Something I learned while taking Public Speaking a couple summers ago is that it really is a two-way communication. While you might be the one who's talking, your audience constantly communicates non-verbally. This was magnified in our class where we could easily see everybody so if someone was putting their head down sleeping or texting, it was pretty apparent.
One thing we learned was adapting to the audience response. For example if people looked bored or uninterested, you're probably not doing a good job speaking in a way to engage them or maybe you're just boring when you talk. This on its own isn't necessarily a bad thing, at least not as bad as completely ignoring these signs, not changing at all, and then wonder why everyone else was so rude while you were speaking.
Of course the opposite is also true. Seeing an audience that truly looks entertained and invested in your speech is pretty gratifying and empowers and encourages the speaker for the rest of the time.
Basically this is all kind of fluff as I lack the words to express my frustration with my Macroeconmics teacher. I guess I shouldn't be too hard on him since he is not originally from America and is teaching his first class.
However, there's something to be said for trying to improve at something you're new and maybe not as good at. He's been lecturing the same way the whole semester, a very dry, boring style based off his powerpoints.
People routinely text in class and a good number of people bring laptops. Considering he hands out a notes page, I'd wager none of them, or us, rather, are using our computers for academic purposes.
He's seen the low homework and test grades, so I'm wondering why it doesn't bother him that no one ever has any questions in his class. I've tried paying attention, and it really is kind of confusing the way he lectures. Actually I'm kind of surprised that there are less questions asked. Or at least I would be if I wasn't able to tell that half the class is zoned out each time.
One incident that I thought was really funny happened last week. He was talking about...something and said, "Remember this part," and then uttered something that basically no one understood. I thought it was just me, but then I noticed that no one else was writing. He mumbled it again after someone broke the silence and asked him to repeat it.
I also thought it was amusing today (not more than 15 minutes ago) when he asked if there were any questions and there was a dead silence. In fact, the same thing happens when he asks a question and look for an answer. Doesn't that suggest that people might a) not be paying attention or b) not understanding what you're saying?
It does to me. Apparently not to him. Looking around just now I see a couple people working on a crossword in our school paper. Other people are just looking down, playing with their nails, not even pretending to care about their notes. And then there are people like me. Now I'm pretty sure not everyone on a laptop is blogging right now, but I guarantee they're not thinking about economics at all.
The fact that I took the time to type up this post (which, looking back, probably doesn't make much sense) speaks to how bored I am and how pointless I think this class is.
I don't like to bash teachers and professors. I really don't. But what I do bash is incompetence, and sadly, that's the one word that stands out when I think about this class.
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