Trust the voice within
Speaking up in front of fellow medical students at
tutorials is not always easy. Allan Lee and Kelvin Lim share their wisdom about how to make yourself heard
Have you ever been
frustrated that you have stayed up late to cover all the possible
mechanisms, management, and the psychosocial issues for your tutorial, only
to utter “I agree” at the height of the discussion?
Gone are the days when the only formal teaching
occurred in large lecture theatres, where medical students could remain
inconspicuous for the whole duration of the lecture. Those who sit in the
first two rows were the self appointed oracles for the rest of the
students, and they seemed to know every single answer to the questions
thrown by the lecturer.
With the introduction of problem based, self directed
styles of learning in the medical curriculums worldwide, we suddenly have
to speak up in tutorials. This proved to be challenging, especially for
those who come from non-English speaking backgrounds. So, how can we
overcome the tendency to become wallpaper in the tutorial room? How do we
get our opinion out there when everyone else is fighting over contentious
medical issues? These suggestions have not been subjected to rigorous
trials, but they have worked for us.
Do your homework
There is not much point attending a problem based
learning tutorial if you have not prepared for it. Everyone will be
throwing ideas around and you will end up more lost than ever. Know your
stuff before you open your mouth. Speak with authority but not arrogance.
Simply put: incomplete homework ’ looking lost and clueless ’ wallpaper.
Start early
Have a go contributing in the first few tutorials.
There is a risk of lagging behind once the group dynamics have been formed.
After the first two tutorials, you would have been able to separate the
“players” from the “reserves” and, trust me, when
you get labeled as the latter, it sticks.
Be where the action is
Observe where most of the discussions take place. The
next time, try to position yourself near actively participating members.
Chances are, you will be noticed more easily and will be dragged into the
discussion. Besides, it is easier to stomp on your neighbour’s foot
if he or she rattles on. Sitting next to another “reserve
player” is a big no-no. Also, more than three reserves sitting in a
row requires urgent revamp to the team.
No, that’s not a stupid idea
I am sure you have heard people say: “I’ve
got a stupid question.” My response to that would be: “Then
don’t ask.” No one will laugh or think your questions or ideas
as ridiculous—we are all here to learn. If it does sound really
stupid, all is not lost. Just have a good laugh.
Yes, we can understand you
It is not the end of the world if you are not fluent
in the language spoken by the majority. General rules apply: speak up,
speak slowly, and maintain eye contact. At least you know more than one
language.
Trust the voice within
Speak your thoughts aloud. Otherwise, someone else
might steal them. I have experienced too many situations of thinking:
“Should I say it, should I say it…” and three seconds
later, someone else in the group did and was applauded for raising a
pertinent issue. So, if in doubt, just speak your mind. Should this fail,
read the fourth point again.
Be opportunistic
Whenever there is a pause, jump in. If you wait,
someone else will cut the queue. Abide by the two second rule: if there is
silence for two seconds, read a stem from the trigger, give your thoughts,
jump, and shout yippee! Just do something.
Don’t avoid eye contact
Eyes are powerful communication tools. Make eye
contact. Eye contact says a lot about the speaker, plus it conveys
confidence. You can tell when someone is tired, interested, attentive, or
when the person is thinking “Don’t pick me,” just by
looking at their eyes. Remember, the idea is to get picked.
Know your group members
Make friends. You may find it a lot easier sharing
your thoughts in front of people you are comfortable with. At least you can
give them the evil eye if they laugh at you.
Speak to your tutor
If you are still struggling, speak to your tutor.
Tutors are there to help you.
Allan B Lee, final year
medical student, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
Email: lbh_allan@yahoo.com
Kelvin Lim, final year
medical student, University of Melbourne
studentBMJ 2005;13:309-352 September ISSN 0966-6494
