1. Making An Appointment - when you have questions which need longer answers, you need to make an appointment to meet your professor at her/his office outside of class time. The best way to do this is to talk with the professor after class.

Excuse me Professor _________. I would like to make an appointment to see you after class. I am having problems with _______________________ and would like your help. Would that be possible? What time would be most convenient for you?

Other phrases you can use include:

• I wonder if you could help me....
• I'm sorry to bother you, but.....
• Would it be okay if I made an appointment to talk with you about....

2. When it is time for your appointment, arrive a few minutes early to make sure you are on time. It is very rude to be late to an appointment with a professor. Make sure the professor knows you are there by knocking on the door. Wait until she/he has asked you to enter before you do so.

3. As you begin your meeting, thank the professor for seeing you.

Thank you very much for taking time to see me. I appreciate it.

4. Prepare beforehand what you will say. Make sure you can explain your questions carefully and clearly to your professor. Also, be able to respond to what your professor says. Refer to the many different phrases we have learned this semester.

5. If you have missed class or failed to turn in an assignment, be able to apologize to your professor and provide legitimate explanations. The following are some phrases you can use for making apologies:

• Oh, I'm terribly sorry about....
• I can't tell you how sorry I am .......
• I'm very sorry. I didn't realize/understand.....
• I'm extremely sorry.........
• I'm not exactly sure how to put this, but...
• I'm afraid I have something to tell you...
• Um, this isn't easy to explain, but....

6. When you are finished, conclude your meeting appropriately by thanking the professor for her/his help.