Say This, NOT That to Your Professor Book Review

If you know someone heading off to college this fall, whether returning or just staring as a Freshman, this book is a MUST for them!

"In Say This, NOT That to Your Professor, an award-winning, tenured communication professor takes you “inside the faculty mind,” and provides the words your professors wish you’d say to manage your classroom experience with confidence. 
This book gives you inside tips on how to interact so your professors will respond in a positive manner. You’ll learn to create opportunities and properly stand up for yourself, rather than fumble over excuses.  

Get ready for improved relationships with your professors, better grades, and an amazing college experience!"

I loved Say This, NOT That to Your Professor, by Ellen Bremen, M.A.  It was so "spot on!"  I teach at the State University of New York as an adjunct professor and I am going to recommend that my students pick up the book.  Hmmm, do you think I can make it a required textbook? 


Most of the material in the book I have dealt with myself and agree 100% with the author's advice.  Here are some of my favorite chapters!


Chapter 1 - Parents Handling Your Problems:  Seriously, all you parents out there, I know you want to continue to help your child.  It is natural, but believe it or not, they are now an adult and I can't discuss anything about them or my class with you.  Students...don't even ask your parents to "fight your battles" now that you are in college and have them call your professor.  Again, we can't talk to them!  Legally, we can't!  "The Bottom Line:  College has no PTA. Parents cannot and should not handle college-related problems for you."

Photo Source: Google Images

Every semester I have a parent (or two) call me wanting to discuss how their son or daughter did on the mid-term and why they are getting the grade they are getting (we have to post grades after 4 weeks so if the student wants to drop they can).  I am always polite and call the parent(s) back, but have to explain according to the law, I can't discuss their child's grades, even if they are paying for the class.  We do have to let your children grow up sometime, no matter how difficult it is.

Chapter 14 - Asking for Help or a Review (Early!): Here is my favorite part...."Let me give you a harsh reality: A profession's job doesn't include seeking you out and begging you to come for help.  The onus is always, always on you to ask for what you need."  Every semester I seem to have that one student that continues to do poorly on tests and will wait until the night of the last exam to ask for help.  It is too late at that point.  Professors love to help students, but students need to come to us and ask for the help.  

Photo Source: Google Images

Chapter 23 - Your E-mail Address:  Yes, it says a lot about you!  Even as an employer, I 100% agree with this chapter.  You can get an email account for free very easily.  My favorite is Yahoo!  Emailing friends and family using a "funky" email address (bootylicious775, dogatemyhomewk, partyboy, etc.) is fine, but a college professor? No. Potential employer? No. When we receive an email from bootylicious775, we assume our spam program is not working an delete the email without even opening it.  

Photo Source: Google Images

Every chapter of Say This NOT That to Your Professor, has valuable information for college students.  This would be the best graduation for that high school grad!  

Meet the Author: Ellen Bremen is tenured faculty in the Communication Studies department at Highline Community College (since 2004), outside of Seattle, Washington. With 14 years of teaching experience in university and mainly the community college setting (to include four years at Darton College), Ellen has earned three national awards: In September 2011, Ellen earned the Sloan-Consortium’s Excellence in Online Teaching and Learning award. In 2003, Ellen’s teaching innovation in face-to-face and online learning was honored by the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development and the National Council of Instructional Administrators. In 2003, the American Association of Community College’s Community College Times recognized Ellen’s public speaking course as a “best practice” in online learning. In 2009, Ellen’s Introduction to Communication course was recognized by Quality Matters as meeting best practice standards for online curriculum (Ellen currently teaches hybrid classes, part online and part face-to-face). 


Connect:  You can connect with the author, Ellen Bremen on her website, Facebook and Twitter.


Buy It:  You can purchase Say This NOT That to Your Professor at Amazon for $15.95 ($9.96 for Prime Members and $7.99 for Kindle version).