ESA IIQ ALQOLAM – There are actually a lot of articles on this topic spread across the internet, just type in the keywords and a series of tips and good ways to contact lecturers will appear. However, it seems that it is still relevant to write a special article to remind fellow students, especially new students of English department at IAI Al-Qolam.
Students currently have more interaction with their teachers via chatting application, such as WhatsApp Messenger, Line, Telegram and many more. Even though it is using social media, students need to pay attention of the ethics on using one of these short message services.
Then, what matters are in need to be paid attention to when contacting the teacher? Check out for the tips below:
- TIME
Considering the time when you send the message is the basic ethic students must know. Avoid contacting the teacher during prayer time, rest and outside office hour. Students are also not recommended to contact the teacher on the weekend (Saturday/Sunday) and above 17.00 WIB.
2. LANGUAGE USAGE
Remember to always use formal language and proper reading mark to make your message easy to understand. Do not abbreviate words like “sy, yg, smt, mhs, sy, jg, kpn, otw, thanks, ok” especially alay language like “aq, tq,”, etc.
3. SELF-INTRODUCTION
Not doing self-introduction when sending short-message to the teacher is a fatal mistake you should avoid. Because, it is impossible for the teachers to save all of their students’ contact numbers. They may also not know who you are. Therefore, make sure to include your identity before sending the main point of your message. For example: “My name is Wulan , a class-of-2020 English Education Department student. This semester I take Academic Writing course in your [name the teacher] class”.
4. GREETING
Greeting is a proof that you are doing either formal or semi-formal conversation. You can begin your message by saying the greet, such as ‘Good morning, Sir/Ma’am’ or ‘Assalamualaikum (not Ass), Sir/Ma’am’.
5. APOLOGY
Asking for apology in the beginning of the message shows that you appreciate teachers’ time. On this context, you need to ask for apology in advance if the message might disturb the teacher in the middle of their activity.
6. TO THE POINT
Avoid writing sentences that are too long and rambling. Write down your needs briefly, concisely and clearly, straight to the main of the problem.
7. DO NOT USE PRONOUNS
Do not greet lecturers with pronouns such as “you, anda, kamu” and so on
8. WELL BEHAVED
Act like an educated student, don’t be pushy, don’t rush, don’t patronize.
9. CLOSING STATEMENT
To end the conversation with the lecturer, say closing greetings and thank you. And if the lecturer has replied to the message, don’t forget to say “Yes sir/Ma’am, thank you“. If we combine the closing sentence and the greeting, “wassalaamu’alaikum and thank you sir/Ma’am“.
Well, those are basic ethics when contacting teacher via short-message service. Hope it’s useful.
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