Lecturers
By Sophie Denyer, 3rd year, BA (Hons) Public Relations
After spending 14 years of your life in school with teachers telling what to do, when to do it and how to do it, university can come as a bit of a shock. Lecturers are very different from teachers and that can take some time getting used to. For starters, they’re known by their first names, no more ‘Sirs’ and ‘Misses’.
Secondly, they expect so much more from you. You are considered adults now, not children, so when a lecturer suggests you read or research something, it is up to you to decide whether to do it or not. The temptation is to only do the work that is assessed, but believe me, not doing your suggested reading for a seminar can mean getting caught out in front of the class. Lecturers share this trait with teachers, they will catch you out and they are not beyond making an example of you in front of the whole class.
You’re probably used to teachers always being around, but it’s not like that in higher education. Lecturers aren’t in uni every day and many only set aside 2 or 3 hours a week to see students. You have to get used to using your lectures and seminars to ask questions, or book an appointment in advance to see them.
They’re not going to chase you for work, remind you of deadlines or spell out how to do things. You’ll hear the term ‘independent learner’ over and over in your time at uni, and that’s exactly what you have to aim to be.
Lecturers can also be a huge support for both academic and personal issues. They are available over the phone and email as well as their appointment hours, and while some are more approachable than others, you will build different relationships with each and every one. You may even find yourself having a pint with your lecturer down the pub!
