Breaking the ice in lecture hall

Whether you are lost in a sea of students in a huge lecture hall or squeezed around a tiny table in a seminar, the professor at the front of the room can seem far away.

According to three Penn instructors, forming a relationship with a professor involves more than just showing up and raising your hand now and then. They offered tips on getting to know Penn's seasoned academics.

n Learn about your professors' fields.

"Ask them questions about their research or even practical matters like how they've got to where they've gotten," said Alice Ours, a Comparative Literature and Italian teaching assistant.

n Discuss career options with professors in relevant fields. They can explain the difference between related careers but, warns Finance professor Michael Roberts.

"If [students] just walk into our office and say, 'I don't know what to do with my life,' I'm not sure that a Finance faculty member's the appropriate person to talk to."

n Take advantage of office hours. Though this might seem obvious, "students don't use the office hours as much as they can," Spanish professor Claudia Mendez said.

Though Roberts teaches about 225 students, he still gets to know many of them during office hours.

Even if you do not have a problem with the class, professors are often eager to hear comments and suggestions or discuss relevant issues.

n When you attend office hours, always be prepared. Have at least one question in mind, recognize which material is proving difficult, ask for suggestions for additional reading or bring in a piece of your work.

"We don't want to regurgitate or rehash the entire lecture for one student," Roberts said.

n Be open-minded and willing to compromise when you approach a professor about problems with the material.

n Make yourself known in class by participating in discussions and asking questions, recommends Roberts.

n Do not be afraid to approach professors. Ours emphasized "not being afraid to voice your gut reactions and concerns."

"Your instructors are people too, and they probably at one point or another felt something similar to what you're feeling and can relate to you," she added.

n Speak directly to professors. "The TAs play a supporting role in the class," Roberts said. With "anything pertaining to the course, it's appropriate to talk to the faculty member."

n Do not be deterred by busy professors. In some cases, it may be more convenient to e-mail them or make an appointment in advance than to grab instructors as they head for another class. If professors refer students to a TA, start there, said Ours.

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