TIFU in class by not answering my professor in English

Submitted by Direct-Ad3837 t3_11q78dz in tifu

Some background , I'm a major introvert who have a massive public speaking issue. Had anxiety throughout high school and just starting to break out of it these couple of years. I felt more confident since the quarantine because we only had virtual classes but this year we have physical classes now.

Today, My professor asked me a question. I tried answering but she demanded that I answer in English ( I was speaking in our native language). I'm not fluent in English at all and my nervousness just made it 1000% worse.

So I stood there stuttering for a whole minute and then I asked if I could just answer the question in our language but she said no and scolded me for reaching university level and still not able to speak in English fluently. Then she asked me if I want a failing grade. My eyes just start to water at that point. I was shaking and I just want to sink to ground. I can tell she noticed because she ordered me to sit down and called someone else. Worst day of my university life.

TL;DR : TIFU in class by not answering my professor in English which caused her to threaten me with a failing grade in front of the whole class.

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Comments

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LadyOfCastermere t1_jc1w18i wrote

Bad teacher moment. Sorry you were on the receiving end of it. They most likely are frustrated with themselves for feeling like they’ve failed YOU as a teacher; however, they should never have singled you out in such a vulnerable way. That’s not teaching.

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Ktulu789 t1_jc1xvv5 wrote

Try to talk to her in private after class and tell her about your issues. Your English here seems flawless.

Also, find help for your issues, it can only get worse and surely that's not your only problem in life. Another introvert here, going out helps a lot IMHO.

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encore_act t1_jc213er wrote

Well, your English writing appears to be excellent.

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nilzatron t1_jc21kj3 wrote

Nothing wrong with your English here, so it seems more related to your issue with public speaking.

If you have noone to speak English to, try "narrating" yourself in English when you are at home by yourself. Just voice everything you are doing and/or thinking in English. This will help you get more comfortable speaking it.

Also, try talking to your teacher about your issue with introversy / public speaking if they are in any way approachable for these things, and ask them for other tips in trying to get used to speaking English (your writing seems more than fine) - tips other than "you just have to get over it", ofcourse. They night have some good resources for you to use.

Related, but irrelevant. This is why once I started gaming online, I always looked for international groups / communities. It got me used to speaking English all the time.

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DootinAlong t1_jc2kg33 wrote

Fully the professor's fault. Sadistic behaviour threatening you in front of the whole class when you're clearly already nervous.

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Korgon213 t1_jc462li wrote

Wow, what a tool. Come join us in r/stuttering if you want to chat. We have fun with disfluency.

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FarMap6136 t1_jc4idel wrote

I work in an English speaking company and occasionally return an answer in French, no dramas. Your prof sounds like a douche canoe if they can’t appreciate linguistic diversity in this day and age

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NotA56YearOldPervert t1_jc85urq wrote

That's not a fuck up. That's just an asshole teacher not competent enough to teach.

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