Everybody has had at least one mean teacher in their lives, whom they have generally avoided and hated. Read on to know how you can deal with such teachers in an efficient and friendly manner.
Do not give them a chance
To avoid being bullied by a teacher, it is important that we do our best not to get on their bad side. They should never get a chance to point fingers at us. It is important that you do your homework, no matter how difficult it is. Getting them wrong will not infuriate the teacher as much as a blank look and notebook would. Show them that you are giving their subject time and importance. They will like the fact that you at least tried, even if you make mistakes, you can still learn from them. You must also pay attention in their classes, irrespective of how you feel towards that subject. Do not talk to your friends during your classes as that would give an easy target for the teacher. Listen to them carefully and take notes in class. Your hard work will not go unrewarded.
Be punctual
If you have to be in the good books of a teacher, you have to show him that his subject is important to you. If you have his class on the following day, go to bed early and get up fresh for the morning. Do not linger around in the corridors before his class and be seated by the time the teacher arrives. It reflects your seriousness and sincerity. Always be on time for the class unless it is absolutely unavoidable. If you think you might not be able to attend his class, inform the teacher before the class commences and not afterwards. This way you can even ask him to help you out in the course that was covered in the class you missed.
Body language
On many occasions, students feel that their teacher hates them for no reason at all, because he seems to be talking to them rashly since their first interaction. This happens usually when the teacher does not like your body language. The teacher might have encountered some other rude student in the past and your body language might remind him of that student, hence he might be stereotyping in his mind. Always maintain a healthy eye contact with the teacher in the classroom so that you donât give off the impression that you are avoiding him. Eye contact is the best way to gain confidence and convey to the teacher that you are following every word of his. Donât smile too often when you make eye contact because he might think that you are considering the class as a joke. Stay serious throughout the class and if you have something to say to him, say it when the class is over.
Ask wisely and listen carefully
Students sometimes feel that they are annoying the teacher when they ask too many questions. They seem to think that the teacher does not know the answer and hence is hiding his own incapability by bullying the student. But mostly it is not so, the timing and the tone in which the question is asked is a very important factor in deciding how the teacher will react to the question. Do not interrupt the teacher while he is talking, always raise you hand when you have something to say or ask. Always make sure, to avoid getting into trouble that you listen carefully to what the teacher is saying, so that you are not at fault. Similarly, while answering also, properly listen to the question first and then answer, do not give incorrect or incomplete answers hastily as it will affect your reputation in class. Teachers like students who ask intelligent questions and can answer them too because they get encouraged by the fact that their efforts are not going in vain and it also encourages other students to get involved in the subject. But never ask questions just to get attention, always make sure that you have a solid foundation before you question the teacher, else you are just asking for trouble.
Go the extra mile and never argue
Always greet your teachers with a smile and never talk behind their backs. Any of the teacherâs pets might use this as leverage for himself and land you in deep trouble. Be polite and courteous and never call them using their name, even when you are talking to your friends in the classroom. Speak gently and concisely when talking to them, do not exaggerate or show disdain. Also, one should take care that even if the teacher is not correct on any occasion, you should not argue with them. They are much older than you and hence deserve some respect, just to end the conversation, say sorry in a polite manner and ask them how you can rectify your mistake. Help the teacher when he is leaving the class or entering it, by cleaning the board or providing him with chalks or markers promptly. This sort of behavior earns the student goodwill and the teacher is forced to develop a soft corner for the student.
