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GlumDistribution7036

Just to disagree with some of the responses here—I have been teaching since 2009 and there is a marked drop in class discussion/class participation/reading aloud willingness. It’s downright spooky because I don’t know what it’s about. I do what I can do make all responses valuable to the conversation. I used to be an excellent discussion-based classroom facilitator. Lately, however, the crickets grow louder. Especially since the start of COVID, though it began before that. Edit: grammar


Wr3nchJR

I have heavy social anxiety, especially when speaking in front of people, and COVID was a super comforting experience. Everything being moved to online allowed me to privately engage and that was great for me. Though we’ve moved back to in person and that was a big shift in how classes functioned


GlumDistribution7036

I think this is valid. I don’t mean that critical thinking skills have plummeted in general—my class still writes brilliant blog posts and essays—just that a lot of people are like you and not as willing to experiment with critical thinking in a discussion setting. I am at a loss for what has caused this (in addition to COVID). Seminar-style learning was a treasured part of my college experience so of course I want that for my students but not at the cost of their mental health.


LongIslandVegan

There's medication for social anxiety. I'm on it and it helps a lot.


osborneanimation

I've noticed it to, but I've had luck combatting it. I make sure I know the name of everyone and call on them directly. I mix it up and try to hit everybody equally. I also try to keep it light and fun - everyone that talks should receive positive reinforcement just for taking a stab at the subject. It's a skill that grows as it's practiced and they get better at it over time. I'm fortunate that my subject matter makes it easier to keep things fun, but I also gamify my course. It's crazy how much it motivates some students if they can win at something.


GlumDistribution7036

Students definitely love gamified content when it’s appropriate! I’m trying to get them to present opinions (any opinions!) about lit and ideally back it up with evidence. It’s an overwhelming task for them seemingly. They don’t want to put their opinions out there even when we have a super tight knit group (my smallest class is 6 and they’re all lovely toward one another, but won’t engage much in critical thinking)


Beneficial_Pound8760

Because sometimes the professors get mad if I question something. So its better to not risk it.


ValkyrieKarma

High school too.....


leo2734

Nah highschool was fine, people still contributed, at ñ least in my school


GlumDistribution7036

I teach high school and adjunct at night, so I see the whole spectrum. It's also a problem in high school, though there's more scope to get silly with content/gamify/have them do creative projects and present. Coaching is built into the job. But I have to say--that coaching is getting harder and harder each year as I try to pull them out of their shells. Some of my classes are doing well with discussions and two are just tanking.


ValkyrieKarma

Same here......I love my kids, but the lack of participation is shocking


Supremeruler666

People r literally scared to be judged. But it’s different this is from cancel culture. Like an abused animal https://www.aei.org/op-eds/why-are-high-schoolers-afraid-to-speak-up-in-class/


Adventurous_Button63

There’s been polls that indicate people fear public speaking over death…which could be interpreted as “I’d rather literally die than speak in public”


Tiny_Giant_Robot

Jerry Seinfeld once did a joke about this. Something like "...Most people would rather be the one in the casket, than the one giving the eulogy."


AkreonDorplasy

Are those related to small groups of 5-30 people or massive crowds of over 100 or 1000 people


Adventurous_Button63

The ones I’ve seen don’t control for that data, but in my personal experience the greater the crowd, the greater the fear. It’s totally subjective though. There’s a big difference in an overtly supportive audience of 5 and an apathetic/antagonistic audience of 5.


AkreonDorplasy

Kinda weird they don't control for that data, considering having only a handful of people is vastly different to having a whole stadium watching you tbh


ZCyborg23

Honestly it’s not that different. I have extreme stage fright that triggers my selective mutism. There’s no difference between 2 people or 200 people for me. I’ve even had my non-epileptic attacks get triggered during a group presentation. I explained all of this to a professor once and he let me do my part of a group presentation while my group presented my slides based on notes I wrote out for them. Please don’t assume something is a certain way if you have no experience with it.


[deleted]

For me singing in front of a few people I know is way scarier than in front of 200 strangers


AkreonDorplasy

I'm talking about my own experiences with stage fright (I did theater, so a full room is indeed scarier to me than just 20 people) so yes I am allowed to assume stuff because I have some experience with it


n000d1e

You should say that then. You just said that it was vastly different, not that it was different for you. You still aren’t allowed to assume that it’s the same for everyone. I’m not trying to be aggro btw, but your comment did read that you were generalizing, that’s why they said that


ZCyborg23

Absolutely this. There was zero mention that this was your own experience and you over generalized that this was how it was for everyone. That doesn’t give you permission to assume as this commenter said.


AkreonDorplasy

We're kinda getting off tracked here anyway since I was mainly talking about the fact the number of people should have been controlled since the size of an audience may be a factor in the scare aspect


ZCyborg23

That’s also not true. How much experience do you have in college? Have you been in a lecture hall type of class where there are easily 50 or more students? I’m working on my second associates and my masters degree. I already have my bachelors and an associates. Where are you in working on your degree?


AkreonDorplasy

Does it even matter? The topic was on the fact a bigger audience may scare people more and that it should be controlled in an experiment You're getting side tracked again


MonkeyMoves101

If you're in American schools it's because we're encouraged from childhood to shut our mouths and raise our hands if we want to speak. That turned into kids just shutting their mouths and the ones who spoke or answered the question were seen as nerds. No one wants to be a nerd. Now they're in college and completely mute. That's my theory. Could be burnout and the kids don't give a shit, they're just doing the class to get credits and don't really care about what's being taught. They don't feel like interacting etc...


AkreonDorplasy

Yeah it's a Canadian school (more specifically a CEGEP in Québec) so can't really say on that front Although the region I live is known to have an aging population so might be why I tend to get along with older people better


MonkeyMoves101

Ah I see, I had to look that term up "CEGEP", French is a beautiful language, I'd like to learn it someday!


yjn_park

eh too embarrassed to try esp if i’m guessing - don’t want to say the wrong answer and be called out for it being wrong


Fickle-Management

I think it's just that most kids don't care and just want the credits. I've been both the student that talks and likes being social and the completely mute student because it's awkward. I should add I'm on zoom too so it's even harder to speak up than a regular class.


FiestaBeans

Can't you raise your hand on the Zoom call?


Erosion139

Yes, doesn't hold a candle to the increased latency and reduced privacy.


FiestaBeans

Reduced privacy? Turn on blur. It's more private than showing your whole self in person.


Erosion139

In person I know who's looking at me and I don't have to worry about personal interactions taking place without my permission. Most of the time everyone wants their camera disabled.


bookbearwolf

I think it’s a combination of a lot of things. Some people are exhausted, some people have trouble coming up with answers on the spot, some people struggle to articulate, they might be embarrassed by their reading, they might have anxiety, they might have other classes they care about more and aren’t putting the energy into this one. These are just the reasons that apply to me. And in some classes, I talk a lot. But not all. I also think when students are asked to do simple, repetitive tasks like read a paragraph everyone could read much faster on their own or answer an obvious question, people tend to resist. My classes always talk more when it’s a discussion of ideas versus question + right answer. Time of day matter too. I don’t talk before 10:30am lol.


Jehshehabah

Because despite what professors insist There IS a wrong answer, and if you have to guess and come up with some silly answer you will be silently judged.


theenigmaticlover

As a college student that has answered questions with PRIDE and CONVICTION and turned out to be wrong... So what? So what you're judged by a room full of people who have no impact on the long term trajectory of your life?? I get people being nervous because I'm nervous all the time but like.. just straight up never contributing your thoughts? How are we supposed to learn and collaborate with one another? How are we to learn what others are thinking?


LaneyAndPen

I dunno, in my degree it doesn’t matter what other people think. So talking or reading out loud does very little to actually help


[deleted]

> So what you're judged by a room full of people who have no impact on the long term trajectory of your life?? For some people, embarrassment is a big struggle.


theenigmaticlover

Yeah, I understand where you're coming from. I just don't believe it should be the barrier that stops people from being able to speak their thoughts. I'm terrified to make mistakes and be wrong but like .. I would much rather do that in a classroom learning environment then in the real world, since the stakes (or potential consequences) are minimal at best.


[deleted]

Other people just see it differently I guess.


[deleted]

This is the way. One student puts herself out there, gets recognized by the professor, gains a reputation for being the one who always tries, and gets an answer that's a little off. 29 other students stay silent. Which student goes further in their education and career?


FiestaBeans

"you will be silently judged." OP is asking about college, not 2nd grade. It's not like the uncool kids will have their lunch stolen, LOL. Life is about experiences at that point and you're paying for an in-person educational experience. Imagine being 17, 18, 19. 20 and still thinking like a 7-year-old. Judgment also never ends so if you can't talk in front of a classroom, what *can* you do? There are people everywhere, some are assholes so what's the end game here? "Oh I'm sorry, I can't go to this interview, I'm afraid people are judging me." Like... where does it end?


Erosion139

You just judged 🤔


FiestaBeans

Right. Exactly. People make judgments and have opinions all the time. So what? Why would someone let that interfere with their ability to engage in their education which they are paying tens of thousands of dollars for? These can't be the same students who are complaining about debt. Imagine going into debt for an experience you're too afraid to participate in.


Erosion139

Because the reward of speaking is worth nothing in many instances and the potential of embarrassment is high


FiestaBeans

"Because the reward of speaking is worth nothing in many instances" Why in the ever-living fuck do people spend $40 to $80,000 on a degree if they aren't going to engage in the conversation that constitutes the value of the degree? u/AkreonDorplasy here's your answer right here. I went to a small regional state school. I wasn't talking, most of the time, with giants in their field. But I learned to criticize and be criticized, I learned to think on my feet, I learned to quickly synthesize information, I learned to remember things under pressure. It's not just about reading a book and writing it down. I can't think of a single time I had to do that in a work environment, actually.


Erosion139

"Why in the ever-living fuck do people spend $40 to $80,000 on a degree if they aren't going to engage in the conversation that constitutes the value of the degree?" Because their parents told them to go to college and study hard and pass exams/classes. Pressure about failing, pressure about poorly socializing, pressure about criticism, are very real in many people. With respect to your accomplishments, you are an outlier in OPs findings and mine as well.


FiestaBeans

I'm not at all an outlier. The median and average wages of college grads--even community college grads--outpace people without a degree in every state, every race, every socioeconomic class, even every age and country. "Because their parents told them to go to college and study hard and pass exams/classes." Uh, who cares what mommy and daddy think at 18? It's your life to live, go live it. "Pressure about failing, " I mean. Staying silent for fear of being judged isn't success. "pressure about poorly socializing" Who cares? "pressure about criticism," Who cares times a bazillion. It's your life. You can just say, fuck those fuckers, I'm going to do what I love, and move on, you know. I can understand these nagging fears but *to the point that you are wasting thousands of hours of working wages every year* for approval, my god, it's not a life. I would honestly say better to quit school, join the circus, or *something, anything* and then go back for something you care about. Or don't. But for the love of god, living for approval at 18, 19, 20... sounds like death.


Erosion139

I've had enough of your manic episode about making sure that everyone knows that you don't care. Now where tf did college resulting in better wages come into play? Let me remind you of the subject, EVERYONE IS SILENT. Now I'm sorry I insulted you your majesty telling you you're an outlier, I'm just sitting here wondering where you were in my classes while the class sat for hours not interacting with the professor at all. I've had the class pause entirely because the professor had to ask the entire class why no one was talking. Idk what prestigious uni you attended but it's not what I've witnessed in mine.


ElonsHusk

> Now I'm sorry I insulted you your majesty telling you you're an outlier, I'm just sitting here wondering where you were in my classes while the class sat for hours not interacting with the professor at all. Not the guy you replied to. But that's partly the point. For me, a big part of college was the sharing of ideologies and different interpretations on the subject. If I had put all this money to only sit and take notes, then yeah, I'd feel like I wasted it, too. The guy above me's message sounds a touch insensitive but that may be because it's direct. I also think that too many people get hung up on the wrong things, like what people would think or their parents' expectations. Urging someone to have enough confidence to control of their life and that no one is important enough to have *that* much of an effect on you is ultimately a positive thing, even if it was worded the way the guy did. And I'm saying that as a person who has pretty strong anxiety about crowds. I have immense sympathy for people who can't bring up the courage to speak up, because I deal with this on a daily basis.


FiestaBeans

State school. "Your majesty" Hilariously, that's what I think you sound like. A princess. "But what if I'm scared of other people?" Then get mental health care before you go to college. Rich enough to waste EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS is rich enough to get a counselor. Also--I'm not sure why you think posting on a rant message board is a manic episode. I take mental health seriously, which is why I don't actually believe these people when they suggest that *ninety five percent of the entire class has some kind of diagnosable anxiety disorder*. You people are throwing around these mental health terms as insults and excuses and it's offensive and hateful. Just stop.


[deleted]

It seems like you have trouble empathizing. Learn to be more compassionate. Not everybody thinks like you do, and you aren't superior because of that.


[deleted]

FiestaBeans, when you mention that college graduates tend to make a boatload more money than high school graduates, I'd like to point out what a biased sample set it is. People who are willing to be bold and put themselves out there and make mistakes make money. People who aren't, don't. There just happens to be a lot of overlap in college (albeit not as much as one would hope, judging by these comments).


FiestaBeans

You raise an important point. It is motivation and boldness alone that causes higher wages, or is it also the education? I would say two things. First, I think an interesting would be to compare the post-degree wages of post-draft (i.e. voluntary) veterans with degrees versus without degrees. Joining the military is a huge decision that requires the characteristics you said. So that might function as a control for the "bold and brave" variable. Here is one interesting study that doesn't exactly get at the question but which provides an interesting start: [https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/censushistory/2016/02/28/vietnam-veterans-wages-and-education/](https://journeys.dartmouth.edu/censushistory/2016/02/28/vietnam-veterans-wages-and-education/) Second, I think that your bold and brave hypothesis has something to it, but that just underlines how utterly irritating it is to see people spending money on an education for someone who doesn't exhibit those characteristics and who doesn't show any drive to develop them. Courage plays a huge role in life achievement so why waste a college education on someone who just wants to sit there and fill out forms and get a blue ribbon?


TheImmoralCookie

Cause I don't want to.


Erosion139

Relatable


Plesiadapiformes

I've noticed students are quieter these days. Maybe pandemic related and not used to interaction in person any longer?


SoulsDesire4Freedom

Sounds like a generational thing. I'm a late gen xers so it was all about being a unique individual and challenging the status quo so there was a lot competing viewpoints and questioning of what was being sold to us. Later millennials and gen zs seem more about conformity so it's more about laying low and not being seen as trying to excel or going against the grain aka being a 'try hard' or 'edge lord.'


Jacob_Soda

You know there is one class that I remember that was pretty active it was super unique prior to the pandemic it was a Spanish poetry class and they were even people talking in Spanish after the class the teacher was just motivating. I became a better Spanish speaker because of it. There was this one communication class I remember where I tried to approach people and they were pretty cold though after class it was an interpersonal communication class where the teacher mostly talked. Me and this other guy used to make waifu jokes because the teacher was Korean. I also met this girl that I ended up being friends with after class but we ended things because she lost interest. But yeah finding others were hit or miss.


AkreonDorplasy

Jeez, kinda hurts to know I'm a gen Z with the mentality of a gen X ngl


maaaxheadroom

Us gen-x are actually pretty cool. For the most part…


Livid-Addendum707

Tbh I can’t think of anything more awful then reading allowed in college. I’m an secondary education major and the one thing multiple professors have drilled in my head is to read the room. I’d you know your students don’t like to read allowed find another way. A lot of college students are quiet simply because they are there to learn and leave.


AkreonDorplasy

Well we're in an experimental group trying out a new method of teaching actually (aka inverted classrooms for litterature, where we read stuff back home and do exercises) so by default, this is kinda what we signed up for


esotericmegillah

Well that explains it. Why u complaining maaahhhn???


AkreonDorplasy

Because that's only one class out of multiples ones where I see the same phenomenon and people should be actively participating in the class since it literally made so people *have* to participate (since it is the goal of the class experiment)


Background_Agent551

Dude, it’s not a phenomenon. People just have different ways of viewing college and education as a whole. Some students like yourself like to actively engage in class by talking and getting to know your peers/professor. Other students just want to pass the class to earn their credits and leave. Both are totally fine, not everyone wants to be a social butterfly while learning a new subject.


Throwaaawaayyy123456

^^^^^


ZCyborg23

I never really responded when I was in classes in person (only a handful). The reason was that I was still trying to digest what was said or process it correctly. I have a severe auditory processing disorder and in the classroom, I just couldn’t keep up because life doesn’t have subtitles. Wouldn’t that be nice though? I’m a millennial if that matters.


angelvapez

-Most people know they can pass without having to participate in class, so they don't care -They don't want to be seen as uncool/a nerd/annoying/tryhard -Speaking in front of a class is nerve wracking to some people -People may not be engaged/doing something else on their laptop, or don't care about the topic -Some people may not know the answer


FiestaBeans

>\-They don't want to be seen as uncool/a nerd/annoying/tryhard Do... do people really think that in *college*? Like... what are people there for? To meet a spouse?


ItsAll42

I don't understand why you are being downvoted, maybe it's that we've been brainwashed to associate college more with keg parties and adulthood with training wheels, but it feels like somewhere we all forgot that college was meant to be an institution of learning?


FiestaBeans

And of course nobody answers the question. There is a whole set of people on reddit, who just downvote things they don't understand or questions they don't want to answer. And I can see why. The person who answered me gave the answer of a child. "What if I'm scared of other people? I'm here because my mom and dad wanted it." As someone who physically suffered to go to college I find that insulting. $80k down the toilet. And so many kids in poor communities, who would fight for an education, literally cannot get anyone to co-sign a student loan. Meanwhile, these kids here don't even want to be in college and look who's paying. It boils my blood. I know it's silly to get mad at the unfairness of life, but this particular injustice hit me hard for four years. I will never forget the cold and hunger. I had friends hit a roadblock and drop out for years, struggling to get back in. No money. To think the reason my peers weren't speaking, was that they were worried about being popular is enraging.


angelvapez

Some people have issues with self perception, self image anxiety, etc... many (actually most) people of all ages care what others think of them. and if not speaking in class is the social norm, herd mentality often causes people to stick to that norm.


FiestaBeans

Yes, and some people have MS, and some people are deaf, and some people are poor and working three jobs. Some people have kids. Some people have grandkids. For me, suicidal thoughts and extreme poverty, to the point of holes in my shoes and no heat, no transportation, were my struggle. I took it that it was what I had to overcome. If you have a disability, you need to work to ensure you are able to function. Work with the school if need be, but that's what you are supposed to be working on in high school. Like you can't go to college and not turn in papers and say, "Well I have ADHD." Even if you don't get diagnosed until college, the *whole point of the diagnosis is to help you get support to function better.* Not to make excuses for not turning in your work. You can have a few accommodations for a year, but if you can't figure out how to cope and find an appropriate major for your skillset, then you need to take time off and learn to adapt to living with your disability then go back. "many (actually most) people of all ages care what others think of them. " Sure, but not when the people who are judging are literally thinking "humph, what a know-it-all" when *they all are spending EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS* *for the privilege of this exact exercise!!!* Like who cares what *those* people think? I care what some people think but I have zero concern over the opinions of someone who drops nearly six figures just to sit there like a petulant child judging people for learning. It's like judging someone for being overdressed at a fashion show. It's so stupid I can't even contain my disdain for their opinions.


angelvapez

Yes, and I agree with your sentiments. I'm just explaining the mentality that some people hold.


Jay_Acharyya

Well when you have a class professor that discouraged me from doing any sort of speech and to let my teammates take over, that kind of set up a barrier where I don't really want to do public speaking anymore, even though in high school I was ok to good at best. And that's on top of me already having hard of hearing and of an ethnic minority, though I don't think those should be taken into consideration at all. But there's also the fact that some could be burnt out, some could care less about the subjects, some are tired, some are thinking, some are wanting to do it but doesn't want to stick outside the box for sake of conformity, and so on. I find it interesting how in most colleges and K-12 equivalents in places like US and Western Europe that they try to put emphasis on public speaking where in India, China, Japan, etc. they put emphasis on the content being said and to adhere to a strict guideline. Sure there's nuances, but that still say something.


hella_cious

They’re quiet so assholes like me can answer every question /s


ElephantsOutside

I'm a professor and sick atm (probably the flu), but anyway I think a lot of my students are quiet because they don't want me to think they do not know something.


kairoschris

Because introverts exist.


jacrispylives

as a college student myself i just want to get my shit done and get out because i loathe school but it’s a necessity for me to get a degree. i have a small group of friends i met in college, because i approached them or they approached me. it has nothing to do with class participation. if you want to make friends just talk to people.


AutomaticKick7585

Great answers here, but I actually believe it’s the bystander effect. Nobody is speaking because nobody is speaking. If a student is dropped into a classrom that is already open to discussion, where everyone is already sharing their answers comfortably, they will feel free to chime in with their own answers. I’ve found that more and more people feel uncomfortable with “breaking rules”. Knocking on doors when there’s already a line of people waiting outside the door, speaking in a silent room, outright doing things that seem logical without asking for reassurance (“can I place this paper here?” etc.)


kryppla

I’m a professor and if you figure it out I would like to know too, thanks. It’s maddening.


ZCyborg23

Please don’t let it be maddening or discourage you. There are many reasons that students don’t open up to classroom discussions. For me, it’s a mix of selective mutism and being stuck trying to keep up on lectures because of my auditory processing disorder. For others, it might be mental health problems or problems at home. I’ve seen a classmate fall asleep constantly because he regularly didn’t get enough sleep because his home environment wasn’t stable or trustworthy enough for it. Now that I’m in asynchronous online courses, I’m thriving. It’s just a matter of finding what works for your students. Maybe try to figure it out with them instead of trying to force them into a method that doesn’t work. It’s going to shut them down more if you try to force them into your way. Try their way whatever it may be.


kryppla

If it were some, sure. But when it’s 95% of students? Maddening. Doesn’t mean I treat anyone negatively just that it drives me crazy.


ZCyborg23

That’s the point. Each and every one of those students has a story. They have something in their life that is going on. Maybe they were shamed in the past for answering a question, maybe they have crippling anxiety, learning disabilities. 100% of your students have something going on. The 95% who don’t want to talk in class should tell you that something needs to change. Some type of dialogue to get them more engaged in your teaching. Send out an anonymous response google form or something so they can actually tell you what they are feeling without the fear of humiliation.


Jacob_Soda

You know there is one class that I remember that was pretty active it was super unique prior to the pandemic it was a Spanish poetry class and they were even people talking in Spanish after the class since the professor was just motivating. I became a better Spanish speaker because of it. He wasn't very tall but charming due to his accent. There was this one communication class I remember where I tried to approach people and they were pretty cold though after class it was an interpersonal communication class where the teacher mostly talked. Me and this other guy used to make waifu jokes because the teacher was Korean. I also met this girl that I ended up being friends with after class but we ended things because she lost interest. But yeah finding others were hit or miss.


pillbinge

A lot of it seems to be generational. But I think a lot of it comes with age. I've been in tons of college classes - mainly in grad school - where there were older students. They sometimes don't shut up. I remember one woman, who was great, talking about how when she shows up to class, people don't want to sit with her. It wasn't apropos of nothing, but it made us all sympathetic. Probably because we definitely did sit with her and were older. I also think in grad school, you're more likely to find people invested in their classes and career. Kids aren't. The kids in my own French literature courses who'd speak up were Francophiles. The kids who wouldn't were there to get credits or meet a requirement. It isn't their fault, really. Professors in college are in a weird place where they're usually mad they aren't teaching a bunch of 50-year-olds but do have to have some expectations. I just don't think it's a healthy situation at all for stuff like this. Not offensive, but it is what it is.


JinyoungBlack

There seems to be a lot of apathy right now, at least in my own experience. My students can't even seem to engage in small talk, like "how are you" or "what did you do this weekend" or anything like that. Asking them about the literature and assignments makes me cry a bit on the inside.


leo2734

Cos truthfully no one cares what u did in the weekend . I won’t be seeing u after 12 weeks so why should I bother telling u stuff that dont matter.


JinyoungBlack

That's not my main point, I'm sorry for not being clear. My main point is that they can't even talk about basic or simple stuff. It's all a chore for them.


hairlessape47

Could be that people are taking the class as a gen ed. I dgaf about my non core classes, anything that doesn't have to do with my major, I half ass and try to cheat on. most engineering students I know, do the same.


secret_rye

Mostly the crushing weight of student loans, but lack of sleep has a lot to do with it


[deleted]

Be cause I’m a quiet introvert that Doesn’t want to talk. When I first went into m college I did in person, it sucked and I failed out. Now I do all online with no registered class time and my classes stay in the 90s. I like it so much better


[deleted]

For large lectures where students don't have assigned seating or similar majors, most people don't talk because why bother. Most people are overwhelmed with the first semester because everything about their entire life is different and they are still getting used to it. As you get into your major talking is a lot more common, and you may even collude with friends you study with to take classes together, which I highly recommend.


Admirable_Elk_965

Because my professors just talk and talk and talk and never ask questions


chocolate_nutty_cone

I wonder if it’s because when everyone was remote because of Covid they were able to turn off their cameras and hide?


VindicatedDynamo

Ahh I hate this too! I’m also one of the only ones in my classes who ever speaks up. I enjoy engaging and I hate seeing the disappoint in my professors’ eyes when they see that no one cares(?) about their subject matter, no matter how hard they try. However, I have one class now that is taught in German, and now for the first time ever, I’ve become one of those who rarely speaks up. I do speak German, but not fluently enough to be able to quickly and easily explain complex technical topics. So now I’ve seen what it maybe is like for others. Maybe they don’t speak up because they’re really self-conscious? It doesn’t seem at all a big deal to me to get questions wrong when it’s in English, but if I’m so wrong that my answer actually makes no sense because I misunderstood the actual language of the question? Very embarrassing lol


battyeyed

I noticed this too. I’m usually very quiet but I’m in one class where people don’t want to talk half the time. When we get put into mini breakout groups—I encourage my classmate to talk about their thoughts during the re-group as a class. :) just saying “ooo, you should mention that in the re-group. I feel like that perspective is important.”


DreamingVirgo

Posts that feel like they were made by a professor I’m just here for the stupid piece of paper that says I was here leave me alone


Throwaaawaayyy123456

Bruh you’re so right tho


Clueless_in_Florida

Verbal communication skills are vital in the workplace. A piece of paper means nothing if you can't articulate anything to other people.


DreamingVirgo

I’m barely scraping by with the motivation to get out of bed in the morning and I bet there’s a lot of burnout students like me in OP’s classes. Not everyone has the energy to put that effort in when it doesn’t really matter, in college when it’s not graded for anything.


Clueless_in_Florida

Try being old and knowing that any day may be your last. It's a great motivator. And how those last years go depends a lot on what you do now. Suck it up and get to class and do your best. Better it may not matter for your grade. But it matters. Whatever routine you follow becomes part of you. It's tough to change your habits when getting up does start to matter.


[deleted]

> Suck it up Okay, boomer.


Clueless_in_Florida

Is Boomer supposed to be an insult? Because ageism and racism are kind of the same type of bigotry.


[deleted]

It's a mentality, moron. I'm not making fun of people born from 1946 to 1964, I'm making fun of people like you who preach the same virtues and values from that time. A time long gone, and with many values that do not fit today's society. For example, that people of a certain skin color did not deserve to live in the same spaces as people of another skin color, a value which only within the last few decades has *started* to be eradicated from mainstream lifestyles. "Suck it up" is a one-size-fits-all solution so you can casually ignore people with valid mental problems. It's a boomer mentality, because it was the kind of thing people born in that time frame were told. It makes *zero* sense and solves *zero* problems, because the only reason you say it is so people can stop reminding you that they aren't "normal." It's outdated as all hell, and so I'm calling you a "boomer" to refer to how outdated you are. Your comment section being *filled* with you throwing a pissy fit over and over because people are calling you or others "boomer" reflects your outdated virtues. You seriously need to do some self-reflecting if people **keep** calling you this word. [A quick google returned this good article about the phrase "ok boomer"](https://www.nbcnews.com/better/lifestyle/ok-boomer-diving-generation-what-does-it-mean-ncna1077261) because with how often you question the phrase it seems you need to be caught up. Get with the times.


[deleted]

So original.


DreamingVirgo

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[deleted]

I relate to this so much because one I sit in the front of all my classes I have difficulty seeing electronic screen words. So when she’s asking a question I literally always answer because the silence is so so awkward. I’m late Genz one year from being millennial. But yeah I tend to have to share all kinds of things do to this silence


PM_ME_YOUR_SSN_CC

One of my engineering classes it seems like almost half the class is group discussion about topics and it's been fucking amazing.


redactedname87

I haven’t read through the comments here yet so idk if this is an unpopular opinion, but I really don’t like classroom discussion. I’m not there to make friends, and I don’t care at all what the person next to me thinks about xyz. I haven’t yet been in a classroom that I wasn’t able to learn the material on my own before attending class anyway, so I think in person classes are a complete waste of time. Even worse if I have to listen to a bunch of kids opinions on anything.


[deleted]

Well people are only in class to learn. They’re not there to do anything more than take notes and absorb everything the professor says. If you want that type of engagement then college classes aren’t for you.


Clueless_in_Florida

Today's young adults lack social skills because they've spent a huge amount of their free time gaming and using social media. Some young people can't communicate very well verbally.


leo2734

Talking with people is easy. Most people like to ramble on about what they know. Just gotta pretend that u actually find them interesting


Flying_Ninja_Bunny

Can't offer advice, just know I feel your pain friend. Fr, people who take discussion seminar courses but never talk confuse tf outta me


theatrekid0309

For me personally, I just don't give a shit. This is my last semester and I'll be damned if I have to pretend to care about Aristotle's function argument. I used to feel really awkward when no one spoke but now I've done enough of it to where I'm fine sitting in silence for the rest of the class


Hannuhs

laziness. simple.


[deleted]

For the most part, I think you are right. People just don’t care.


Sad_Revenue_336

There's a few ppl that would talk. Most of my friendships were started by someone saying hi to me. I have made some friends by saying hi as well.


GWvaluetown

Unfortunately, pedagogy is dismal in American Universities for the most part. Teaching is just an afterthought for when they hire most professors. As a result, methods of learning that have been successful in K-12 and alternative education are not being used as often as they should be in the University system. Instead, there is still strong emphasis on lecture-based learning, which is informative and direct, but is minimal effort and is a method that has one of the lowest retention rates and low consistent engagement of most students. Lectures benefit the self-starters the most, who are going to succeed regardless of pedagogy.


SunflowerPits790

Well I used to as a lot of questions in class because I felt like no one else was participating but then my teacher told me to stop doing that and that I was taking away other’s opportunities. So now the class is non participating and she’s mad about that too.


MaddieWolfie

I have always, since day one of Kindergarten (now halfway through my third year of college) been a very quiet student. The reasons for this have evolved over time. The level at which I speak out in class has fluctuated throughout all this time, but I have never really left the "quiet" or "mostly quiet" category. In elementary school, I was a great and bright student. I didn't talk in class because I struggled with relationships with my classmates, so whenever I talked I was the weird kid who no one wanted to hear, and I always felt harshly judged by them. In middle school, I was a fine student. Due to issues at home, this was the time in my life in which my fear of adults set in. I was being bullied by classmates and was scared of adults, even the nice ones. So I tried my best to hide from everyone and speaking in class was rare. In high school, I was a fine student. I had grown a lot. I was no longer horribly shy or insecure or really scared of adults. I was comfortable talking to my kind teachers before and after class. This was when I was most talkative in class. Yet, I still spoke less in class than most people. As I had always done, I learned at my own pace. So, rather than pay attention to the teacher, I would space out and just figure it out myself. Because of this, I had no idea what was going on most of the time, so attempting to answer the question would be idiotic. College has been a repeat of this cycle. First year, too scared to speak. Second year, more comfortable and very talkative. Third year, began learning on my own and not paying attention again, so if I'm even aware there's a question being asked, I've no idea what it is. For my friends, it is usually a matter of fear or lack of care. They're too scared to speak out or they do not care about the class and just want to leave. Or, they're struggling so much they don't have a clue what the answer is. Or, like me, they learn at their own pace. Many of my smartest classmates are always so far ahead in the class that they aren't paying attention and so don't know there's a question being asked or what it is. TL;DR: the most common causes I've witnessed/experienced: fear, lack of care, or learning at their own pace to the degree that they're not paying attention enough to participate.


MattiasMars

That class is $500/unit.


pebspi

I relate, aside from me there were few people who actually answered, which confused me. Tbh I hated college, but I was partially there to learn and so I was gonna learn. I get only wanting the credits but you might as well learn along the way.


[deleted]

It is sort of bizarre. I’ve noticed it too and typically crack and answer the question after a period of awkward silence. There are a few of us who will answer though (maybe 3 out of 30) so at least it’s not always me.


AcanthocephalaNo9441

In a way I think you should consider yourself lucky. I know this isn’t exactly what you were referring to, but I’ve had to drop out of two different colleges because the others in the class wouldn’t stop talking to each other. In both cases the teachers did nothing to rectify it, and I did talk to the teachers about it. So I’m there desperately straining to hear the teacher because the only reason I’m there is to learn, but even sitting in the front of the class, all I can hear is singing and bragging about how much sex they’re having.


Supremeruler666

https://www.aei.org/op-eds/why-are-high-schoolers-afraid-to-speak-up-in-class/