Surviving boring lectures

By Maimoona Ejaz

Around the world, students have different perceptions about different subjects. Some like to learn about a specific topic, some may find the same class equivalent to eternity in prison. One thing, however, students across the globe have in-common: they hate boring lectures!

Most teachers have the habit of constantly talking about their subject in a monotonously without any interaction with the class. The consequence:  A bunch of quiet, heavy-eyed students who can’t wait to leave the class. Neither do they comprehended anything from the long lecture, nor can they bunk (due to a limited number of absences allowed). The solution: Pretending!

Pretending is something that comes naturally to students regardless to their age, class, color or creed. For students, it’s effortless. Getting through a strict teacher’s boring lecture might not be as hard as it seems. The key lies in just a little dramatization, intelligence and, not to mention, creativity. Some simple steps need to be followed in order to get through the boring class without the displeasure of the teacher:

·         Nodding: This is a little automatic reaction produced by students which proves that they are paying attention. In case you’re not- act like you are. Nodding during the lecture after certain intervals will make the teacher think you’re actually attentive when in reality you’re not. Okay, don’t overdo it. Just nod as if you’re listening.

·         Scribbling:  Scribble on a notebook in front of you. The teacher may think that you are actually comprehending the lecture and taking notes. Draw something, but the trick is to draw in a way that will remind you of what the teacher talked about in the lecture. Make it funny and useful.

·        Ask questions: Listen to a small portion of the lecture and start questioning the teacher. This will give the teacher a good impression and who knows you might just understand the basic idea of the lecture.

·         Multi-task: Use smart phones/MP3 sticks for games/songs/texting/emailing etc, but try remembering to look at the teacher and the black/white board once in a while, otherwise you'll be caught. It is critical that when you do look at the teacher, you make clear eye contact. In this way, you'll make sure that he/she saw you paying attention and, after his gaze moves away from you, you can go right back to whatever you were doing.

G   Good luck!