Fadia Shuaib TS#4 Amelia M.

Date/Time: 3/26/26, 4PM

Location: Zoom

Topic/Skill: Needs assessment, professional speaking

Feedback provided to the tutee: For speaking professionally in English:


Typically, in English, when speaking professionally:


Starting conversation:

 Writing: Dear, Greetings, Good day/evening Mr. Smith

Speaking: Excuse me, Mr./Doctors/etc.


- Avoid slang; shortened versions of words: can not instead can't

- Tone - Speak slowly and clearly, keep a light tone, use words like please, thank you, pardon me


For professors:

Hi professor/Doc

- Ask about the last lesson -> bring up something you found interesting from the lesson or something you had a question about.

- Then segway question - I'd like to ask you about the class project, I'm having some issues with it. Do you have time to discuss it, or should I email you/come to in during office hours? Doctor


My biggest tip: I think about and prepare what I want to say before I approach. How am I going to convey this issue?  Speaking Professionally in English:


Typically, in English, when speaking professionally:


Starting conversation:

 Writing: Dear, Greetings, Good day/evening, Mr. Smith

Speaking: Excuse me, Mr./Doctors/etc.


- Avoid slang; shortened versions of words: can not instead can't

- Tone - Speak slowly and clearly, keep a light tone, use words like please, thank you, pardon me


For professors:

Hi Professor/Doctor

- Ask about the last lesson -> bring up something you found interesting from the lesson or something you had a question about.

- Then segway question - I'd like to ask you about the class project; I'm having some issues with it. Do you have time to discuss it, or should I email you/come during office hours? Doctor


My biggest tip: I think about and prepare what I want to say before I approach. How am I going to convey this issue?


Think about situations where you've struggled to convey your meaning in English, whether talking to professors, advisors, or workmen. What do you think the communication breakdown is?


More specifically: Situations you want to simulate/have discussions on. Hobbies, questions you have about America, music in America, what you want to do while you're here, and places you want to visit in the future. 

Lesson(s) about tutoring and/or the tutee you learned: Redid needs assessment, talking about some of what she wanted to work on during her first session, so I then worked to explain to her the structure and way people in English speak to come across formally and professionally. I also showed her a youtube video that displayed someone giving tips in English on how to talk to employers as an example.


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