Hey Lions! If you get anxious about participating in class and speaking up, you’re not alone! However, classes are a great time to interact with your fellow students and instructors and have a wholesome learning experience. We’re here to give you three reasons why participating in class helps you succeed.
You get your doubts cleared in real-time
Have you ever gone back from a class thinking that you still weren’t clear about the concepts that were discussed? I know I have. What’s the solution? Ask your question in class. It is a much faster way of getting answers than emailing your instructor at a later time. Not only does this count towards your participation grades, but also allows you to clarify any doubts that you may have so that you are completely prepared during exam time.
Success tip: If you think that your question or ideas may not be smart enough, don’t worry! Everyone is in the same boat as you. Ask anyway. It is more important that you get your concepts straight than worry about what others think of you. Also, if you couple asking questions in class with going in for office hours, you’re setting yourself up for success. This also helps build your relationship with your instructors and get a better idea of their expectations from assignments and exams.
Exchanging ideas is an awesome way to learn
When we discuss our ideas and theories with others, we tend to learn faster and remember more. Tutorials and seminars are designed in a way that prompts this kind of learning. Participating in these sessions will help you connect dots, and critically analyze your texts. If you can’t ask questions in your lectures, but you have a seminar or tutorial paired with that lecture, save those questions for your tutorial so that you don’t forget.
Success tip: If you are working on a paper, this is a great time to discuss your thesis and flesh out your ideas and sometimes, even have a draft outline, from what your peers bring to the discussion.
It builds your public speaking skills and confidence
You may have the choice to not participate at university, but things may get difficult when you begin your career. It is important to build public speaking skills as it will help you speak up for yourself in your future career. Consider participation in tutorials as practice for life beyond university. Hone your public speaking skills now and gain the confidence for later.
Success tip: To help you become more confident about participating in classes, it is a good idea to do your assigned readings beforehand. If you know what your peers and instructors are talking about, you will definitely feel less anxious in class.
Let us know in the comments below what you have gained by participating in classes.
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Deea Deb
Deea Deb is a third-year English and Professional Writing major at York University. She loves reading, travelling, being organized, and writing. She hopes to help York students succeed at university.
