Mature-age university students are annoying, I know. I understand that when you're 18 or 19, and already know everything, there's no need to do the readings or show up prepared for class. I also understand that there are these old people in class who should be doing other things——maybe retiring, or gardening in the backyard. They are eagerly asking questions (or worse, answering them) and generally loud.
I understand because I used to be one of them. I dropped out of high school in Year 11 and after playing guitar in a band for a few years, I spent the next ten years working different jobs. Then a friend, who thought I was wasting my life, suggested I enrol at his university. Although afraid, I eventually took a university preparation course and a year later became a 35-year-old university freshman.
Like many mature-age students, after completing my degree, I continued studying and eventually attained my PhD.
Now I'm a lecturer at Toronto University in Canada. In fact, I have just finished preparing a group of mature-age students to annoy next year's young first years. My students come from many different backgrounds. But they all share an enthusiasm for knowledge and learning.
I know they are ridiculous and show up to class with folders full of readings, minds overflowing with ideas and concepts they want to discuss. I was the same. But, contrary to the stereotype of the annoying mature-age students occupying the airtime in class, most don't want to control the discussion.
They're likely to be waiting, counting away the seconds silently in the hope that someone will want to talk about all of these amazing ideas we're learning about. Only after waiting for younger voices to speak. ( but which often remain silent) do they begin talking.
Speaking for myself, I love students who come prepared and ready to discuss stuff. So let's celebrate all of those “annoying”mature-age students.
Mature-age university students are annoying, I know. I understand that when you're 18 or 19, and already know everything, there's no need to do the readings or show up prepared for class. I also understand that there are these old people in class who should be doing other things——maybe retiring, or gardening in the backyard. They are eagerly asking questions (or worse, answering them) and generally loud.
I understand because I used to be one of them. I dropped out of high school in Year 11 and after playing guitar in a band for a few years, I spent the next ten years working different jobs. Then a friend, who thought I was wasting my life, suggested I enrol at his university. Although afraid, I eventually took a university preparation course and a year later became a 35-year-old university freshman.
Like many mature-age students, after completing my degree, I continued studying and eventually attained my PhD.
Now I'm a lecturer at Toronto University in Canada. In fact, I have just finished preparing a group of mature-age students to annoy next year's young first years. My students come from many different backgrounds. But they all share an enthusiasm for knowledge and learning.
I know they are ridiculous and show up to class with folders full of readings, minds overflowing with ideas and concepts they want to discuss. I was the same. But, contrary to the stereotype of the annoying mature-age students occupying the airtime in class, most don't want to control the discussion.
They're likely to be waiting, counting away the seconds silently in the hope that someone will want to talk about all of these amazing ideas we're learning about. Only after waiting for younger voices to speak. ( but which often remain silent) do they begin talking.
Speaking for myself, I love students who come prepared and ready to discuss stuff. So let's celebrate all of those “annoying”mature-age students.
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