I’ve never been the girl that sits in the front row, that raises her hand frequently to answer questions, that has no problem asking a stupid question. I’ve also never been the girl that doesn’t pay attention, that doesn’t answer questions because she’s on her phone during class, that doesn’t care about school at all. It doesn’t always have to be one or the other.
I have never really been the type to talk in class. It’s not that I’m shy, or that I don’t want to be there. It’s not that I’m disinterested in the class or that I didn’t do the homework.
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It’s stemmed from this:
In school, all my life, teachers have deliberately called on me to answer a question because I’m quiet. It’s not that I didn’t know the answer or that I wasn’t paying attention, but I always became flustered when a teacher called on me. Every time I went to class from then on out, I always sat there with so much anxiety, never knowing if the teacher was going to call on me.
Some teachers may say this is effective because it makes the students actually do the work so that they’re prepared if the teacher calls on you. They think that the quiet people will be called on so many times that eventually, they will feel comfortable raising their hand and talking in class. I understand this, but I disagree.
When teachers deliberately call students out to answer a question, it creates an uncomfortable environment that always makes me on edge. Students should be allowed to speak freely, without judgement, and when they’re ready. Students should not ever be graded on their participation and how often they speak in class.
Especially when I’m in a big class, I get an extreme amount of social anxiety. I usually sit in the back, and if I talk, everyone turns around and stares at me. No thank you. Just because I’m not participating doesn’t mean that I’m not engaged or paying attention. I’m just the type that likes to listen and observe. Sometimes even if I agree with what someone is saying, I don’t have anything to add or share to it.
Maybe it has to do with the fact that sometimes I’m not quick enough to absorb what people are saying and then think of something intelligent to say in response. Sure, I talk nonstop to my friends and I have a lot of life experiences that I could share, but I’m not really the type to share that to a bunch of people I don’t really know.
I know I’m not alone on this. I know plenty of people that have no problem being called on in class and saying, “I don’t know the answer.” I also know plenty of people who just threw up in their mouths a little bit thinking about that happening.
To any teachers reading this, please consider what I’m saying. I know it gets annoying when that one obnoxious know-it-all in the front row won’t stop answering all of the questions, but picking someone out of the class is just going to give that person anxiety about coming to class. It creates an atmosphere where students are on edge and don’t feel comfortable coming to class and answering questions.
The people who don’t talk in class will get there eventually. It may take longer than the rest of the class, but eventually we will talk when we are ready. It’s important that we feel like we’re in a comfortable environment and that whatever we say won’t be judged or pushed aside.
