Difference between revisions of "Email Teachers"
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=== Writing the Email=== | === Writing the Email=== | ||
| − | #Write a clear subject line. Your teacher may receive many emails each day, so it's important to be clear about who you are and why you're sending the message. Include your name. Include the name of the class, especially if your teacher runs multiple classes. If you are emailing about a specific assignment, write the title of that assignment.<ref>https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2015/04/16/advice-students-so-they-dont-sound-silly-emails-essay</ref> Check the course syllabus: the teacher may have already suggested an email subject format that he/she prefers. | + | #Write a clear subject line. Your teacher may receive many emails each day, so it's important to be clear about who you are and why you're sending the message. Include your name. Include the name of the class, especially if your teacher runs multiple classes. If you are emailing about a specific assignment, write the title of that assignment.<ref name="rf16921">https://www.insidehighered.com/views/2015/04/16/advice-students-so-they-dont-sound-silly-emails-essay</ref> Check the course syllabus: the teacher may have already suggested an email subject format that he/she prefers. |
#*The subject line might be: "Russian History Research Paper" or "Calculus advice." Use your name along with a contextual identifier, such as, "Billy Jones (6th period chemistry class)." | #*The subject line might be: "Russian History Research Paper" or "Calculus advice." Use your name along with a contextual identifier, such as, "Billy Jones (6th period chemistry class)." | ||
#*If you are in a very large class—say, a college lecture in which the professor doesn't know you personally—then write the name of the class. For clarity, you may even include the title of the assignment or project that you're emailing about. | #*If you are in a very large class—say, a college lecture in which the professor doesn't know you personally—then write the name of the class. For clarity, you may even include the title of the assignment or project that you're emailing about. | ||
| − | #Address your teacher formally. Start with "Dear Mr. Smith", "Hello Mr. Smith," or just "Mr. Smith,". Feel free to be a bit more casual if you know your teacher especially well. Nonetheless, try to err on the side of formality.<ref>http://philosophy.hku.hk/joelau/?n=Courses.WritingEmails</ref> | + | #Address your teacher formally. Start with "Dear Mr. Smith", "Hello Mr. Smith," or just "Mr. Smith,". Feel free to be a bit more casual if you know your teacher especially well. Nonetheless, try to err on the side of formality.<ref name="rf16922">http://philosophy.hku.hk/joelau/?n=Courses.WritingEmails</ref> |
| − | #*Do not simply begin with "Hey," or "Hello." Most formal emails begin by respectfully acknowledging the name of the recipient. Do not call your teacher by his or her first name unless he/she has asked you to do so.<ref>https://prezi.com/q7g4tjqaz9db/how-to-write-a-polite-email-to-your-teacher/</ref> | + | #*Do not simply begin with "Hey," or "Hello." Most formal emails begin by respectfully acknowledging the name of the recipient. Do not call your teacher by his or her first name unless he/she has asked you to do so.<ref name="rf16923">https://prezi.com/q7g4tjqaz9db/how-to-write-a-polite-email-to-your-teacher/</ref> |
#*This formality still applies if you are a parent emailing a teacher on the behalf of your child. As an adult, the teacher may be your peer. In a school context, however, you should still treat the teacher with the respect that he or she is used to. | #*This formality still applies if you are a parent emailing a teacher on the behalf of your child. As an adult, the teacher may be your peer. In a school context, however, you should still treat the teacher with the respect that he or she is used to. | ||
#Use proper English. Make sure that your message is well-written and grammatically correct. It's important to make a good impression, especially if you're asking for a favor. You might get a bit more casual with your language if you're on good terms with the teacher. If things are tense, you should use a formal tone. | #Use proper English. Make sure that your message is well-written and grammatically correct. It's important to make a good impression, especially if you're asking for a favor. You might get a bit more casual with your language if you're on good terms with the teacher. If things are tense, you should use a formal tone. | ||
#*Do not use emojis or [[Understand Chat Acronyms|chat acronyms]] in your message. Err on the side of formality, even if your teacher is laid-back and casual – and even if your teacher uses emojis herself! | #*Do not use emojis or [[Understand Chat Acronyms|chat acronyms]] in your message. Err on the side of formality, even if your teacher is laid-back and casual – and even if your teacher uses emojis herself! | ||
| − | #Be straightforward. Make your email quick and to-the-point. Don't waste your teacher's time. Begin by explaining why you're sending the email. Ask any questions that you need to ask. Keep your message to five sentences or fewer, unless you have a very detailed question.<ref>https://www.commonsensemedia.org/back-to-school/what-should-students-know-about-sending-email-to-a-teacher</ref> | + | #Be straightforward. Make your email quick and to-the-point. Don't waste your teacher's time. Begin by explaining why you're sending the email. Ask any questions that you need to ask. Keep your message to five sentences or fewer, unless you have a very detailed question.<ref name="rf16924">https://www.commonsensemedia.org/back-to-school/what-should-students-know-about-sending-email-to-a-teacher</ref> |
#*The first line of your email (after "Dear Mr. So-and-So,") might be: ''I'm emailing to ask you about the homework that you assigned for this Monday.'' It might be, "I was hoping to ask for an extension on the big research paper." If you are emailing on the behalf of your child, then the first line might be, "I am Billy's mother, and I'd like to talk about his grade in your English class for this past semester." | #*The first line of your email (after "Dear Mr. So-and-So,") might be: ''I'm emailing to ask you about the homework that you assigned for this Monday.'' It might be, "I was hoping to ask for an extension on the big research paper." If you are emailing on the behalf of your child, then the first line might be, "I am Billy's mother, and I'd like to talk about his grade in your English class for this past semester." | ||
#*If you are asking for a favor or a letter or recommendation, then you may want to flatter the teacher a bit. Play up the positive aspects of your relationship with a given teacher. However, if you are apologizing or trying to recover from a mistake, you should probably keep your tone respectful and to-the-point. | #*If you are asking for a favor or a letter or recommendation, then you may want to flatter the teacher a bit. Play up the positive aspects of your relationship with a given teacher. However, if you are apologizing or trying to recover from a mistake, you should probably keep your tone respectful and to-the-point. | ||
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#*If you can't ask in person, and you can't find the email on the school website: try asking around. One of your friends or classmates might know. Ask the school secretary, or other teachers, or even parents. | #*If you can't ask in person, and you can't find the email on the school website: try asking around. One of your friends or classmates might know. Ask the school secretary, or other teachers, or even parents. | ||
#*Deduce the email address. School-issued email addresses often follow a pattern: for instance, [first-initial][last-name]@yourschool.edu, or just [last-name]@yourschool.org. If you know that Mr. Blumpton's email address is mblumpton@yourschool.org, then it might be safe to assume that Mrs. Audrey Pratt's email address is apratt@yourschool.org. | #*Deduce the email address. School-issued email addresses often follow a pattern: for instance, [first-initial][last-name]@yourschool.edu, or just [last-name]@yourschool.org. If you know that Mr. Blumpton's email address is mblumpton@yourschool.org, then it might be safe to assume that Mrs. Audrey Pratt's email address is apratt@yourschool.org. | ||
| − | #Send the email. Make sure that the address is entered correctly. Check that you've said everything that you need to say. Consider running a spell-check before you click "Send." Once you have sent the email, check the "Sent" box to be sure that the message went through.<ref>https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Edline/Student/110_Email_a_Teacher_Coach_or_Other_School_Staff</ref> | + | #Send the email. Make sure that the address is entered correctly. Check that you've said everything that you need to say. Consider running a spell-check before you click "Send." Once you have sent the email, check the "Sent" box to be sure that the message went through.<ref name="rf16925">https://en-us.help.blackboard.com/Edline/Student/110_Email_a_Teacher_Coach_or_Other_School_Staff</ref> |
#Be patient. Teachers are often busy people, and you should not expect an immediate response. If your concern is very complicated, or not very urgent, then you might be waiting for a few days. It might take your teacher longer to respond if you send your email over the weekend or during a holiday. | #Be patient. Teachers are often busy people, and you should not expect an immediate response. If your concern is very complicated, or not very urgent, then you might be waiting for a few days. It might take your teacher longer to respond if you send your email over the weekend or during a holiday. | ||
#*Try to figure it out on your own. If you're emailing your teacher with a question about the course material, look for another source. Refer to the Internet, a textbook, a library, or a classmate. | #*Try to figure it out on your own. If you're emailing your teacher with a question about the course material, look for another source. Refer to the Internet, a textbook, a library, or a classmate. | ||
#*Send a follow-up email if you have an urgent question that you can't otherwise resolve. Be brief and polite. Acknowledge the first email, explain why you need to know the answer as soon as possible, and say, "I just wanted to check back with you in case you didn't get my first email!" Do not send more than one follow-up email. | #*Send a follow-up email if you have an urgent question that you can't otherwise resolve. Be brief and polite. Acknowledge the first email, explain why you need to know the answer as soon as possible, and say, "I just wanted to check back with you in case you didn't get my first email!" Do not send more than one follow-up email. | ||
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== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
