twisting the knife.
4. "There is a lot going on in my life, I am more than just a grade or a name on your attendance sheet."
I am a complex human being. My life is chaotic and sometimes I really struggle. Sometimes, as much as I try to not let them, my personal struggles affect my performance in your class.
Unfortunately, to you, I am just the name on a sheet and the grade next to it. Little do you know, my anxiety is higher than ever. I am barely sleeping, yet trying my best to manage my heavy course load. If you got to know me as a person, maybe you could take in account my effort.
5. Thank you!
Although there are many things that may annoy me about your teaching, I am thankful for you. I am thankful you provide me with an education, that some are unable to have. I am thankful for you being one of the teachers, where your door is always open. I am thankful for you, reminding me why I want to be a future educator.
It's too bad we won't ever really be able to speak our mind, but at least we know what we would say to them.
