Teaching styles and classroom attitudes vary widely and are influenced by many different factors. Even where tradition does dictate professional or student behavior, the patterns may not be evident to someone coming from a different tradition. Professors are the core of the teaching staff at most institutions in the United States. Professors generally teach lecture courses, seminars, and courses for graduate students and upper-class undergraduates. A professor s informal style of dress or speech must not be taken to mean that he or she has a relaxed attitude toward assignments, class attendance, or the quality of your work.
American professors expect their students to ask questions and use critical reasoning.
Class participation is important. Silence may be misconstrued as lack of interest. Ask for help if you don t understand something. Professors keep office hours for the purpose of assisting students, and it is not considered to be a loss of face to admit confusion. The social distance between students and their professors is much less in the United States than in other countries.