Teacher Taming Techniques | 4. Let Your Fingers Do the Walking |4a. Let Your Fingers Do the Walking ACTION STEPS

Let Your Fingers Do the Walking: ACTION STEPS

Pull out your worksheets, and find "Trick 4 Action Steps"

1. Get a student/campus directory
2. Get a highligher (a different color per major of interest)
3. Use the space provided on your worksheet to tally the responses to the professors in your major (make copies if you need additional space).
4. In your student/campus directory, highlight ALL of the students who have the following characteristics:
   1. Senior
   2. In your major (or other major you are having problems with)
   3. Have a local number listed (to avoide high telephone bills)
5. Rehearse "Tricks of the Grade" script below
6. Call each student using the script (or similar script) given.

Example: You: Hello John, how are you?

Them: Let them respond.

You: John, my name is ___________, and I'm a student at (name of college), and I'm new to the area. A student gave me your name and telephone number, and I'm so embarrassed, because for the life of me, I can't remember his name (I never wanted them to know I selectively picked their name out of a phone book -- you can tell them if you want to). Anyway, he suggested I give you a call. I didn't catch you at a bad time did I?

Them: If yes (request to call at a later time), If no, (continue).
You: John, if you don't mind me asking, what's your major?

Them: Let them respond.

You: Boy that's wild, so am I. (Pause) Are you a junior (or other classification) too?

Them: Let them respond.

You: (Enthusiastically) So you mean this is your last year/semester? I bet you're excited, aren't you?

Them: Let them respond.

You: I don't know if I'll ever graduate with the string of bad luck that I've had with professors so far. What did you think of the professors here at (name of your college)?

Them: Let them respond.

You: Any you regret taking? (If yes) -- Like who?

Them: Let them respond. (Write down their responses on notepad -- BAD)

You: What was so bad about them?

Them: Let them respond. (Write down notes on separate sheet.)

You: Who were your favorites?

Them: Let them respond. (Write down their responses notepad -- GOOD)

You: What was so good about them?

Them: Let them respond. (Write down notes on separate sheet.)

You: John, my roommate is giving me signals that he wants to use the phone. I've really enjoyed talking you. Thanks for being so helpful. Maybe, I'll get a chance to meet you before you graduate. Congratulations, and good luck.

Notes:
The keys to using this strategy are enthusiasm, sincerity, and friendliness. Don't be pushy. If they start spilling their guts about every professor and everything they know about them, don't say anything. . . let them speak. You just keep writing.

By the way, don't let them know that you're writing down all of this information. It would help even if you had a list of all of the teachers in your department (or a particular department) written down on a separate sheet of paper prior to the call. This way you could write a code (i.e., X for bad, Y for good, etc.) next to the appropriate name. If you don't have a list, just write very fast.

Trick 5 - Secret Recipe