Four Types of Lecturer

Talking about college student, we are also talking about lecturer. After 6+ years of my college experience (ahem, and I'm still a college student*), I saw an interesting pattern about lecturers (I may applied to teaches in general too, I guess). The pattern is about how the lecturer interacted with the students, within and outside the formal class. If you have been a (college) student, you must have met a boring killer lecturer. You once said, "Man, I hate math class with Prof. A. You know I always fall asleep on his class." or "God, how can I be calm on studying while Prof. B yells every five minutes.". Sometimes we critisise the way they lecture us. And on the other time we blame them for our failure. And sometimes, we hate certain subject not because we don't like it, but because the lecturer. It's because “his way of teaching was wrong". Right?

Unfortunately, if we keep thinking that way, we would never learn neither be successful. As we grow up, we realise that cursing the lecturer won't make us any better. No matter how angry we are to them, no matter how hate we are to them, we can’t change that with cursing. If you are a college student, remember that you can't be cry baby like a highschoolers. You have to survive and you have responsibility upon yourself.

From that starting point, I think we should change our perspective about our lecturer. You know, when we're highschoolers, we were thinking about teacher as "a parents as school who have a deep knowledge about everything and we can't learn and pass the test without them", now we should start to see lecturer as a friend on learning, a friend we respect. I always think them as a respected friends even though they are far older than me. That way, I found learning is easier more enjoyable.

But in fact, we can't befriend every lecturer. This is the point of this post (sorry for the long epilogue). There are lecturers who are so close to his students and the other make distant from their students. There are lecturers who are so so so kind-hearted and even easy to give a grade, but the other are killer ones. Something interesting I found is that not every killer lecturers in class are bad. Here I made a clear explanation about it (according to my investigation and "research", by the way). I'm pretty sure you'll agree. And also I added a mighty awesome quadrants to ease things.

Type 1 : No Fun at Class and Outside

It seems that the lecturers always have a busy life. Maybe he has so many activities that he have no time to interact with his students outside the class. Even more, it seems class is not in flow. Other reason is.. maybe it's just who he is (a social awkward?).

Type 2 : No Fun at Class, But Fun Outside

Admit it, you have met one. He is so killer in class, making it so intense. Or he is too boring and you often fall asleep in his classes. But once you met him outside, you can easily hold a fun conversation, good discussion, and even exchange latest PC games. :D

Type 3 : Fun at Class, But No Fun Outside

This type is a little bit confusing. His teaching method and style is perfect. He is funny and we expect to engage more with him outside, but when we approach him.. Surprise! He’s so much different. He is cold and seemed to limit his interactions with student. Everything is just awkward. Personally, I chose to avoid meeting this lecturer and take another road. Hahaha..

Type 4 : Fun Both at Class and Outside

Whoaaa.. this type is awesome. Having discussion with him is always enjoyable. He takes teaching and lecturing his student in to the next level, because education need to happen not only inside the class. He’s aware about his profession (and maybe because it’s his trait, easy going). It doesn’t mean that other type is not professional or dedicated. We just can say that this type is such an ideal lecturer ;)

In conclusion, I must said that it’s not important which type of lecturer we are facing, the future is in our hands. Just because the lecturer is not an easy going on (a.k.a. type 1 or 3), it doesn’t mean you have a reason to give up on learning. Remember that he has a potential to be always like that, and if we didn’t change ourselves, we are doomed! However, as a student we still have to respect them. If you feel the lecturer is mean or anything, just remember that every human has a mistake, why not a lecturer? That's my two cents. :)

So, if you are about to be a teacher or lecturer, which type will you fall on?? :D

Maybe you can post your story too? Hendri, Zia, Raksa

* Yeeees I'm still a college student after 6+ years. I accept it as my fate hahaha.. Fortunately, it's not a dead-6-year because I got many opportunities to learn something outside college within that time range. It's not a good example of course. But since it happens to me, I positively face it and be grateful of it. Because each person has their own life and problematic. I will graduate soon, so, Life, I'm ready. Bismillah :D

This post is my entry for 'My College Diary' contest held by travel blog My Yatra Diary in collaboration with Collegedunia.com