The Silent Lecture

In previous posts – notably ‘- ‘A Proper Job’ and just recently ‘The Rookie Lecturer’. I have described how I actually got the job, by pure chance – as an Export Manager – having just finished as a full-time student – at the age of 24 – – which eventually led to my becoming a full-time F.E. college lecturer at 27 – with no previous experience or qualifications.

My return, to add a bit of detail to this topic, is because I had a recent ‘flash from the past’ when I heard a brief reference on the radio to something important from my past -:

A life changing book – published in 1974 – (I was 24 at the time) – and blown away by it – it’s still the cleverest and most intellectually stimulating book, that I have ever read.)  –  called –

“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values”

Author - Robert M. Pirsig

Initially rejected by 121 publishers – the one who did publish it – was rewarded with a best-seller over the next two decades totalling sales of      5 million copies.

Just one of the revelations in the book – which came straight back to me – was the main character –  an American university professor – who walked in to a full audience of students  in a  banked seats – lecture theatre – sat at the front desk – didn’t say a word for 90 minutes and then left.

Now – I don’t believe that I thought it was a clever thing to copy - but – years later - I did find myself in a situation where, I believed - it was entirely justified.

In previous posts I have touched on the fact that new lecturers can get landed with classes that nobody else wants,

Whilst the backbone of my timetable were the courses for which I was Course Tutor - i.e. the export Management - two year – eight subjects, Diploma qualification.

 I did pick up some strange ones - particularly in the early days:

I realised later – that the fact that I had completed a four-year H.N.D. (Higher National Diploma) in Business Studies, had obviously persuaded the interview panel that I was not limited to ‘Export Management and could cover stuff like:

My first year – four hours per week – ‘Basic Book -keeping’ with a class of ten, Nigerian males – very keen and polite – but struggled with English a bit.

Second year – four hours per week – Introduction to Marketing - House of Fraser _they didn’t want to be there and I, certainly didn’t either.

Third year – two X 2-hour sessions – per week first on Monday a.m.  - I had moved on from   the 20 hours Mon – Tues.–

Subject - ‘Marketing’. - O.N.C. Travel & Tourism Monday – II a.m.

I met my match!

So, - the Silent Lecture

A group of about 18 -mostly 16-year-old girls and three lads also 16 – just left school with a few ‘0’ levels and all thinking they can be travel Reps or airhostesses. – even the lads!

Studying – ‘Marketing!!!

It didn’t help that, by then, their classes had been moved to a satellite  campus – some 15 minutes’ drive from my base on the central campus – but it at least had plenty of car parking – although quite a lot of it  was taken up by temporary mobile outbuildings -i.e. huts on trailers which served as lecture rooms.  – I think they called them Modular Cabins – as the main building was modified and refurbished.

Not a good start but I advised myself - that wasn’t their fault.

Found the right hut – seems to be a full turnout – but the register takes up about twenty minutes – mostly because - they can’t hear me because they are talking all the time.

I realised that the Monday session was the - Poison Pill’

They were all catching up on their weekend activities – just like they had done in school.

So How did I handle it?

I just sat and waited for silence – and waited – and waited.

A few gave me a puzzled look now and again and actually stopped talking for a while – but – for almost 45 minutes there was not a moment when they all stopped talking.

After about 45 minutes – I gathered my papers and stood up – most of them then stopped talking – but even then, not all of them – a few actually had their backs. To me.  chatting to their mate.


Another 5 – 7 minutes, me still stood up - and eventually they realised something was not right– with a few nods and nudges and they all stopped talking and turned to face the front.

I said – ‘Today you have had a lesson in the nature of Further Education. Have a think about what you have learned, and we will have a chat about it, next time I see you – if I can get a word in edgewise.’

-       And walked out.

Next class – they were probably quieter than the last time – though a few were talking – but register done – without me having to shout.

Maybe – they were a bit wary and didn’t know what to expect.

I asked if 'Anybody had an idea what happened last week and what had they learned from it.'

No takers.

I said something like – ‘You had a lesson on the difference between Further Education and school’ and you are not at school anymore.’

‘Does anyone know what I was waiting for last week?’

Bit of a delay and then one girl’s hand goes up - ‘You were waiting for us to be quiet’.

'Well done - I just wanted a moment where none of you were talking and it never came. I know its Monday and maybe your catching up with who did what over the weekend, but you do that before the class starts or wait for a break.’

‘The point is, that I’m not a teacher and this isn’t a school - it’s an F.E. College and you will be treated like an adult as long as you act like one.

'I’m a Senior Lecturer and nobody tells me what I have to do in a lecture – not even the Principal.

 It’s not my job to make you listen or learn or try to talk over your noise.– it’s your job to make me do my job -because you’re the ones that will sit the examinations at the end of the course – not me.’

‘Right – that doesn’t mean you can’t open your mouth – you can ask me anything you like at any time - and a few quiet words with anyone near you is no problem.’

I'm just not prepared to try to shout over you if your making a communal racket.’

Any questions?’

None –

‘O.K. lets find out why “Marketing’ is such a fascinating subject.’

I’m not claiming that there was an instant improvement – but,over a two year course - they grew up.  -


I never walked out of a lecture early again.