Speaking Up in Class Counts!

Written by Shane Smith, Haywood Community College English tutor

               It’s not always easy to voice your opinion or answer a question in class. Having an entire classroom of peers doesn’t make being on the spot and speaking up any more appealing. Besides, there isn’t a real incentive to speak up when everyone else is silent, is there?

Actually, there are AT LEAST five great reasons to give your teacher a breather and to lead class discussion (at least for a minute or two)!

1.      Class Participation Points. If earning all of the possible points for class participation isn’t an incentive, we aren’t sure what will be! Many college professors and instructors set aside a certain point allotment or percentage of your grade for class participation and attendance. If your body is present but your input is not- you’ll lose out on some valuable points!

2.      Engaging With the Materials. Did you know that your brain is more likely to remember content when applied and discussed in class or real life settings? When you actually engage with the material and apply it to your life, you are doing more than just reading and regurgitating the material! You are creating dialogue with the material and connecting it to your experiences!

3.      Stand Out in a Sea of Students. College courses can have a large volume of students, making it more difficult for instructors to remember you, personally. By speaking up in class and adding some flavor to discussion topics- you are making yourself more memorable and you are standing out (in a positive way!).

4.      Boost Your Self-Confidence! Feeling nervous or anxious in front of a crowd is a pretty common dilemma. But, with practice and time, you can overcome this anxiety. But, what if I answer the question wrong or I don’t say the right thing? Having the right answer isn’t always what an instructor is looking for. Getting one person to respond and engage with the discussion can spark further dialogue and make for a very interesting learning environment! Speaking in front of people is a skill you will utilize for the rest of your life in a variety of settings.

5.      University Readiness.  Not everyone plans to attend a four year university once they complete their associate’s degree and that’s okay! But, for those that do plan on pursuing another degree, university readiness includes the ability to comfortably speak in a classroom setting, giving insightful answers to on the spot questions and discussions. Higher level courses require higher level thinking and discussion- so why not start speaking up in class now?

The classroom is a safe space to be heard! So don’t be shy, SPEAK UP!