Tutors: A User's Guide (Part 2)
EXTRAS
Tutors play a key role in your education at university.
Here's how to build a working relationship with these human beings that benefits both you and them.
Introduction
In Part 1 we looked at what tutors do and who will be likely to teach you.
In this part we turn to building a positive, mutually-beneficial working relationship with the human beings who play a key role in your success at university.
Remember, Tutors are Human Beings!
As you can see, tutors provide a range of services to undergraduates, helping you to develop academic skills and grow as a person.
It is important, however, to remember that they are human beings as well as service providers!
One thing you can do to help them help you is listening to their advice about assignments and classroom contributions. They will be marking your papers and assessing your performance, so it is essential to demonstrate respect for their instructions and courtesy towards their requests.
This isn’t just a matter of etiquette. Students who show they are attempting to do what the tutor asks of them are less likely to be thought of as a problem. They are also far more likely to be given the benefit of the doubt in situations where there is leeway for interpretation, such as grading and performance issues.
Another thing you can do is fairly obvious: show respect by turning up on time, demonstrate good listening skills in class and avoid the kind of unnecessary mistakes in assignments discussed here. This should be a matter of common sense, of course, but it is astonishing how many students forget that their tutors have feelings too and that rubbing them up the wrong way could have a detrimental effect upon that tutor’s willingness to help an undergraduate who is experiencing problems.
A final consideration relates to the requests you have of them. Don’t be so demanding of help so often that you become a problem, both for your tutor and your classmates. And don’t ask for help with something if you have not done the required reading or attempted to solve the issue yourself first. These types of behaviours may irritate and alienate your tutor (as well as your classmates), and this will undo all the good work you might have done to develop a positive working relationship with your tutor.
Relationships Matter
Creating a positive working relationship with your tutor can only help your progression through the course. It will also help you develop vital social skills that will benefit you after university.
If you have come to university straight from school and with no experience of work or community activities, what constitutes such a relationship may need explaining further.
To begin with, always be polite and respectful. It is important to appreciate that your tutor has many demands on their time, so can help yourself earn some of that time by behaving with consideration – both to them and your fellow students.
Be concise and clear with any requests for help or advice. Again, your tutor’s time has limitations, and clarity will make that process more productive for both of you.
Be relevant. You don’t want to be seen as a distraction. Keep any enquiries strictly to the course or the university department.
(There are times when the above does not apply. If you are seeking help with ‘pastoral issues’ it is fine to ask the tutor for advice – although be aware that they may recommend other sources of help. Also, if the tutor is making jokes or talking about the football, it is probably okay to join in. Tutors are humans too and occasionally relish an opportunity to show that!)
Be willing to be challenged. One of the most important facets of a positive working relationship is the ability to take criticism on board and react constructively to any recommendations for change. During your course the tutor will make several recommendations. They may even challenge your existing perceptions (about issues or study habits). It is vital that you approach these challenges constructively, seeing them for what they are: an attempt to help you progress through your course and get the most out of your education.
Finally, don’t just make it about you. Be curious about the areas that your tutor specialises in or the research they are doing. This isn’t just to make the tutor feel more valued. It also deepens your understanding of historical issues and provides a window into the process of ‘doing history’, something you will find especially useful if you plan to continue onto postgraduate work.
Conclusion
Tutors play a vital role in your education. They may seem scary, but their function is to help you get the most out of the course and your university experience.
Treating your tutor as the human being they are and developing a positive working relationship with them will benefit both you and your tutors.
This article was written by MTL Bennett. If you found it useful, please consider buying him a coffee to help him write another. CHEERS!