It will depend on whether the student is verbally exhibiting his anger or is physically threatening. Your safety needs to come first. If safety is not an issue, I have found that speaking quietly in a calm reassuring voice telling the student I would like to hear what is the matter, has worked well. Generally, all the student wants is assurance that you are going to listen to his complaint. I tell the students I am going to take notes to make sure I am understanding what he is saying. After the student has made is statement I repeat back to him what I understand his complaint to be and that I am going to reassess the situation and get back to him by a certain time. If the student is still angry I ask him to meet with the program director and myself.
Hi Carole,
You have it! Never put yourself in harm's way with an angry student. We as educators must protect our safety.
Patricia Scales
Hi Patricia,
If I were confronted with an angry student I would listen to his/her complaint 1) to see how angry he/she is, 2) to allow him/her to vent their feelings, and 3) listening will show the student that you care about their problems.
The instructor should take notes while they are verbalizing their concerns, this may possibly calm them down and help them to focus.
If a student is extremely angry, I would not stand very close to them; in fact, I would leave them to obtain a third party and take every precaution for my safety.
Thank you,
Carole Ray
When dealing with an angry student I normally will take them into another room and ask them to share with me their thoughts. While they are talking I just listen and allow them to get everything out. Then I ask them how I can help them with this.
Most often than not, just listening to the student will help to dispell most of their anger.
I totally agree that listening is the key. Sometimes all they need to do is vent and have someone listen to their concerns. Once I listen I try and help them to resolve it. If it is something that I personally can't handle I direct them to the right individual. Sometimes I take them their personally. This tends to help them see I really care about them and seeing that they get the situation resoved.
Hi Edgar,
Yes, you can't let the angry student interrupt other students learning. This type of student has to be dealt with quickly and swiftly.
Patricia Scales
Active listening to determine what the student is angry about. Sometimes the source of anger is outside your control as an instructor. You do need to remind the student that you will not tolerate their outbursts that disrupts others in the learning process. Offering them an open door to you to discuss the sources of anger is one way to build trust with the angry student.
Just as with any angry person there is the desire to be heard and treated fairly. Actively listening is crucial, and sometimes class rooms may be interrupted because someone does not know ahead of time that I, the instructor have an open door for any discussion needed.
If I am unable to resolve an issue immediately, I will always get a third person involved to mediate and potentially difuse the situation.
Hi Rick,
Great process to utilize to control anger. I can see how these tactics can really be calming to an angry person.
Patricia Scales
Listening to the student and try to understand their frustration and their concerns
1. Realize that they may have other "stuff" going on that may be contributing to their anger AND that they may be feeling a loss of control. 2. Listen as they do a controlled venting of their issue letting them know you will listen and help them through as long as they choose to be respectful. 3. Use reflective listening and paraphrase back what you think you heard. 4. Acknowledge their feelings. ("I can understand why you feel that way.") 5. Provide them options to choose from to at least give them a feeling of some degree of control and I like to end with, "Either way is fine with me" (with a positive tone).
I believe that you have to gain the respect of the angry students by giving them a time to vent the concerns, but at a time after class and away from all the other students. This gives them time to calm down alittle and think about what is really making them angry. Then you have time to discuss the real problem which might not be what they are angry about. What is the "Problem" ? MoneyBall
Hi Shelly,
Wow! She sounds as though she has some real issues. If anyone (admissions rep, admin asst., etc.) at the institution has a rapport with her, you may want to get that person who has a rapport with her and talk to her. This type of attitude will ruin her in the workplace.
Patricia Scales
I have a very angry student. She was angry on the first day of class. I did listen to her - unfortunately she continues to be angry in general. I speak with her regularly trying to build a repore. She seems to have a "chip on her shoulder" that prevents her from really enjoying the class.
Hi Stephanie,
Yes, that is simple to simply LISTEN!! Listening can allow the angry students to reall calm down.
Patricia Scales
I think this is a great plan of action, and one I personally employ. I feel it is important to remain respectful towards the angry student and to show that you genuinely care. Especially in this day in age, where anger so quickly escalates into violence.
An angry student has a whole lot more going on than what meets the eyes. Some of these students have deep-seated issues that are sometimes mind boggling.
An angry student is often domineering and most often irrational. Trying to reason with that student when red anger is aroused will not bear fruit, because they lack the emotional maturity or rather the emotional intelligence to help them deal with their feelings and perceptions in a mature way. This is where the instructor will have to exhibit self-control and tact. Listening to them with full body attention will not belittle them further. When they are through venting ask them to have a short visit with you outside the class-room. I normally start off with something like this: "You know Tom, I always see you as a strong character. Infact, a leader who can contribute positively to the class, but your attitude in class just now leaves a whole lot to be desired." This statement will allow them to see that they have value and that they need to change certain behavior in order maintain this value. I sometimes write them short notes too, on their portal. It is truly tough dealing with angry students; but as instructors we cannot show fear and we have to be masters at diffusing a potentially volatile situation.
Make sure that there is a clear avenue to vent grievances spelled out in the students handbooks and that you will listen to any of these. That done allow the vent to occur but I would definitely do it in a place away from the group as peers and a audience tend to escalate anger. Let them know in this area that they can express what they dislike as they wish and this will avoid power struggles that just fuel the fire. After vent problem solving can occur and the student has their day where you can complete satisfy or not.
An angry student has a whole lot more going on than what meets the eyes. Some of these students have deep-seated issues that are sometimes mind boggling.
An angry student is often domineering and most often irrational. Trying to reason with that student when red anger is aroused will not bear fruit, because they lack the emotional maturity or rather the emotional intelligence to help them deal with their feelings and perceptions in a mature way. This is where the instructor will have to exhibit self-control and tact. Listening to them with full body attention will not belittle them further. When they are through venting ask them to have a short visit with you outside the class-room. I normally start off with something like this: "You know Tom, I always see you as a strong character. Infact, a leader who can contribute positively to the class, but your attitude in class just now leaves a whole lot to be desired." This statement will allow them to see that they have value and that they need to change certain behavior in order maintain this value. I sometimes write them short notes too, on their portal. It is truly tough dealing with angry students; but as instructors we cannot show fear and we have to be masters at diffusing a potentially volatile situation.
