“It’s not you, it’s me” may be a cop-out when you’re breaking up with someone, but when you need help from a teacher, assuming it’s “you” is actually a smart idea.
It’s the difference between:
“None of this makes sense…”
vs.
“For some reason, I’m really having trouble understanding this…”
When you need help, don’t ask in a way that blames the material, the teacher, or any other factor. Assume the problem is you. Not because it’s always your fault, but because you’re more likely to get the help you need when you assume fault rather than assign it.