5 easy tips to make the teacher like you

I am not someone who naturally hates teachers. I do think it is important to be some kind of 'friends' with your teacher.

If your relationship with your teacher is good, he is more likely to help you. And eventually, he is the one who gives you your marks!

So here are some tips to make your teacher like you.

1. Greet every time. "Good morning sir". It sounds really simple, but the teacher does notice you 'That is nice he said that'. Simple, and it works.
2. Make your homework. Of course, you already should be doing that, but sometimes, you just can't do it because.. But you SHOULD do it. Cause if he asks 'who did do their homework' and you can raise your hand, he will notice you positively again!
3. Ask how he is doing. Just an extension to number 1. Also simple, but you have to do it in a 'later stadium'. When you said 'good morning' a couple of times you can do this. Ask how he's doing, how was his weekend, vacation, whatsoever.
4. If you want to know something about the stuff you need to learn, and you won't see him the rest of the week, email him! You show interest, and he will notice that.
5. And the last, and maybe the least, cause you might be busy enough. Ask for extra work. Say you want to improve yourself, and the work that is given now isn't enough.

These tips are not hard at all to use, and it does work. You don't have to put a lot of work in it, but you do get something from it. A better relationship with the teacher means that he is more willingfull to work with you, and that can only be in your advantage!

Speeching: How to use 'err' correctly

I already mentioned my physics teacher, who says 'err' 25 times in 5 minutes.

When he says it, it is really annoying. It looks like he just doesn't know what he wants to say, all the time. But you also may use 'err' in a good way.

When you are speeching, in front of a 'bigger' audience (more than 10 human beings) you can use the word.

The only golden rule is don't use it too much.

But how should you use it?

When you come with something big, if you want to say a really important thing, the 'err' can be really powerfull. It should go something like this: "How should I say this, err, when you ..."

And you have to look above the audience, with the obama-wayoflooking, to a brighter future, to a fantastic oppertunity you seem to see.

It will make you look philosophic. It looks like you are choosing your words wisely. So the audience will think that you are wise, cause what you want to tell, you want to tell good.

An other way to use the word 'err' is to speak very fast after it. So the silence between the word 'err' and the following word must be like nothing. "So if you use plan A to accomplice, you have to err-do this and this."

You show a little bit weakness, and that makes you actually charming.

So, you can use the, in common bad, 'err' correctly, you can use it in your advantage.

Do you have any tips, to turn the bad word 'err' in a good thing? I would like to hear!

Further reading on presentations:

How to give the perfect presentation in class

Presentation in class: The Introduction

Presentation in class: The middle

How to make a presentation, quick

How to stay awake during class

I am a person who can sleep everywhere.

It doesn't matter, a couch, in a car and even in class.

And it did happen, once. Well, it happened once that the class noticed.

It was a really hot day, and the teacher decided to show some dia's about his holiday, with the curtains closed, and I was very tired.

And pretty often I'm between sleeping and not sleeping, so I tested some things, which probably helps you staying awake.

1. Watch the teacher

Watch the teacher, all the time. And with watching I mean watching all his moves. How he walks, how he talks, how he acts. It is really funny, cause every teacher got something strange, and when you notice that strange thing, you can enjoy it.

It starts to get fun when you take notes. One of my teacher is saying 'euh' all the time, so me and a friend start to count how often he says 'euh'.  The outcome: 27 times in 5 minutes.

2. React on the teacher

I'm following bèta classes, so we have to calculate much. And the teacher has to do it also. They are highly trained in it, absurd. But sometimes he can't calculate it in his head, and he needs a calculator. Since teachers are to lazy to grab their calculator they will always ask: "Can anyone calculate this please". That is the moment you come in. Do it! Calculate, as fast as you can. And when are the fastest of the class, be really jubilant. You will enjoy class more, and there are some teachers who likes that behaviour (no garantee).

3. Start your homework

Just start with your homework. No teacher bothers if you are paying attention, or looking in the book all the time. Homework will be the challenge you might actually need to stay awake. Plus the time you save. If you make your homework in class, you don't have to do it at home anymore!

4. Ask questions

Ask something about the content of the lesson. Popping the first question can be really hard, especially if you are really sleepy, but after the first question you will awake. And then comes the next question, and the next and the next.

5. Make up a story

Don't make up a random story. But make up a story about the person you have to look to the whole lesson. The teacher. Think of him when he is at home. What paper does he read? What does he eat? How is his wife/her husband. What will he do when he comes home?

My girlfriend and I tried that with our physics teacher. Instant fun!

6. Learn something

Last but not least. Step into the class with the idea you are going to learn something today. 

When you are standing on the doorstep think 'I AM going to learn something today'.

And when you stand on that doorstep again, but then when you leave class, you will be satisfied, and awake.

So, do you think this works? Do you have other tips for staying awake? Post them, I'm curious!

I'm dutch, so my English is pretty good, but not perfect, please correct me when I'm wrong!