Subject: Need Advice on a Difficult Professor
Hey everyone, my girlfriend asked me to share her situation and seek some advice.
She’s currently in her final semester of college, enrolled in a 4-credit hour course that she needs to pass with at least a B to graduate. It’s a large class that meets twice a week for two hours and requires attendance. While she has a good grasp on the material, she’s feeling overwhelmed by the professor.
Unfortunately, the professor is quite distractible and often contradictory in her teaching approach. She assigns practice problems, but frequently makes mistakes herself, which only adds to the confusion. Her classroom management style consists of yelling, clapping, and, at times, threatening to withhold teaching the material if students aren’t focused.
My girlfriend often finds herself needing to step out to the bathroom just to calm down. The atmosphere created by the yelling and clapping is really elevating her anxiety and blood pressure.
Given this situation, do you think it’s appropriate for her to email the professor about her concerns? If so, how should she phrase it? Or is addressing it directly a bad idea? She would really appreciate any thoughts, tips, or shared experiences.
EDIT: My girlfriend is grateful for the support. She also wanted to mention that she’s already on anxiety medication and has decided to tough it out for the rest of the semester, promising to write a detailed course evaluation. Thank you!
It’s understandable that your girlfriend is feeling stressed given the situation. It sounds really tough to be dealing with a professor who is not only difficult to follow but also causes her anxiety to spike. Here are some thoughts and suggestions for her to consider:
Emailing the Professor: It’s usually a good idea to communicate concerns, but it’s important to approach the situation thoughtfully. If she chooses to email the professor, she might want to frame it in a constructive way. She could express that she’s finding the class challenging due to the teaching style and ask for clarification on certain points to help her understand better. This way, the conversation can stay focused on her learning experience rather than sounding like a complaint.
Office Hours: If she’s comfortable, attending office hours could be beneficial. This one-on-one setting might allow her to voice her concerns more directly and possibly receive some personalized guidance.
Seek Support: Since she’s already taking anxiety medication, it might be a good idea for her to also reach out to a mental health professional on campus. They can help her develop coping strategies for stressful situations, including challenging classes.
Connect with Classmates: It might help to talk to classmates about their feelings toward the professor and the class dynamics. If others feel the same way, they could consider addressing the issues together, which might feel less daunting.
Course Evaluation: It’s great that she plans to write an informative course evaluation. That’s a constructive way to provide feedback that could help future students.
Self-Care Practices: Encouraging her to adopt self-care practices outside of class can help manage her anxiety as well. Whether it’s through mindfulness, exercise, or spending time with friends, these activities can provide necessary relief.
Ultimately, it’s important for her to prioritize her wellbeing while navigating this difficult situation. Good luck to her in finishing the semester strong!