Venus TS #8

Date/Time: June 4th, Wednesday at 3:00 PM

Location: Kellogg Building
Topic/Skill: Language Toolkit 

Feedback provided to the tutee:
In today’s session, Nejoud and I began diving into the real-life communication challenges of graduate school. Building off our initial assessment session, we honed in on how to navigate some of the most intimidating grad school interactions: office hours, networking events, and those casual-but-awkward hallway run-ins with professors or peers.

We talked through some of the hidden expectations in these moments, like how to initiate a conversation without overthinking it, how to shift from small talk into an academic question, and how to “read the room” for tone and formality. I introduced the concept of a “language toolkit,” filled with flexible, go-to phrases for different situations. This included phrases like: 

  • “I was hoping to get your insight on something from class...”

  • “I’m really interested in your work on ____, would you be open to chatting more about it sometime?”

  • “Quick question—do you have a minute right now or should I email instead?”

Nejoud was especially curious about what sounds natural in these settings and how to avoid sounding too robotic or rehearsed. We broke down the idea that “professional” doesn’t have to mean “stiff”, and that part of mastering grad school speech is finding your voice while still meeting cultural expectations.

Homework:
For our next meeting, Nejoud will write out three brief dialogues based on typical grad school moments such as meeting a faculty member at a reception, clarifying an assignment during office hours, or following up after a seminar. We’ll practice rephrasing, tone-shifting, and smoothing out anything that sounds too formal or too casual. 

Lesson(s) about tutoring and/or the tutee you learned:
This session reminded me that one of the biggest hurdles for international grad students isn’t what to say, it’s how to say it in a way that fits. Nejoud is already incredibly thoughtful and observant; what she’s looking for is a bridge between her clarity and the confidence that comes with sounding natural. I’m excited to see how her toolkit and her voice continue to develop.

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