Felicia Chapman

Felicia Chapman

I have over 10 years’ experience organizing and delivering engaging training sessions in community, classroom and healthcare settings.

My goal is to teach and inspire people to do great things.

Location Manila, Philippines

Activity

  • I am looking for suggestions to track ongoing performance, growth and challenges. Can anyone recommend a system for this?

  • My first education position focused on placement testing. There was a small element of subjectivity, but for the most part, the tests gave an objective map for where the students were at that moment of that day. Reading, writing, listening and speaking were tested and analyzed against peers in the same grade.

    I found it interesting that the subject and...

  • Some impact vs. high impact seems to depend on the day...

  • Looking at the different points on the scale is eye opening. I love that it discusses the feelings surrounding a classroom with issues, including how one can feel if there is an observer in the classroom. I hate that feeling, and I am so glad someone had the courage to write it down.

  • I like the 10 point scale for self and peer reflection purposes. I also appreciate that it recognizes the factors that are beyond the control of the teacher.

    I would like to find a source for best practices/examples/idea box of great classroom management strategies. Can anyone suggest where to look?

    The scale doesn't account for the magical classes. The...

  • This is a great tool to analyze and adapt workloads. I would also recommend comparing it to a leisure time wheel to see how time is spent outside of school hours, and whether it is balanced.

  • I spend extra time on lesson planning and student tracking, as I like to feel prepared and organized for classes. I also know that last-minute changes happen too frequently, and I don't want that to impact my classes.

    I work in Asia, so the workload I have had isn't the same as described in the reports or case studies. The local staff I work with are also...

  • Of the three models, I like the simplicity of Borton's Model. However, I think that Gibbs' Model offers an important thought. Looking at the triggers and underlying causes in an event, and how one reacts to it is not something I want to own up to, especially if it is negative. Did I get enough sleep the night before? Did the students? Were they hot? Hungry?...

  • I tend to reflect when a class went well, so I can repeat it. Classes that don't go well (which are equally deserving of reflection) tend to be put into a "pit of shudders" never to be thought of again.

    As for strengths, I don't think of them, until I need to note them for my resume or performance evaluation.

  • Hi, I'm Felicia. My background is in community and international development. I transitioned to teaching three years ago when I was in the Philippines. I moved to China two years ago, and I have just started at an international school in Shanghai. As I am currently in training, I have been observing classes in grades 1 - 5 until the school year ends. I am...

  • Hi, my name is Felicia. I am currently in China working with primary and middle school students. I teach English, literature, writing and reading. I also coach students for their admission interviews and presentations.

  • @JuanBaiocco that is great to hear. I hope you will join us again for another course!

  • @JuanBaiocco, do you read your emails out loud?

    Let us know how reading your emails backward works for you :)

  • You're right @JuanBaiocco, apps will not check and/or correct the structure, context or conciseness of your message.

    What is your strategy for editing/reviewing these areas?
    Do you trust your spell checker 100%? Do you use a grammar checker?

  • @PriscaParoomall that is a great strategy! Thank you for sharing.

  • @PriscaParoomall very good point about the appropriateness of including readers that have limited action or involvement. Not everyone thinks of that before adding a group of people to create an email thread.

  • Hi @JuanBaiocco, I like your point about special attention being taken with the number of outside people involved in the topic of discussion and the chaos that can result.

    Can you tell me more about how it can be "used to reach consensus"?

  • @JamilI.AlMatrafi is there a way to say "we will not be able to hire you" in a more positive tone?

  • @PriscaParoomall, I caution you to be aware of/careful in your use of the word not, as it can seem overly negative. i.e. not been retained, not vacant, we shall not fail.

    How can you convey the same message without using the word "not"? Another option is to see if you can you delete the word "not" without losing the meaning.

  • @JuanBaiocco, I would be disappointed if I received this email, but not crushed. You did a great job of "softening the blow".

  • You're correct @PriscaParoomall :)

  • Exactly @VaijuNuckchedee, the writer must be so careful not to blame the reader.

  • Very well said @VaijuNuckchedee!

  • Exactly @JamilI.AlMatrafi, sympathy, and compassion are important elements to giving bad news. This is definitely a time when we want to put ourselves in the shoes of our readers before we hit SEND.

    Have you written a bad news email? How was it received by the reader?

  • @LodewijkSchlingemann, emails are a great way to communicate, but they are not ideal for every situation.

    When possible, disciplining an employee is often done face to face, with a witness. Any email that results is often between the manager and the witness to clarify/confirm the details of the meeting for the employee's file.

    I'm curious, what happened...

  • @VaijuNuckchedee, do you mean when one person apologizes and/or concedes, or when the author summarizes the argument?

  • @PriscaParoomall it's a good point to remember that no matter which written form you use to communicate, that there is still a specific tone and language to be used with external clients (and senior management). Great job!

  • @VaijuNuckchedee, do you ever use a mix of the languages you know? In what type of writing would that be appropriate?

    For example, a mixture of Tagalog and English is called Taglish.

  • @VaijuNuckchedee the US and UK have different ways of spelling words, and it's good to know your reader. For example, I spell "favourite" and "neigbour" with a "u", while Americans do not.

    Have you thought about the challenge of homophones, words that sound the same but have a different meaning i.e. knew/new, read/read/red, sail/sale,...

  • @JamilI.AlMatrafi, the first email is lengthy, but it does give the greater detail regarding what is needed and why.

    Would you prefer the second email, with a limited explanation as to what is being asked, or a more concise version of the first email?

  • That's a good point @JamilI.AlMatrafi, but there are times that they can communicate an emotion which is hard to describe. See Prisca's comment below: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/better-emails/1/comments/25841445.

    Is there an appropriate time or place for emojis in a business email?

  • Good point @ElenaEfremova. Have you received an email from a top manager which used emojis?

  • @JamilI.AlMatrafi, do you prefer a combination of both email types? A task focused email with a social opening?

    Do you like to see or add any other aspects of the relationship focused emails in the direct style emails that you read or write?

  • @VaijuNuckchedee, in your formal emails, do you start with a greeting or the reader's name, or do you go directly into the message?

  • @KatieHembree personalizing your opening is a great way to build a relationship. Great example!

  • Hi @VaijuNuckchedee, excellent effort.

    Do you see words which you can eliminate without losing your meaning, to increase the clarity and conciseness of your email?

    I see, "hence", and "as a matter of fact".

    Do you see any others that you could remove?

  • @PriscaParoomall well done!

    A couple of suggestions:
    - When referring to yourself, always use a capital I

    - Your statement in paragraph 2 "He made use of rude words and threatened to take legal action actions. He did not give me a chance to clear the misunderstanding" could be shortened in length to increase the impact.

    Perhaps try: I felt...

  • Hi @JuanBaiocco, this is very well written!

    I would suggest that instead of saying "I was telephoned by a Mr. Lee," I would say, "I received a phone call from Mr. Lee, who complained..." It is a clearer statement.

    Does this make sense?

  • @fionavanmeurs in the emails you write, do you use a modified version of the sentence, or do you avoid saying it?

  • @VaijuNuckchedee, what words would you instead, for the two examples you mentioned?

  • Hi @PriscaParoomall, "Thanking you beforehand" is an unusual statement. Do you use it often?

  • @JuanBaiocco, very clear action statement at the bottom of your email. I'm not sure if I would send this the first time they make a mistake, as they are a new supplier, but I would save this for the third or fourth time an error occurs.

  • @KatieHembree very clear and succinct. Well done!

  • Exactly @fionavanmeurs!

    Especially when we may have global clients/customers in different time zones.

  • @KatieHembree it is always good to remember that "as soon as possible", or "at your earliest convenience may mean something different to someone else".

    Well said!

  • @VaijuNuckchedee this is a good revision.

    A couple of suggestions:
    Sentence 3: you could remove the word "usual" without changing the meaning of the sentence. Also, "incase of clarification" might be considered abrupt by the reader. You might want to try "should you need clarification".

    Sentence 4: Can you make this statement more concise? You could use...

  • @JamilI.AlMatrafi you stated that it is the language that everybody understands, despite their origin.

    What do you think about it from the perspective of readers with different literacy levels (both high levels and low levels of literacy)?

  • Hi @ViktoriaPerevoznikova, if there are important items to note, that do not have a specific order, you can use bullet points, i.e. in a grocery list. What is important is that I get everything on my list. The order I find them and put them in my grocery cart doesn't matter to me.
    -carrots
    -milk
    -shampoo
    etc.

    Numbers are most often used when detailing...

  • @SaraMunozFernandez, you could:
    a) sum up your email in one sentence
    b) write a general subject and number it (i.e. California Project Update #14)
    c) break up the different sections into different emails, with different subject headings

    Have you tried these strategies?

  • @AlexanderBowes-Lawler, thank you sharing. These examples and more are why we need to use a system to organize our thoughts, have a process to write in a clear, structured manner and have a strategy to review BEFORE we hit send.

    @AlexanderBowes-Lawler, before using the POWER process, I would occasionally need to send two emails. One describing the...

  • @VaijuNuckchedee, the subject line is often overlooked and occasionally forgotten.

    What needs to be stated in the subject line for you to want to read it?

  • @LodewijkSchlingemann writing from the perspective of the reader and being straightforward, using a sincere, polite tone are great ways to connect with someone you have never met before.

  • @MaríaAsunciónFerrandoGimeno, it can be challenging to be polite, when you need to be direct, especially on the topic of payments.

    Thank you for providing examples of the statements you use, I'm sure it will be helpful for the participants.

    If someone is very late on their payments, are you still able to be kind in message and tone?

  • @VaijuNuckchedee you have mentioned a very important point. People have different levels of literacy. Plain language is important to use, but we can also use links to pictures/graphics when the details such as descriptions, or technical specifications become complicated.

    Would you use ODAC or BLADE for customers/colleagues with a lower level of literacy?

  • @LodewijkSchlingemann, grateful is a great word to use when asking someone to do something for you. What words do you use when you are ordering someone to do something for you?

  • @KarenWebster, aside from your salutation, how do you adapt what you or how you say your message in the body of your email?

  • @fionavanmeurs you can change the level of formality in the body of the email, in addition to the greeting and salutation. Prisca gave some examples below: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/better-emails/1/comments/25702686

  • @PriscaParoomall, those are great phrases to use to convey your genuine feelings of sincerity.

  • Hi @KarenWebster, you bring up a good point about including additional information. That extra detail could prevent follow up/clarifying emails, saving time for both the reader and the writer.

  • @ShaheeraMunir ODAC is great for follow up emails. Do you use the BLADE format? In which situations/contexts?

  • @LodewijkSchlingemann do you use ODAC for all of your emails? Or are there situations or specific people where you would use the BLADE format?

  • @KatieHembree Was it a colleague or a customer that stated that your emails in the BLADE format were rude and unfriendly? Do you know why they made the comment i.e. was there a cultural misinterpretation?

  • @ShaheeraMunir, I love how you said that that the writer showed gratitude. That is not easy to convey in a sincere manner.

    Do your emails show gratitude? Or have you received emails where you feel appreciated? If so, would you be willing to share an example?

  • @FayruzRico what is it about the way the second email is written that gives the client a sense of being appreciated?

    Do you use the same type of wording or strategy in your emails?

  • @KatieHembree, what made the second email more organized?

    Do you use the same technique in your own emails?

  • @MaríaAsunciónFerrandoGimeno, I also found it difficult to choose between points two and three. What's important is that you recognize that there is more than one way to write an email, and the importance of being mindful of the purpose/intent of your email, and who your reader is.

  • @fionavanmeurs These are great points to include:

    - Reader 1: Referring to a previous conversation. Mentioning if there is a confirmation of outcome or action required.
    - Reader 2: Assuming that the reader is not familiar with the tasks, requirement, planning.

    Well said!

  • Excellent @KarenWebster!

    You covered some very important points:

    - Not assuming the knowledge of the reader
    - Being aware that emails can be used a record of work
    - Not overloading people with information (only providing what is needed for a client/vendor/customer)
    - Using email to clarify/confirm verbal communication to ensure that there are no...

  • @PriscaParoomall, good point on reader 3: "providing more information... on myself and my organisation since it is a first contact through email."

    This is your "first impression", the time to introduce yourself and initiate the first steps in building a relationship. Well said!

  • Great analysis @AlexanderBowes-Lawler. How do you write an email when you are aware that the reader may interpret it as pretentious?

  • Hi @VaijuNuckchedee, in your culture, is it ok to ask about someone's marital status?

    In some cultures, it is considered an inappropriate question for the workplace. However, in some countries, it is one of the first questions asked of new employees.

    It's good to be aware of the cultural perspectives on the question, so as not to alienate the reader....

  • @KarenWebster Defining an acronym at the beginning of an email is exactly how you educate your reader.

    It is very considerate, and I'm sure your readers appreciate this!

  • @SMarkCritchley, you bring up an interesting point. If you know that there is a difference in age between yourself as the writer and your reader, do you adjust your writing style? Does age make a difference?

    Do different generations have different perspectives on what to include in a professional email?

    Can you tell someone's age from the way...

  • @LodewijkSchlingemann Great comment, "if your message is not adapted, it will not be heard"

  • @ShaheeraMunir that is a great goal. You might want to use for the section on writing for a deeper purpose later in the course!

  • @JuanBaiocco can you share your why and how from your email?

  • @FranciscaRoele That is great to hear!

  • @MaríaAsunciónFerrandoGimeno, the "where" might not always need to be mentioned (i.e. you always meet in the boardroom), however, if there are new readers added to the email conversation or the location changes, it is good to mention it.

    You could also put in your subject line to make the information easy to find i.e. Product Review Meeting #3, 9am Board...

  • Great quote @ElenaEfremova!

  • Well said @KarenWebster!

  • @ShaheeraMunir it sounds like you are addressing a lot of information. Are you doing this in one email, or over multiple emails?

    How do you ask your customers if they are interested in moving forward or not? And what do you say to engage customers/partners in a discussion about their other business requirements?

  • Hi @AlexanderBowes-Lawler, I'm sorry to hear about your loss.

    Our emotions and personal journeys can have a significant impact on how we write, including the words we use, or those we miss (unintentionally skipping words when our mind is on autopilot or thinks faster than we write), often without the writer realizing it.

    Thank you for sharing.

  • Thank you for sharing @LodewijkSchlingemann. Storing or archiving emails is an important topic to think about. Being able to access what you need, when you need it (no matter how old the email is), is just as important as how you manage your daily emails.

    Does anyone else want to share their strategies for storing/archiving emails?

  • Hi @LauraIriarte (Lau), I'm glad you could join us! You will learn about tone, formality, and professionalism as you progress through this course, and will have the opportunity to practice your learnings in the written assignments.

    I look forward to reading your posts :)

  • @ShaheeraMunir, that is a great strategy for organizing your thoughts.

    Do you do this for all of your emails, or just the critically important ones?

  • Hi @AdrianaOrdonez, we will talk about editing emails in weeks 2 and 3.

    Asking a colleague for assistance is a great strategy. There are also online tools you can use to assist you with spelling and grammar.

    Have you tried reading your emails out loud to yourself to listen for missing words, or grammar issues (such as using the wrong tense...

  • @AlexanderBowes-Lawler well said!

    Putting yourself in the reader's shoes and then altering your language is an important element of to writing effective emails.

    What is your strategy for reducing/removing flowery/complicated language? Is there an audience or time when it is appropriate/necessary to use such language?

  • Welcome @ShaheeraMunir. Knowing how to write clearly for a specific audience is incredibly important. We will talk about that in this course.

    When you use technical details in your emails, are you writing for people who know how to read and understand the technical concept you are discussing, or are you introducing the concept for people who are new to it...

  • Reading the different posts, I see that a lot of people use folders to manage emails.

    Can you tell me:

    1. What system do you use to manage/organize your folders to ensure that you don't have hundreds of folders?
    2. Are you able to nest your folders, or create subfolders? If so, what system do you use to do this?
    3. Other than file names, what else do...

  • Hi @ShaheeraMunir, what type of system do you use to put reminders on the emails which require an action? A flag system (such as Outlook), a star system (such as Google), a system which allows you to select the date a response is needed by or another system?

  • @AdrianaOrdonez, using separate paragraphs is a great way to help readers understand the content, as well as to separate topics.

    How do you manage new projects/ideas? Do you create a new folder?

    Are you able to manage your folder system? Or do you find that you get overrun with folders?

  • "My tip for writing better emails is to take the time to write it, to make a good order of introduction, content and closing remarks, but above all, to read it over again before you send it." Very well said @LodewijkSchlingemann.

    Can you share with us your strategy for managing the emails you are cc'd on? I

  • Welcome, @OlgaKorznikova. We will definitely talk about tone, formality, professionalism, and structure. I'm so glad you joined us!

  • Hi @LodewijkSchlingemann! What is your goal for this course? Is there anything specific you would like to learn?

  • Hi @VicentGil, welcome to the course! Cultural misinterpretations can happen so easily in an email, especially when the tone is not clear or wording is not clear.

    Another learner gave a great example in this post: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/better-emails/1/comments/25676537.

    Do you have any experiences you would like to share?

  • Hi @NataliaTchkoidze, smooth transitions between topics is not easy.

    Can you share an example of one of your emails?