Warmer: Teach Correct Means of Address

Warmer: Teach Correct Means of Address

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Students are often unaware of the appropriate way to address faculty and will address their instructors as “Miss Janet,” “Professor Janet,” or even “Lady.” This is worth a quick lesson in the appropriate way to address people: titles like “Miss” and “Professor” are used with the family name, and in American culture, at least, adults, even student and teachers, usually call each other by the first name. If time allows, it’s interesting to go into points like “Lady” being a polite way to refer to someone: “Janet is the lady in the red blouse” but not a polite way to address someone: “Lady, I need help with this,” is considered rude because “Lady” as a means of address is actually a dishonorific.

 

Students often appreciate knowing these finer points and find them useful in being able to relate to Americans as well as interesting.