Responding to Student Emails

[pennswoods]

Since moving to Sweden, one of the other things I find really aggravating and where cultural norms clash is in student email requests. As I mentioned in my last post on education in Sweden, educational socialization is different from that of the US. There are no titles used and there is an emphasis on democratizing education such that students are

Comments

[mundungus42]

First of all, I think your response was perfect. You pointed out what you did, didn't accept blame, suggested solutions, and showed the student how to avoid similar situations in the future. And you managed to be way more polite than I would have felt like being

[pennswoods]

Ugh! You probably have to deal with so much more of this than I do. Makes me feel silly for struggling with it. But I seriously did not get a PhD in replying to student emails, and this is SO NOT MY DIVISION yet it's a big part of my job too.

[mundungus42]

I'm lucky to have a get-out-of-whining-free card, since I can always say, "You'll have to talk to the professor about this." I may have to repeat it a few times if the student's got a good head of steam going, though :D

[foxestacado]

Wow, that's a way more considerate and sympathetic email than I would have received from some of my professors. I would have just received, "check this list: [url]" in response.

[pennswoods]

I think there are times when I might send a terse email or just not even respond to an email that is pissing me off because it is just unreasonable (e.g. I just submitted this make-up paper 2 weeks late but I need the grade right away! Please grade it right away!)

I put so much effort into this email because this class has not started yet and I want to get off on the right foot. Students who are already pissy and annoyed with me before the class even starts will pose more of a problem. If I can at least make them feel heard, some of them might try a little harder and push themselves.

*adjusts shiny green Slytherin hat*

[clevermanka]

You are a patient, compassionate, and diplomatic person. I'm sure you are a better teacher than I could ever dream of being.

[pennswoods]

I am not naturally this way and just wanted to send a snarky reply (hence the emotional space needed to master myself). But I also want to get this student on my side and now they might feel like I care/have listened to them/am compassionate and that could help get them to listen to me in turn.

I'm hoping anyway.

This could also backfire and result in them sending lots of whiny emails.

[junewilliams7]

You gave them a very kind, thoughtful, and nice response to their whiny email. It doesn't sound like an exceptionally whiny email; it sort of sounds like an American whiny teenager.

I still say my favorite teaching story of yours is from Texas, when you had your students meet at a Mexican restaurant so you could talk over drinks. You are the coolest professor!

[mothwing]

Wow, they do come across as pretty entitled, your response is perfect! With second-language-students I usually take into account that they might not have meant their message to be impolite but just come across as that, but their e-mail really does not seem to leave a lot of room for interpretation there. I'd like to be as professional as you.