Younger Instructor
I am a younger instructor and I feel as through I am not respected as much as the "older' instructors. I feel that I go above and beyond and my students still seem to have a level of disrespect for me.
Priscilla Bamberg
Katrina,
Thank you for the good comments about adults being older teenagers. I am convinced that adults are just taller kids. My adult students like to play games, compete for prizes, get recognition and receive feedback about how they are doing. In our world pizza and candy is still a sought after prize so I set up opportunities for them to get them. We have fun and learning moves forward.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Kathryn hit the nail right on the head, confidence is key!
My background is actually children so when I started teaching adults I was nervous. I still look very young and I was concerned about the respect and rapport I could establish with my students. Now that I have been instructing adults for some time I actually think my background teaching teenagers helped me a great deal. I was pleasantly surprised that even though they were adults it was still the same situations. The module said it best, they're still human.
Katrina Hill
Rosa,
Good for you. By establishing yourself as the learning leader you are then earning their respect. From there on it is the process of sharing content.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
Of all of the posts on this thread, I feel this is the one that most applies to me. Often times, I feel like the students don't respect me because I am a young female. I gain their respect by demonstrating how much they can learn from someone who has worked in the field, regardless of their age. It's experience that counts.
Kathryn,
Well put and I know this information will be of value to new instructors. It is always a challenge to move into the teaching role but when you also have the age factor that can be a factor you can easily lose control of the the class. You did not have this problem because you knew who you were and the message you wanted to share. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
As an instructor who started in her twenties, I found that my own lack of confidence was my greatest fault, not my age. I was scared going into a classroom where most of the students were my age or older. I quickly learned to focus them not on my age, but my ethos. I was able to show them that my expertise was to be trusted because of my experience in the field. I also had to tell myself every day that I was here for a reason and knew what I was talking about! Confidence is key!
Megan,
You are doing the right things in terms of establishing yourself as the learning leader for your students. Since you have won the majority of your older students over you are doing the right things. For those that you haven't I would try to appeal to their own since of importance and try to draw them out to share their life experiences. When they see that you respect them and listen to them they start to become engaged. Won't get them all but should help with some.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I love that someone brought up the subject of age! It is an issue. I have the same problem at times! I also started teaching at 24 and many of my students have been, and are, much older than me. Sometimes they have a hard time respecting me as their teacher. I have to show them that I have the knowledge and experience that is needed. I have to show them that they can benefit from listening to me. Most of the time I win older students over, but every once in a while I get one that will just look down on me and can never get over my age. Some even get jealous because I started my career much younger than them. But I am still learning! Any more tips on how to gain the respect of the older students without being mean or too controlling?
Jennifer,
Key point for instructors to remind themselves of and coach their students on. Proper conduct is critical to and for career success.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
It does not matter how old or young you are, it is how you conduct yourself. You can find yourself in any kind of situation with any student older or younger than you, it is all in the way you conduct yourself.
Roger,
I to started quite young as an instructor in my field so I can relate to your comments. I appreciate your sharing your experiences with us because it seems that professionalism and competence have a way of overcoming any problems related to age. You were a professional and you had the experience to back you up and as a result the students respected you and you have built from there as an educator. I know this information will be helpful to other instructors that are just coming into the field. Keep up the good work!
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I also started teaching at 24. At this time I already had some negative experiences with people in my field talking down to me and discrediting my input because I was younger so when I started teaching I was very nervous about some of my students doing the same. At first I tried to prove myself and the students picked up on my insecurity. Once I just stuck to delivering the content and sharing my experiences things went a lot smoother. After a couple of terms I established a reputation and it was all fine. I still have a student or two here and there that challenge me because of my age, but not often. I also found that it wasn't the older students: most of them were excited to see a young person who knew his stuff, but the students closer to me in age that challenged my position as instructor.
HI PRISCILLLA!
I know how you feel I have had to change my overall look to appear older in the classroom. As long as you know your subject matter and are getting the subject across to the majority, I think you will do well. Those that have a problem and are disrespectful still be nice and extend help to them.
Michael,
Thank you for your comments. An instructor needs to strive to earn the respect of his/her students no matter the age. Once that is done that age is no longer a factor.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
I agree I started teaching at age 24 and looked 19... I was teaching people as old a 45. That is what i had to do to earn respect.
Hi Priscilla,
It's interesting that you say this. I was just speaking with my supervisor, and she stated that it's possible that students may challenge me just because I look young; especially since some of the students will be older than me. I stated to her, that many people say that to me, actually. I've always looked young for my age, but interstingly enough, I've never been challenged because of my "youthfullness." I've been challenged in the high school setting, just because they're teenagers, but never because of my physical appearance. I agree with our instructor, Dr. Younger, on this one. I've always had the mantality that I go into a classroom "demanding" respect, not in a bullying way or anything. I just go in, not even considering my youthful appearance, and I demand respect knowing that I deserve it, as a person and as an instructor. I think if it's in the back of your mind that students will do this to you, you're opening yourself up for it to happen. You know the saying, "You get what you ask for." I hope this helps. Thanks for the post!
Priscilla,
This is a common situation and understand your concern in relation to student respect. I was once in your situation so I can relate to it as well. By being prepared and organized and having confidence in yourself you can display a since of professionalism to your students. Be consistent in your enforcement of your class policies and rules and always always be a role model for your field and profession and you will earn the respect of your students which in turn leads to the development of rapport and this is where you want to be with your students.
Gary
Gary Meers, Ed.D.
