This coming semester, Spring 2006, I have this Spanish teacher who I've met before. This past summer I was working at a dog grooming salon inside of a pet store. He came in to have his dog shaved. Somehow there was a communication mishap (he is from Chile and has an accent, my boss was mumbling directions to me which I found VERY distracting, and I just wasn't trained very well in this job, period) and a while later I found out from my boss that the man had gone to the manager to complain about me. He'd said I was "loopy". This same guy is the only teacher who teaches this required Spanish class I am taking, and what's worse, I read the teacher reviews on ratemyprofessor.com and a couple of people had written that he makes fun of students, he likes to rip on people, and that he WILL make fun of you so don't do or say anything stupid. I am a little concerned about this man remembering me from that job at the pet store (which I quit long ago) and prejudging me as being "loopy"/stupid/dumb or something. That being said, there are also a few things to keep in mind:

My boss may very well have made all that up; she's the kind of person who likes to badmouth people.
I don't remember my future teacher's face, so it's fairly likely he won't remember mine.
If looked at from another angle, he was complaining to the store management about their training (or lack thereof), not about me.

What do the rest of you all think of this situation? Should I worry about being in hot water?

I really don't think it would hurt your grades. Maybe getting cut up in class would be hard on the old ego, but some extra attention would probably be a good thing in my case -- it would keep me paying attention! ;)

Besides, any teacher of mine would know I was loopy within a week or so without any need for a pet-shop encounter -- so I'd figure, might as well cut to the chase!

Oh, I take Adderall, so I don't have much of a problem focusing, at least not as much as I used to...

I really don't think it would hurt your grades. Maybe getting cut up in class would be hard on the old ego, but some extra attention would probably be a good thing in my case -- it would keep me paying attention! ;)

Besides, any teacher of mine would know I was loopy within a week or so without any need for a pet-shop encounter -- so I'd figure, might as well cut to the chase!
Sorry, I don't quite get what you're saying.

Sorry, I don't quite get what you're saying.
It's OK -- I'm loopy, remember? ;)

I meant to say, "Don't worry if your prof remembers your face and that he thinks you're loopy."

I highly doubt that it would affect your grade, and why waste time worrying about what some random professor, who will be in your life in a limited role and for a limited time only, thinks of you?

Because I've been in situations before where the teacher/professor did not like me, and therefore went out of the way to embarrass me in front of the class time and again. I don't understand what it is about me that makes me appear loopy or whatever, and I want to reduce my behaviors, mannerisms, etc., that make me appear loopy. The problem is, I don't really know what they are.

And it could affect my grade if he grades me really strictly or whatever, and if he doesn't like me, he's not going to give me any extra points (and teachers do that all the time). I hate it how teachers play favorites and I never seem to be the favorite. Why is this?

It seems like you have two worries:

Having your prof grade you harder because of his low opinion of you
Damage to your esteem by having someone "important" hold a low opinion of you.
For (1), I personally would not worry. Even an accusation about that kind of treatment could damage a college professor's career, so I think they would generally be careful not to let such feelings show in their grading. As for (2), why worry about what some random college professor thinks?

Now as for wanting to change your behaviors, I can see that. Back when being socially acceptable was something I worried about more, what I had to learn to do was keep my mouth shut. I found that the big, dumb, slack-jawed, vacant-stare persona was much more socially acceptable than the big, dumb, smart-alec, doofus persona.

FWIW, I nevery considered myself to be "loopy" or lacking comon sense. I think of myself as being fairly down to earth. But I accept that that is not the way others see me. In a way it's a boon, because it teaches me to laugh at myself.

Hmmm...well, I have a lot of inferiority issues, so I have a problem with being viewed as dumber than everybody else.

Hmmm...well, I have a lot of inferiority issues, so I have a problem with being viewed as dumber than everybody else.
I certainly know about esteem problems. So I know that there's no easy solution to getting it. But if he actually does start picking on you, you could just go up to him privately and say that it bothers you. And if he persists, charge him with harrassment.

Chances are pretty slim he'll remember you. Even if he does, he's not likely to hold it against you; he's probably dealt with enough students to know you should never prejudge.

Well, I told another teacher about the reviews and asked what this professor was like, and he said you can't really trust those teacher review sites anyway. A lot of it is students who are upset with their grade in a class and think they're going to "get back" at the teacher by badmouthing them online.

Well, I told another teacher about the reviews and asked what this professor was like, and he said you can't really trust those teacher review sites anyway. A lot of it is students who are upset with their grade in a class and think they're going to "get back" at the teacher by badmouthing them online.This is true in many cases. If a prof was challenging (as they should be), they'll get bad reviews as well. Some of the profs that taught the classes I enjoyed most or got the most out of weren't rated very highly.

This is even more obvious when you look at who is rated highly. It usually says how easy the class was. :rolleyes:

The reviews for this particular prof said that he is opinionated (not a bad thing!), likes to engage the class in discussions about politics (in Spanish, now), will encourage students to see Spanish films/read Spanish literature, and that he is "very rude to students" and "makes fun of students". So, I'm not sure if it's just some students who don't like class participation or what. Some people also think that being opinionated is a negative attribute, when it's really not.

The reviews for this particular prof said that he is opinionated (not a bad thing!), likes to engage the class in discussions about politics (in Spanish, now), will encourage students to see Spanish films/read Spanish literature, and that he is "very rude to students" and "makes fun of students". So, I'm not sure if it's just some students who don't like class participation or what. Some people also think that being opinionated is a negative attribute, when it's really not.
:eek: Dear God, NO! There seems to be a clone of my 3rd year Spanish teacher in SC.
I wouldn't worry much about it. If he does it at all, he'll probably do it to more than one student (so the class probably won't think badly of you, they'll probably just be afraid for themselves) and if he does say something about you, just approach him privately, explain that it makes you uncomfortable, and ask him not to do it again.

I think it's all how you percieve the teacher too. For instance if I had a teacher that made fun of his students I'd think he was just joking around the same way I do with my friends. I would actually enjoy that class. While I could see how someone who is shy or insecure could see it as the professor was attacking them and did not like them.

I seriously doubt that this teacher is saying these things to try to hurt peoples feeling. I'm betting it's just his personality and that he acts the same way with his friends and family. If you take the class and he says something that really bothers you I'd suggest talking to him after class and explaining how you feel. I guarentee if he knows it bothers you a lot he won't make comments about you in class

Hey,

If you get to the point where you're seriously concerned that the past occurance is affecting his judgement in grading, you can go speak with your universities ombudsperson ( I know that's a mouthful.) The Ombudsperson at an instituion acts as an intermediary and impartial person to give advice in situations where there's a disagreement between student, faculty, staff, etc.

It shouldnt ge to that point, but just wanted to give you the info just in case.

LOL...I don't think it's going to get to that point. I've always been pretty good at Spanish, so as long as I stay organized and go to class on time (which can sometimes be a struggle for me), it should be straight.

Thanks for all the wonderful advice, though.