Communicating with your university teachers — Top Tips

One of the best tools for success  at university is having a positive relationship with your teachers.    This entails establishing a strong line of communication,  and you knowing your professor well and your professor knowing you well.

This is not always easy as university teachers are usually very busy and not always available to talk.   They may not invite such communication, so it is up to the student to be pro-active and initiate it.

There is a great deal of advice on the internet about this topic as the following Google search shows.

Here are some top tips:

1.  Have a brief (5-10 minute) face-to-face discussion with your teacher in his/her office in the first or second week of class to discuss questions you have about the class or any assignments.   This shows the professor you are serious about his class.     Questions should be focused.   Use his/her office hours.
2. If you are writing a paper that has a thesis,   before you go too far in your research and writing,  ask your teacher to look at your thesis and give you feedback.
3. In class,   try to ask or answer questions.   Your professor can see that you are engaged in the class,  and are making an effort to learn and participate.
4. When speaking to your teacher,  say their name correctly.   Watch what other students call him.   Ask him what you can call him.  In email and cover sheets,  spell his/her name correctly.
5. For any serious assignment where you are unclear about the instructions,  or about some part of what you are doing,    contact your teacher.    2 minutes with him or her could save you two hours or possibly a very poor mark.
6. It is important to use feedback from your teacher to improve your subsequent efforts.  If this feedback is unclear,  ask your professor to explain it.   It you did not receive any feedback,   then ask for some.
7. Whatever you do,  don’t be a nuisance.   Don’t bother or annoy your teacher with too many questions.
8. Try not to show your ignorance.    Make sure you have read the course outline and any assignment instructions.
9. Never embarrass or  make your professor lose face.
10. Don’t be late if you make an appointment with your teacher.   And never forget to show up.
11. Tell your teacher that you want to learn and that you like the class.
12. Thank your teacher to show your appreciation.  (But don’t be phony.)
13. Don’t ask or beg for a better grade.  However,  if your teacher has clearly made a math error, this is acceptable.