How to Tell a Teacher She Is Teaching Incorrectly
Prepare., Choose the right moment., No matter how you may feel, don't have an attitude., Never turn the process into an argument., If you have a problem with the way a professor teaches do not tell them it's bad and they need to change it., If you...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Prepare.
If you're going to challenge a teacher's ruling on a particular subject or question, you better make well sure you are correct and have the evidence to back it up.
Do your research, and this does not mean Wikipedia.
As helpful and accurate as it may be these days it just isn't seen as credible by the majority of academia and sometimes is not.
However it is often a great place to start that can lead you more sound evidence through the headings at the bottom of the page.
Search legitimate, peer-reviewed databases such as JSTOR for data supporting your point you can present to your prof.
Your teacher will be impressed that you took the effort and will be more considerate. -
Step 2: Choose the right moment.
People usually have a pride on their work.
When you expose someone in public you can hurt not only their pride, but also their image as an authority and even the institution that backs them.
Take care to choose the proper time and place to talk; wait after the class is over or on his/her office.
Making it into a private matter will give you a better opportunity to be heard without rising a defensive attitude. , You need to be respectful and mature without sarcasm, facial expression or any other body language that suggests opposition or defiance if you want to be taken seriously.
In their mind they didn't endure 4 years of school to get their Baccalaureate degree with anywhere from 2-7 years of school on top of that for their masters or doctorate to be listening to you whine like a 5 year old about what you think is right, and frankly they are correct.
This sends your credibility straight out the window.
They will stop listening immediately and make up their mind that they were right.
In order to be taken seriously you need to present yourself in a manner that is as non-oppositional as possible, as if you are working with or for them rather than against them.
Remember that they have much more power than you and have the ultimate say. , If you feel it start to escalate remember to keep your cool.
Present your point to them as if you are trying to understand why they determined you were wrong, not necessarily that you think you were right.
When you present evidence, never be absolute about it.
For example, I speak like this "Ma'am, it seems that these reference supports the fact that Al Gore does indeed live on the moon, do you see my point? Rather than: "Look at this data! There is no way you can tell me Al GORE doesn't live on the moon based on this!".
See how the first one was much less absolute and more polite? Teachers like this because they don't feel like they're being threatened.
They are further more likely to explain to you why they thought you were incorrect. , Again, they will feel like they're being judged/threatened/being demeaned, and none of them like that.
Instead, you mention that you are having difficulty learning in the style they use and politely suggest/ask them if they can modify it a bit to help you.
Contrary to popular belief, most teachers want you to succeed and do well.
They certainly are grossly underpaid for what they do, and are thus not teaching for the money (unless they are doing research or are tenured), so most of the gratification of teaching comes from seeing students learn things and be able to do things because they taught them! If you put it in the context of "I'm struggling and want to learn better" rather than "I need a good grade" then they will be much more likely to help you. , Nothing is worse than having a long, drawn out, pointless argument with a teacher that you know you've already lost but you don't want to admit you're wrong.
Realistically, they will not see you as any less of a person if you politely say "OK, I understand now, thank you for clarifying this"
and if you do have an argument during this process, they will remember it for a long time and continue to grade and judge you in all interaction based on it whether it's ethical or not.
Again, be civil.
This stuff should give you a good shot at at least understanding why you were wrong. , Being someone who is supposed to be right and was proved wrong by their student, who should know less, is extremely embarrassing.
You need to do everything you can to try to not have them embarrassed so that they will not associate you with negative feelings which could affect future interaction.
This means you need to thoroughly thank them for listening to your case and that you appreciate the consideration.
Show them you still have respect for them as your teacher for what they went through to get there and what they know (for which you honestly should).
Remember, they didn't have to admit they were wrong. -
Step 3: No matter how you may feel
-
Step 4: don't have an attitude.
-
Step 5: Never turn the process into an argument.
-
Step 6: If you have a problem with the way a professor teaches do not tell them it's bad and they need to change it.
-
Step 7: If you are in fact wrong and they have defeated all of your evidence
-
Step 8: accept defeat.
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Step 9: If the teacher does admit you are right
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Step 10: do not rub it in.
Detailed Guide
If you're going to challenge a teacher's ruling on a particular subject or question, you better make well sure you are correct and have the evidence to back it up.
Do your research, and this does not mean Wikipedia.
As helpful and accurate as it may be these days it just isn't seen as credible by the majority of academia and sometimes is not.
However it is often a great place to start that can lead you more sound evidence through the headings at the bottom of the page.
Search legitimate, peer-reviewed databases such as JSTOR for data supporting your point you can present to your prof.
Your teacher will be impressed that you took the effort and will be more considerate.
People usually have a pride on their work.
When you expose someone in public you can hurt not only their pride, but also their image as an authority and even the institution that backs them.
Take care to choose the proper time and place to talk; wait after the class is over or on his/her office.
Making it into a private matter will give you a better opportunity to be heard without rising a defensive attitude. , You need to be respectful and mature without sarcasm, facial expression or any other body language that suggests opposition or defiance if you want to be taken seriously.
In their mind they didn't endure 4 years of school to get their Baccalaureate degree with anywhere from 2-7 years of school on top of that for their masters or doctorate to be listening to you whine like a 5 year old about what you think is right, and frankly they are correct.
This sends your credibility straight out the window.
They will stop listening immediately and make up their mind that they were right.
In order to be taken seriously you need to present yourself in a manner that is as non-oppositional as possible, as if you are working with or for them rather than against them.
Remember that they have much more power than you and have the ultimate say. , If you feel it start to escalate remember to keep your cool.
Present your point to them as if you are trying to understand why they determined you were wrong, not necessarily that you think you were right.
When you present evidence, never be absolute about it.
For example, I speak like this "Ma'am, it seems that these reference supports the fact that Al Gore does indeed live on the moon, do you see my point? Rather than: "Look at this data! There is no way you can tell me Al GORE doesn't live on the moon based on this!".
See how the first one was much less absolute and more polite? Teachers like this because they don't feel like they're being threatened.
They are further more likely to explain to you why they thought you were incorrect. , Again, they will feel like they're being judged/threatened/being demeaned, and none of them like that.
Instead, you mention that you are having difficulty learning in the style they use and politely suggest/ask them if they can modify it a bit to help you.
Contrary to popular belief, most teachers want you to succeed and do well.
They certainly are grossly underpaid for what they do, and are thus not teaching for the money (unless they are doing research or are tenured), so most of the gratification of teaching comes from seeing students learn things and be able to do things because they taught them! If you put it in the context of "I'm struggling and want to learn better" rather than "I need a good grade" then they will be much more likely to help you. , Nothing is worse than having a long, drawn out, pointless argument with a teacher that you know you've already lost but you don't want to admit you're wrong.
Realistically, they will not see you as any less of a person if you politely say "OK, I understand now, thank you for clarifying this"
and if you do have an argument during this process, they will remember it for a long time and continue to grade and judge you in all interaction based on it whether it's ethical or not.
Again, be civil.
This stuff should give you a good shot at at least understanding why you were wrong. , Being someone who is supposed to be right and was proved wrong by their student, who should know less, is extremely embarrassing.
You need to do everything you can to try to not have them embarrassed so that they will not associate you with negative feelings which could affect future interaction.
This means you need to thoroughly thank them for listening to your case and that you appreciate the consideration.
Show them you still have respect for them as your teacher for what they went through to get there and what they know (for which you honestly should).
Remember, they didn't have to admit they were wrong.
About the Author
Grace Simmons
Dedicated to helping readers learn new skills in hobbies and beyond.
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