find your perfect postgrad program
Search our Database of 30,000 Courses

Refine courses

Posted Jan. 22, 2013

5 Stereotypical Lecturers and How to Identify Them

From the good to the bad to the downright legendary, discover the 5 main types of university lecturer you're sure to meet at every university.

The Waffling Waffle Some lecturers are not content to stick to the syllabus and insist on sharing with you their knowledge of just about everything. From what they ate for breakfast, to the names of their pets, they'll manage to find a way to reference just about every aspect of their life and loosely relate this back to your postgraduate study. This is what we call 'waffle'.

This common behaviour can be identified by the lecturer speaking at lengths about topics that have absolutely nothing to do with the course, and staring listlessly out the window as they recall pointless anecdotes. Put a stop to this madness by raising your hand and politely asking 'will I be expected to refer to this in my thesis/dissertation?'

The Raging Bull You might have guessed by now that not all academics are happy bunnies. In fact, quite a few of them are just outright angry individuals. Most recognisable attributes include screaming at anyone who arrives late to the lecture, a widening of the eyes as they embark on yet another rant and a glowing red face that never quite seems to fade.

The best way to deal with this type of university lecturer is not giving them an excuse to 'lose it'. Be punctual. Avoid asking anything that might set them off. Never, and I repeat never, disagree with them if you don't have to!

Professor Sleaze Whatever postgraduate degree you choose to study you're bound to run into at least one lecturer who fancies himself as a bit of a ladies' man. Truth be told, he's just plain creepy. No matter how old he is, nothing will hold him back as he attempts to flirt with the entire student body. Be on the lookout for inappropriate remarks, tight fitting clothing, and lunges whilst teaching.

If you're a guy, professor sleaze probably won't cause you much of a headache. For the rest of you avoid sitting in the front row at lectures, don't make direct eye contact, and give one-on-one tutorials a miss.

The Patroniser Certain lecturers, no matter how hard they try, cannot help themselves. Everything that leaves their mouth is accompanied by a condescending overtone. Even if you're on track for a first class honours degree, they will still strive to patronise. They class themselves as a league above everybody else.

You'll know you've met the patroniser when you regularly hear phrases such as 'well done for having a go', thank you for your....contribution', and anything ending in champ, sport or big guy. The best way to deal with these types is giving them a dose of their own medicine.

The Campus Legend In every university department, there will always be one lecturer that has earnt the legend status amongst pupils. Everyone loves them and nobody would even dream of missing a lecture. They have a natural aptitude for public speaking and they have a knack at making even the most boring of subjects interesting .

When you walk into the lecture theatre and everyone is laughing and generally having a good time, then the campus legend won't be far. Make the most of these lecturers when you do get the opportunity to meet one, as they don't come around often!

What's your favourite type of university lecturer?

Related articles

Staff / Student Relationships

PGCHE – Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education

 

Leave a comment

All contributors must be over 16 year olds

By submitting your comment you agree to our privacy policy.

Categories