distressed_student
grad student/adjunct instructor/confused family man
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Posts: 122
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« Reply #30 on: September 14, 2009, 08:18:28 PM » |
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Don't imagine that there is some unspoken hierarchy of grad students in the room, all jockeying for Herr Professor's favor (even if, in actuality, there is). Instead, jot a few notes while someone is talking, and reply with a well-though-out (albeit with notes) response. Notes will help here immensely. I find that many of the people in my Ph.D. seminars rail endlessly about (a) "how this relates to ME" ("...today, at work, I heard someone say..."); or (b) "My political opinion is that..." ("Liberals do....." or "Conservatives state that...") and often it's just a statement of little merit or weight. It's just killing time (don't think that a prof ain't watching the clock). Pick a few choice topics in the readings or a statement you find profound in that week's assignment, and discuss it at length. And stick to your guns, and just relax. You're spending lots on tuition: the least you can do is enjoy the class and its give-and-take. And a smile at the end of your statement(s) will work wonders.
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Social Worker: Homer, your problem is simple. You're a fat, selfish buffoon.
Homer Simpson: ...Which is society's fault because...?
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toni52
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« Reply #31 on: September 15, 2009, 03:53:19 PM » |
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When I was in grad school, I struggled with this issue as well. As others have suggested, my strategy was that I would formulate a few questions or observations beforehand. Also, I forced myself to raise my hand and to ask at least one question/ or make a comment no matter what.
Also, keep in mind that there are a lot of people who like to hear themselves talk—even if they’re talking nonsense. I remember one seminar where one of my classmates seemed to make it his personal mission to dominate the conversation. Although he was a very active participant, his questions and observations were based upon his personal views rather than a scholarly analysis of the readings.
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freefallen
New member
Posts: 27
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« Reply #32 on: October 13, 2009, 10:09:15 PM » |
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I'm popping back in to thank everyone for their stories and suggestions. I am doing a lot better in my class participation. I'm still nervous as anything during my seminar and sometimes I feel like I'm "faking it" but I've learned a lot and I feel as if I'm contributing meaningfully.
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vardahilwen
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« Reply #33 on: October 13, 2009, 11:06:01 PM » |
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I'm popping back in to thank everyone for their stories and suggestions. I am doing a lot better in my class participation. I'm still nervous as anything during my seminar and sometimes I feel like I'm "faking it" but I've learned a lot and I feel as if I'm contributing meaningfully.
I thought of this thread last week when one of my classmates said something "stupid." He completely misinterpreted the prof's question, which was evident from his answer ... everybody laughed, and the poor guy turned beet red. But it was no big deal. He's a great guy, and we know he's smart. He had a moment of embarrassment, and we all moved on. |
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You can sit at my lunch table.
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tinyboss
All these posts and I'm still just a
New member
Posts: 43
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« Reply #34 on: October 14, 2009, 08:27:46 AM » |
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I thought of this thread last week when one of my classmates said something "stupid." He completely misinterpreted the prof's question, which was evident from his answer ... everybody laughed, and the poor guy turned beet red. But it was no big deal. He's a great guy, and we know he's smart. He had a moment of embarrassment, and we all moved on.
It's the ones without the sense to be embarrassed who are really annoying. "That student" (interthreaduality) in my 10:30 class gets on a roll (in the wrong direction) and requires three or four explicit shushings from the prof before he can stop. Of course everyone else is rolling eyes and stifling giggles the whole time. |
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I freakin' hate those kind of ice breakers with a passion that is hard to describe since I can't write here with blood and spittle. |
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autie13
Livin' large as a
Senior member
Posts: 308
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« Reply #35 on: October 14, 2009, 05:12:06 PM » |
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Boy, have I been there. I think most grad students are used to being the smartest person in the room, then you get into your first grad seminar, and discover that everybody was the smartest kid in the room, and you feel like you have to take your game up a notch. People mention books that you've never read and scholars you've never heard of, and you feel incredibly stupid. You say something in class, the prof just stares at you or goes "hmm," and redirects the conversation. Agonizing. Wow you must have taken the thoughts straight out of my head. It's tough when you're used to being #1- grad school really knocks you down in that sense! |
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"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called research." ~~ A. Einstein ~~
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vardahilwen
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« Reply #36 on: October 14, 2009, 08:40:09 PM » |
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Boy, have I been there. I think most grad students are used to being the smartest person in the room, then you get into your first grad seminar, and discover that everybody was the smartest kid in the room, and you feel like you have to take your game up a notch. People mention books that you've never read and scholars you've never heard of, and you feel incredibly stupid. You say something in class, the prof just stares at you or goes "hmm," and redirects the conversation. Agonizing. Wow you must have taken the thoughts straight out of my head. It's tough when you're used to being #1- grad school really knocks you down in that sense! Indeed. Everyone is used to being "the smartest kid in the room," and suddenly you realize just how much you DON'T know. |
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You can sit at my lunch table.
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frogfactory
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« Reply #37 on: October 14, 2009, 10:03:32 PM » |
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Boy, have I been there. I think most grad students are used to being the smartest person in the room, then you get into your first grad seminar, and discover that everybody was the smartest kid in the room, and you feel like you have to take your game up a notch. People mention books that you've never read and scholars you've never heard of, and you feel incredibly stupid. You say something in class, the prof just stares at you or goes "hmm," and redirects the conversation. Agonizing. Wow you must have taken the thoughts straight out of my head. It's tough when you're used to being #1- grad school really knocks you down in that sense! Indeed. Everyone is used to being "the smartest kid in the room," and suddenly you realize just how much you DON'T know. But that's the awesome thing about grad school - suddenly you get to hang out with all these genuinely smart people! |
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At the end of the day, sometimes you just have to masturbate in the bathroom.
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natsteel
Junior member
Posts: 78
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« Reply #38 on: October 15, 2009, 09:09:01 PM » |
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It's just frustrating that I can write persuasively but verbally... meh.
I can totally sympathize. I have the same problem and I've found it very frustrating. I am the type of person that forms his completed thoughts while, or through, writing. Trying to do that in my head, on the fly, in the heat of a classroom discussion has proved problematic. I sometimes wonder what my professors think because what they read in my papers is nothing like what they hear from me during discussion. I am better when dealing with them one-on-one but I also refrain from participating in discussion as much as I should. Anyway, it's nice to know that there is someone else experiencing the same frustration that I am. |
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vardahilwen
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« Reply #39 on: October 15, 2009, 10:23:37 PM » |
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Well, folks, I did it tonight - asked a "stupid" question in class :P The problem was in how I articulated it - it seemed like an obvious question, the way I asked it, and I wish I could have collected myself and reworded it. If I had worded it correctly, it wouldn't have been so obvious - I knew what I was getting at, but didn't state it very well.
I could tell from the prof's reaction that she thought it was a "dumb" question. Sigh.
Oh well, tomorrow is another day, and I'm not the only one in the class who's done this.
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You can sit at my lunch table.
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verde
New member
Posts: 34
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« Reply #40 on: October 18, 2009, 06:55:00 AM » |
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I don't dominate the conversation, but I do participate actively, and my gripe is that I wish students engaged one another more frequently. At times I've tried to do this- engage, not challenge- and it has fallen flat. The professor is open to letting us speak, and will moderate when necessary, but it seems like the group's preference is to have it come straight from him, even when the answers can be found within the group (though not necessarily with me). I think it's unfortunate, because we could really be helping one another to sharpen arguments or understand things differently, but I don't suppose I'll keep pushing the issue.
Natsteel, I've recently returned to the U.S. after several years living abroad and speaking another language, and I'm feeling less than articulate in speech. I can express my thoughts well in writing, and as long as my professors are seeing my writing they know I'm not a (complete) dolt, but I need to work on crafting sentences that better convey what I'm thinking. There's a higher degree of precision required, and that, I think, takes practice. But you're not alone. And good for you for not refraining from being part of the conversation.
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freefallen
New member
Posts: 27
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« Reply #41 on: October 18, 2009, 08:07:22 PM » |
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Ah, vardahilwen. I think I'm starting to believe in this up/down momentum, where I say one beautifully articulated answer then just shoot down with a stupid remark, then back up again. Learning, I guess.
And I agree with you verde. I have been trying some of the tips here and when I try to engage my classmates (even making eye contact), most of the time they "answer" me by looking at the professor or speaking to him. Aiie.
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