How to Get the Most from Your College Professors 【T1

How to Get the Most from Your College Professors
    Good morning. Today we are talking about how to get the most from your college professors. Your first move is to know your professors. Use your school’s website to find out more. What is his area of expertise (专门技能)? What are his research interests? How about his personal interests? Strike up (开始) a conversation with your professor to learn more about his interests. You never know he may be your lead to a job, a scholarship, or other opportunities you never knew about.
    One thing to bear in mind, though, is that professors are busy people and may not always be ready to chat. It’s not a good idea to try to talk to the professor about the term paper while he’s busy cleaning up because there’s another class coming in; it’s not an appropriate time to ask about your grade. It might be a good chance to grab an eraser and help out, and then ask if the professor has a few minutes in his office after class to talk to you.
    The second step is to get a syllabus (教学大纲). Every professor should have a syllabus available on the first day of class, whether it’s a printed document or something you need to download from the professor’s website. The syllabus is in essence a contract between the professor and the students that spells out what the professor expects of you and what you as a student can expect in return. At the minimum, a syllabus should have the professor’s contact information, office hours, grading policy, readings, time for exams and project due dates. Once you get the syllabus, don’t lose it. What you do next is to have courage to ask questions in class. Sure, it’s pretty scary to speak up in class when you’re in a big lecture section. Try to sit up front, so you’re less aware of the size of the class. Listen and take notes during the class, and jot down (摘要记载下来) any questions that you have. Put a hand up any time you’re not clear on something.
    Last but not least is to use the professors’ office hours. Most universities require their professors to keep a certain number of office hours. These are the hours you can expect your professor to be in or near his office, so you can visit and ask questions.
    To get the most out of your office hour visits, come with some specific questions. If you’re working on a project or term paper, bring in a proposal or an outline early in the term and ask the professor to give you some feedback.
    In the end, I want to sum up what I mentioned above. If you take the time to get to know your professor each term, you’ll walk away with a better understanding of the subjects and perhaps a better understanding of the world. You never know what opportunities a new acquaintance (认识的人) may open up for you, so take a chance and say hello to your professor today.