How do you ask questions?

[michael leahcim]

Unsurprisingly, I am that guy in class who doesn't get involved in class discussions. I like talking (used to) but when it comes to ideas and discussing them I always struggle to express myself. When I do get the chance to and I know what to say (somewhat) nothing comes out. Not sure whether it's perfectionism at its finest or whether I'm just incapable. When I look around my class, everyone's able to ask and answer effortlessly regardless of their writing abilities but when it comes down to me: I have nothing because I find myself not being able to ask questions. I struggle even with talking now because of this and have found it really hard to convey anything related with sharing ideas - in daily conversation and/or writing.

To restate my question, how do you contribute and actively learn, and coming from a person who has had no experience with active learning (only passive), what are some of your tips on asking questions? I'd really like to hear, because I come from a relatively introverted background and I'd really like to hear how to get more out of class so that I can improve my writing expression.

[KEAEducation]

This is a problem that is widespread among naturally introverted students, or students who feel daunted about the prospects of having their opinions out in the open. Having been in your position, I perfectly understand where you're coming from and want to reassure you that it is only natural and there's nothing at all wrong, everyone has different learning approaches and preferences. Luckily, there is a great deal you can do and they are all linked by this one element: A positive working relationship with your teacher.

Everything revolves around you having a positive relationship with your teacher. Some students go through the entire year without having a single proper in-depth conversation with their teacher, and in English, this simply cannot happen if you have set ambitious goals for yourself. You have to understand your teacher and your teacher has to understand you and your writing and learning style.
Being hesitant to speak out in a classroom discussion does not stop you from going up to your teacher after they have delivered their lesson and asking them questions one-on-one. After most English lessons in Year 12, I would approach my teacher and ask her in-depth questions about the text, context and language analysis. I would ask her advice about my writing and ask her what she thought personally on certain viewpoints about themes and characters. Every lesson, I would get my own 5-10 minutes of 'personal time' with the teacher while everyone else in the class sat back and talked, or completed their work.  Although it is good to use tutoring services and outside help, your teacher and the relationship you have with them is your most important point of contact in Year 12. Take the initiative and it will pay off immensely.

I've had students who have had such good relationships with their teachers and seen it greatly benefit their learning. But not only that, a past student who was in constant contact with their teacher through text and email after school hours (marking essays...etc) gained such a repore with his teacher that his essay submissions would 'skip the queue' of other essays she received for marking. During the busy exam period, his essays would get marked first. Such was their relationship and his show of effort in the eyes of his teacher that all his work would get priority marking even if it was submitted later than his peers. Now, I'm not suggesting that this would happen in your unique circumstances, I'm merely illustrating the point that a positive working relationship with your English teacher is the front to helpful discussion and is the strongest point of learning and contact you can possibly have in school.

So having troubles speaking/contributing in class? Email your teacher about the discussion. Talk to your teacher about what's good and what's bad with your body paragraphs. Ask your teacher questions about their personal thoughts on the character. The list goes on. Be prepared and you will learn everything you set out to learn and more.

[wyzard]

This is a problem that is widespread among naturally introverted students, or students who feel daunted about the prospects of having their opinions out in the open. Having been in your position, I perfectly understand where you're coming from and want to reassure you that it is only natural and there's nothing at all wrong, everyone has different learning approaches and preferences. Luckily, there is a great deal you can do and they are all linked by this one element: A positive working relationship with your teacher.

Everything revolves around you having a positive relationship with your teacher. Some students go through the entire year without having a single proper in-depth conversation with their teacher, and in English, this simply cannot happen if you have set ambitious goals for yourself. You have to understand your teacher and your teacher has to understand you and your writing and learning style.
Being hesitant to speak out in a classroom discussion does not stop you from going up to your teacher after they have delivered their lesson and asking them questions one-on-one. After most English lessons in Year 12, I would approach my teacher and ask her in-depth questions about the text, context and language analysis. I would ask her advice about my writing and ask her what she thought personally on certain viewpoints about themes and characters. Every lesson, I would get my own 5-10 minutes of 'personal time' with the teacher while everyone else in the class sat back and talked, or completed their work.  Although it is good to use tutoring services and outside help, your teacher and the relationship you have with them is your most important point of contact in Year 12. Take the initiative and it will pay off immensely.

I've had students who have had such good relationships with their teachers and seen it greatly benefit their learning. But not only that, a past student who was in constant contact with their teacher through text and email after school hours (marking essays...etc) gained such a repore with his teacher that his essay submissions would 'skip the queue' of other essays she received for marking. During the busy exam period, his essays would get marked first. Such was their relationship and his show of effort in the eyes of his teacher that all his work would get priority marking even if it was submitted later than his peers. Now, I'm not suggesting that this would happen in your unique circumstances, I'm merely illustrating the point that a positive working relationship with your English teacher is the front to helpful discussion and is the strongest point of learning and contact you can possibly have in school.

So having troubles speaking/contributing in class? Email your teacher about the discussion. Talk to your teacher about what's good and what's bad with your body paragraphs. Ask your teacher questions about their personal thoughts on the character. The list goes on. Be prepared and you will learn everything you set out to learn and more.

I'd agree, I'm sure it is not that you have nothing to say, but rather you're holding yourself back due to fear of embarrassment by saying something stupid and ended up getting ridiculed by others. It might be you're introverted and speaking up in class is daunting.

I'm pretty much the same way last time, preferring to hold my thoughts back and not express them. However I find that by doing so I am isolating myself from the rest in class, so usually I have to break out of my shell and just express them anyway. At first it was scary, but after a while it become natural to me. Even though I still get jitters these days, it is a lot better now. Think of it as diving into a pool, at first its scary because its cold, but after doing it a while you'll get used to it.

To get over it, you have to let go of the fear of embarrassment and remind yourself that it is okay to be wrong. You can even crack a silly joke if you'd like (of course it depends on the seriousness of the classroom). That's what you're in the classroom for, to learn, not to be judged correct or wrong. If you say something wrong and the class laughs at you, don't take it personally and learn how to laugh at your mistake, not yourself. I've said some really silly things in class before, and thinking back it was sure funny.

Of course you don't have to be involved in class discussions all the time to learn actively, there are many other ways to participate actively in learnings. You can try writing out your thoughts in a notebook or here in the forums if you're afraid of public speaking, you can personally read a book and engage in the exercises, talking to a teacher one-to-one, having a tutor to talk to etc.