You probably remember how much of a difference it made in high-school whether or not our teachers liked you. With a teacher’s good opinion, you could look forward to friendly smiles, helpful explanations, and a certain amount of leeway on assignments. Without that good opinion, you would be lucky to be ignored.
I’m happy to say that it isn’t that bad in post-secondary institutions, but there are many subtle ways that a negative impression can work against you. If you’re concerned about making a good impression on the teachers of your medical receptionist courses, consider taking some of the advice below.
- Show up to every class. Teachers don’t like to be made to feel superfluous. When you skip classes, you’re basically sending them the message that they have nothing of value to say.
- Be on time and prepared for your medical receptionist courses. Just showing up isn’t good enough. If you’re there, but you sleep through the class or don’t pay attention, you’re sending the same message as if you hadn’t shown up at all.
- Do your homework. Your teacher went to a lot of trouble to design a medical course for you, show some respect by completing the course work.
- Participate in class discussion. Can you imagine how frustrating it is to stand in front of a group of 30 or so people, trying to engage them in conversation, and getting nothing but cricket chirps in response? It’s awkward, it’s embarrassing, and it’s no fun. Students who make the effort to meet their teacher halfway will earn some appreciation.
- Don’t monopolize the class discussion. It is possible to go too far in class participation. If you don’t give anyone else the opportunity to talk, then you’re creating a problem for you teacher.
- Don’t ask for special favors. Nobody likes to feel like they’re being taken advantage of. The point of getting on your teacher’s good side is not to get things you don’t deserve, it’s to make sure that your mark isn’t negatively influenced by your teacher’s feelings towards you.
- Laugh, or at least smile, at your teacher’s jokes. If it’s a good joke, laughing will show that you were paying attention. If it’s a bad joke, a smile is a gentler rejection than complete silence.
- Ask questions before or after class. Teachers like to feel that they are helping their students to achieve their goals. Just make sure that the questions you ask are good ones. A good question is one whose answer isn’t obvious or easily looked up in your course materials.
- Be clean, well groomed, and “bright eyed”. Look at your teacher when he or she is talking. This is just basic respect for another person, and will demonstrate that you are a mature adult who deserves the same respect in return.
In general, as long as you’re respectful, punctual, and conscientious, you’ll be fine. Good luck with your medical receptionist courses, and remember to smile once in a while.
