Talking to your teacher

Explore this page to learn how to address your teacher. You will also look at when and how to ask questions.

What to call your teacher

The first step to establish good rapport with your teacher is knowing whether to use their title and last name, or more casually, just their first name.

Whether your teacher wants you to address them by their title will depend on their personal preference. The first time you speak with a lecturer or tutor, it’s polite to use their title and their last name, eg “Hi Professor Malhotra…” If your teacher tells you that they are happy for you to use their first name, then this is how you should address them in future, eg "Good morning, Lin."

You can search for staff details using unimelb Search -- just type in your teacher's first and/or last name. Also listen carefully in your first lecture and tutorial as your teaching staff may tell you what they’d like to be called.

Here are some common titles (and their abbreviations) used by academic staff

  • Dr = Doctor (refers to a person who has a PhD qualification)
  • Prof = Professor (refers to a person who holds the position of ‘Professor’ at a university)

When to talk to your teacher

Before talking in person to your lecturer or tutor, first consider whether your question could be better answered elsewhere.

For questions specific to your subject, like assignment dates and resources, check your subject LMS pages and discussion boards; your question might have been answered there already. To find out about the structure or rules for your subject, check the relevant subject handbook. For advice on planning your course, deferral, getting support, timetables and all other administrative help, visit Stop 1 online or in person.

Teachers are busy people, so choosing a time and place to talk to your teacher is important for using your and their time effectively.

Appropriate situations to ask questions

In class
Ask a question during the lecture or tutorial

This is a good time to ask questions about specific subject matter that the whole class can benefit from.

After class
Speak to your teacher as the lecture or tutorial is finishing

This may be a better time for quick questions that are particular to your situation. Keep in mind that your teacher may also be in a rush to another class or appointment.

Office hours
Make an appointment during published consultation times

To discuss individual, more personal or detailed queries, talk to your teacher during their regular office hours or appointment times.

How to talk to your teacher

Consider following these basic steps to approach a a face-to-face conversation with your teacher. Explore the 'Example language' links for useful expressions you can use.

1. Preparation

If you are sure that your teacher is the best person to answer your query, consider noting down your key points or elements of your question before you meet. You might also rehearse what you want to say. Referring to your notes will help you keep the conversation on track and this shows respect for your teachers' time.

2. Starting the conversation

If you have not spoken to your teacher before, introducing yourself is a great way to start a conversation with them. To make a polite interruption or to get their attention, you can also use the phrase ‘excuse me’ or ‘sorry’. Modal verbs (would, could, may, might) can be used to make your request more polite.

    • 'Excuse me, Professor .... . Hi, my name is…'
    • 'Sorry, Dr. … .'
    • 'Is now a good time to ask a question?'
    • 'Could I/ May I/Might I ask a question?'
    • 'Would you mind if I asked a question?'

3. Giving an overview of your query

When you have your teacher’s attention, it’s helpful to give a brief summary of your question before adding more detail.

  • You can begin by using ‘I was wondering if/whether’ or ‘I was hoping to’ to introduce the topic.

    Note the difference in the sentence structure following each phrase.

    • 'I was wondering whether you could offer me some advice about  ....
    • 'I was hoping to discuss my assignment.
    • 'I am having trouble with  xxxx and I was wondering if you could help.

4. Explaining the details

After introducing the topic you would like to talk about, give some more context or background to your query. It’s a good idea to mention what you have already tried to do to solve the issue independently. Consider noting these points down ahead of time so that you can express them clearly and stay on track.

    • 'I’ve already chosen an essay question/ started my initial research/ checked this week’s readings, but I need help to…'
    • 'I was able to complete the readings/find some articles/ do the quiz, but I got stuck when I tried to...'

5. Rephrasing to check understanding:

Before you finish a conversation, it can be useful to summarise in your own words what the teacher has said. This gives them a chance to repair any misunderstandings.

  • Summarising

    • 'Let me see if I understood you correctly, you said…
    • 'Please correct me if I’m wrong. I understood you to mean …

    Checking

    • 'Have I got that right?
    • 'Is that correct?

6. Ending the conversation

To finish a conversation, it’s polite to express gratitude and signal that your question has been resolved. If your teacher has given you suggestions, you can also end the conversation by summarising your next steps.

  • Expressing gratitude

    • 'That was really helpful/clear/useful/ etc.'
    • 'Thank you so much for your time/helping me/ clarifying that/ etc.'
    • 'I really appreciate your time and help.'

    Next steps

    • 'I’ll need to rethink my understanding of …'
    • 'I will read up on…'
    • 'I plan to research more into  …'

Final tip

Though it can feel daunting, your teacher wants you to speak up and approach them. Opening up a dialogue will become easier each time you practice. Don't be shy and give it a try.