In this article, I’ll share 6 essential tips on what to do when your professor teaches poorly in college or high school.
If your professor explains topics poorly, the first thing you should do is ask questions in class to clarify concepts. If that doesn’t work, get the course book, consult with your classmates, and even ask other professors. Also, look for explanations online, and if possible, consider dropping the class.
Teachers who explain poorly
Whether you’re in elementary school, high school (or its equivalent, depending on your country), or college, you may encounter a teacher who struggles to explain the topics.
This is no small matter, as you’ll be evaluated based on what they explain. Worse yet, you’ll also learn and assimilate the knowledge you need according to their explanations. The goal is not to go to school or university and learn things incorrectly.
You’d love to replace them with another teacher, but that’s impossible. You’re not the school principal or the university dean. You don’t have the authority to remove them from their position, nor should you consider doing so. You need to find a way to adapt to their teaching style.
If the explanations leave much to be desired and the topics are hard to grasp, there are always actions you can take. Let’s explore them.
What to do if the teacher explains poorly? 6 essential tips
1. Ask questions in class
If the teacher finishes explaining, and you didn’t understand something (or anything), raise your hand and ask about what you didn’t grasp. The teacher is obligated to answer you. If the answers don’t satisfy you, follow the next steps.
2. Get the course textbook or manual
Generally, all courses have recommended reading materials. While you may not always have all the books, try to get the one that belongs to the class of the teacher who explains poorly.
Studying from books is always advisable, regardless of the teacher you have.
3. Ask your classmates
In every class, there is always someone who manages to follow the lesson better than others. Approach that person and ask for help. They might not be able to explain it at a university professor’s level, but perhaps, if they explain the topics in their own words, you can understand more.
4. Ask other professors
Consulting other professors can be risky and controversial.
On one hand, if your professor finds out, they may not like it at all. On the other hand, a professor from outside the class may not want to help out of respect for their colleague. It’s understandable and okay if that happens.
If you decide to approach another professor, first explain why you are consulting them instead of your own professor.
5. Look for explanations on online platforms
Yes, there are many good classes from different schools and universities recorded for viewing on the internet. It’s filled with explanations of various methods and topics for any type of subject.
On the other hand, there are also online platforms with excellent courses for learning. These can be a complement to classes, regardless of whether your professor explains poorly.
Of all of them, I highly recommend Coursera, as it offers courses from the best universities in the world.
6. Leave class
Sometimes, there’s no other option but to grab your belongings and leave class. Yes, I know what you’re thinking…
“Leave?! How could I leave class?! Are you crazy?!”
No, it’s not crazy.
This advice is for college students who aren’t required to be present during classes. If a professor’s explanation isn’t helping you, you should get up and leave. It’s a waste of time listening to someone who explains poorly.
It’s sometimes difficult to know when to leave because there might be an important piece of information, like a topic that could be on the exam. Over time, you’ll develop the ability to know when to leave.
If you have a study group and attendance isn’t taken in that class, you can take turns attending.
7. A problem with a solution that can even be prevented
As you’ve seen, there are several actions you can take if the professor in a subject explains the topics poorly.
This is a fairly common problem faced by students, especially at the university level.
In the article on how to choose a department at university, I mentioned that one way to know if a department is good or not is to gather information about it. Explore online forums and talk to students who have already taken courses in that department. These people can guide you on whether the professors explain well.
Do you think there’s anything else you can do if your professor explains poorly? Leave me a comment and share your point of view with everyone.
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