By Kashvi Cox, Third Year, English
As a final year student, I have attended my fair share of office hours by now. I am by no means an expert, but I have definitely learnt some of the more effective ways to use these (very short) slots of time with my tutors over the past three years. So, let me take you through my guide to office hours.
Now let’s face it, office hours can be daunting. I still remember how nervous I felt when I knocked on my tutor’s door at the start of first year, not to mention how unprepared I was to use the next 10 minutes in any kind of productive fashion. I still feel anxious about visiting my tutors now - they are experts in their field after all - but I try to remember that they are there to help me (or you!).
Georgia Rowe
First let’s talk about how to actually book an office hour. This will vary from tutor to tutor, but it will usually say on the Blackboard page for your unit (just look for the ‘contacts’ section under ‘unit information and resources’). You may have to email your tutor if they don’t have a specific sign up sheet. Alternatively, they may have a link beneath their email signature so make sure to check there too.
What helps me now is knowing how to prepare for these meetings. I normally only book office hours when I know that I have time to do all the preparation work beforehand. I don’t just mean spending the morning doing this prep work, I mean spending at least a week on that essay or assignment in advance. This gives me enough time to work out the direction I’m taking and then I can go in with any questions about how to achieve it. Office hours usually come in the middle of the essay writing process for me, but find what suits you and stick to that.
Once I have done a fair amount of research, I usually try to hand write some notes in preparation for my office hour. This is something I only started doing this year, but I’ve found it much more efficient for using the time with my tutors more wisely. Not having a laptop screen in front of me when trying to talk to them means the conversation flows a lot more easily. I’ve come to see the laptop as a barrier for that ease of communication.
While it is good to have questions prepared, don’t try to write a script for these meetings. I always find my most productive office hours are ones where I hold a conversation with my tutors, rather than grilling them like a contestant on Mastermind. Even if all of my questions don’t get answered, I feel that a conversation stimulates more ideas for my essay. Also, you can always write your tutors an email afterwards with any follow up questions. Office hours will help to establish these good working relationships that allow for this kind of communication.
It’s never too late to try office hours. Even if it feels like something you should have done sooner, it is important to give these things a go (and we are paying over £9000 a year in tuition fees, so you might as well make the most of it!). Book a meeting, go along, and find out what works (or doesn’t work) for you. It might feel awkward at first, but just remember how many students your tutors will see in a single day. The likelihood is that they will not remember you for one silly question or a moment of silence. The new term has just started and this is a great opportunity to start afresh and give office hours a go.
In summary:
- Plan for office hours in advance (don’t just go the day before the essay is due)
- Try taking a notepad and pen - leave the laptop behind
- Think of it as a chance to have a conversation and don’t stress too much!
Featured image: Unsplash / charlesdevulio
Will you make it to office hours this term?
