Many students think that their relationships with teachers should be distant and restricted to just attending classes and listening to lectures, but creating a good relationship with instructors can make a difference in your educational and professional career.
By creating a positive relationship with teachers, students can work through course material more effectively, have more personal assistance, and, ultimately, perform better in the course.
In my case, having a positive relationship with my teachers has been incredibly important in my time as a student at Camosun because it allowed me to go in depth in the disciplines and do my assignments with more competence.
I recommend taking advantage of each teacher’s office hours, because that’s when students can ask questions and seek clarification on how to improve their performance in the course. When the student is willing to talk directly with an instructor, the student can gain a better understanding of the course in question, because the instructor can explain the subject specifically to the student in a personalized way. This is especially important for us international students, who need to adapt to the way in which we are accustomed to studying, or who might have trouble understanding some expressions in English. So, don’t be shy about going to your teacher during their office hours.
One of the major concerns of international students is how to discuss a specific problem, such as a low grade. My tip is this: always be polite. Being respectful when defending your point of view is essential to having a good debate. Also, be open to listening to what the teacher has to say and to looking for ways you can improve. There is no reason to establish a bad relationship with the teacher just because you disagree with something.
It will not always be easy. Some instructors have teaching methods or personalities that are not aligned with our method of study. In this case, it is even more important to try to establish a dialogue and not settle for a simple “I just want to pass in this discipline.”
Instructors might be demanding, but they can give important tips and help more than we think with our career decisions.