harvestmoon

Hi everyone. I have a social etiquette question!

I've been growing really close to my French professor, and especially in the past week or so, we've been having more one-on-one chats about French or just about life. I've been studying French independently from online sites and other textbooks, and I go to her office every Friday before class during her office hours to ask her questions about what I've been learning. (once you start getting into the specifics of the grammar, there's a lot that you need a live person to help you with!!)

Do you think this is too much? She doesn't seem to mind, and she's actually been helping me with personal issues, too. (she's not that much older than me, but it sometimes feels like she's mothering me haha) Also, she only teaches one small class at my small university, and I've never seen anyone else waiting for her while we chat. (then again, I have her for an intro course and I'm a freshman, so maybe no one else really cares?)

I guess I just feel guilty for going to see her every week even though I stay after class sometimes and walk out with her. Do you think she minds my presence and genuine (almost obsessive) interest in the subject? She seems to be taking a mentoring interest in me, but I just don't know how the whole thing works!!

Thanks!

ChadVene

That's great, and you shouldn't feel guilty. Bonding with a professor can be really helpful.

ExaltedAlmighty

That can be beneficial to you in the long run. She could end up a pretty solid reference or recommendation. You might mention to her you feel bad, half-jokingly, and see if she seems to genuinely mind, or just be frank. She might actually enjoy and appreciate the company.

collegeboi1992

You should'nt feel guilty. Teachers are there to help and nurture us. As long as you keep the professional student-teacher relationship you should be fine. I have found that professors are mostly sitting empty in their office hours, and they want students to talk to them and get help (atleast the good ones). They are humans too, and they can help you learn alot from experience. So nothing in fostering a close student-teacher relationship with professional boundaries...

countzander

You need to seal the deal.

Shawntc

"As long as you keep the professional student-teacher relationship you should be fine."

I agree with this. Not that I suspect anything, but it's a wacky world after all.

Keep in mind that college students are also usually legal adults. So we're treated as adults. There is still that obvious differentiation between student and professor, but I've noticed that many professors are willing to be informal and easy-going outside of class. Plus there's that common bond of being at the same university for one reason or another. From what I've experienced, that sort of social distance that existed between student and teacher in elementary and high school has really shortened since now we're technically adults and (usually) more mature. I don't really see a problem with what you're doing.