Chances are, they’ve dealt with MANY students with shyness. Start by asking the nicest teacher you know.

Most professors I know are highly educated and intellectual. Sometimes they want to keep their students at bay by purposely making them feel intimidated. They don’t want to feel intimidated themselves by a student. Their relationship between student and teacher must be on a professional level at all times.

Remember that you are in their “arena”–the classroom- to learn a specific subject. And learn it well. Don’t be afraid to stay after a few minutes to ask a question. Some professors prefer the student ask questions at the close of the class session, rather than disrupt the class. They feel it is a compliment if a student professes a desire to want to learn, and challenges both themselves and the professor for knowledge.

Keep up the good work, and study hard. Good luck to you.

I think most professors would consider it a compliment to have a student seek out additional information on the topic they are teaching. Imagine yourself asking a particular teacher a question. Keep reviewing this in your mind. When the opportunity comes in real life to ask that teacher a question, take it. I think you will find the mental practicing will help you get past your fear.

When I was in school I had pretty much the same problem that you appear to have. I had a good friend pull up along side of me and whispered some things in my ear that freed me up and allowed me to associate with folk who I met throughout my working life and those folk had various educational levels, holding multiple doctorate degrees to those that had an 8th grade education. What did my friend say….she said….you know Professor Jones is nothing more than an electrician or barber that you go to. You need to understand that he may have an inflated sense of self importance but in reality you are paying his salary and he must perform to your standard of measurement.

Our professors deserve our respect but they do not deserve nor do they expect our elevation of them to god status. They are EMPLOYED by the university to teach aspiring students. The terms of their employment vary but are geared to teaching the knowledge they have to the students who are BUYING a seat in their rooms.

You heard me right you are buying, paying for, going into debt, hocking your life for the RIGHT to sit in that seat and permitting the professor to impart his/her knowledge to you. You are also spending time out of your life to sit in this class. This is time that you will never ever get back. You only have so much time on your life clock and you have agreed to let these people spend some time with you.

If you let folk intimidate you you give them POWER over you. You need to realize that it is you who has the power and you have the right to ask questions but neither you nor they have the right to judge your questions to be “stupid and a waste of time”.