I can't believe it's been two years since I first posted a page of emails from students. Strangely, I've managed to accumulate a few more choice samples. Again, note that I've pasted in just the body of the messages here, omitting the (almost uniformly unhelpful) headers, as well as all identifying information about the students. Everything else (from spelling to line spacing) remains unchanged, though the titles above each email are my own inventions.
Go back to the original page here.
Hi, Ms.[my last name]
About this morning, I apologize for sleeping on the class. However, I do hope
you understand that I was really tired because I stayed up late last night to
prepare for my midterm at 9am-10am right before writing class. It was completely
out of my expectation that I was so tired.
It’s only because I regard this class as important to me that I show up
every lecture, no matter how tired I am. Moreover, even I slept on half of the
class this morning, at least I catched the part of the thesis statement which
is beneficial.
I know that it's not right to sleep on class, but you don't really have to be
that much hard on me. I felt uncomfortable. I am under a lot of stress because
I want to perform well.
Thank you
[student’s full name]
Dear Professor [my last
name],
I would like to apologize for my misbehaviour in missing many classes. I am
very sorry if I cause any inconvenience for the class's schedule. A constructive
atmosphere is what I think is the best for a class, especially for a small one.
My absences in the class are due to my lack of comfortable feeling sometimes
in the class. Most of the time, I feel myself having to communicate in an American
way, another way of expressing myself to get connected with my classmates. I
am not too used to this way of caring how others are feeling when they speak
and the way to speak straightforwardly in class. This feeling accumulates along
the course and I feel sometimes overwhelmed and stressful to speak what I think
of the text and to be contributive. That does not mean any hard feelings or
dislike towards anyone though. I would account this to my new experiences to
a new place and class atmosphere.I understand my behabiour is a serious bad
performance. I sincerely hope you could understand this and give me another
chance to show you a new, positive image. I am very happy and glad to get accepted
by you as a student in the class today over the phone. That is very kind and
understanding of you. I, very much, would like to gain writing knowledge and
be a more verbal person in the remaining semester.
Best regards,
[student’s full name]
Ms. [my last name],
I didnt know doze off in class stop saying something i did not do. A whisper
to a classmate does not mean a negative remark it could just be a clarification,
it did not disturb the class in a negative way and should not be counted that
way. And i dont think its right, especially to a student who works as hard as
i do and takes 5 classes as i did. I dont understand why you have such a negative
impression on me. Why do you not like me?
[student’s full name]
After reading your e-mail, i think
i didn't understand the topics very well. Can you briefly explain what are the
3th topics asking for me please?
[student’s full name]
Hello, Prof. [my last name].
This is [student’s full name].
I just checked your E-mail that you sent me a week ago.
Here is a copy of my essay #1.
I had a hard time work citing.
I am sorry that I missed many of your classes.
I got a call from school last nigt, and I forgot to call you this morning. It
was very difficult for me to adapt myself to Boston and school. When I get stressed
out, I either throw up or have a diarrhoea problem. And I began to get those
symptons, but I am getting better. I decided to just deal with it because I
am not the only one who moved away from home.
I am really sorry that I missed your classes without any notice. However, I
really like your class and I want to do well. Please, don't tell the student
dean that it was unexcused absent. I will never miss your class from now on.
Dear Professor [my last name]
Hello. I am [student’s full name].
Thank you for your help for me during this semester.
It has been encouraging me.
I appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.
I am glad to learn from you for next semester again.
I will bother you more and more.
Take care and have wonderful holidays.
God bless you,
[student’s full name]
Hello Miss [my last name],
My printer doesn't working, so I attached my final draft, self-evaluation sheet
and today summary with word cite.
Thank you,
[student’s first name]
Dear Professor [my last name],
I did not know that how can I take an appointment from you or th tutor?
I want to learn that Do I have change to pass the course or not?
I know that I am going to compare Hoffman and one of the other essays in terms
of theme. isn't it?
Thank you for your interest.
Dear Professor [my last name]
hi, how you been doing? I am doing really well except that I need to study load
of things.
I checked my grade today and I found out that my writing class is 'B'.
First of all, I am really appreciate of this grade. In addition, I am really
glad that I have learned a lot in your class. As you might noticed already,
my writing and speaking skills improved a lot. I even notice it! :)
I am not sure if I did well for the final essay and quiz4 but to be honest,
I was not quite satisfied with my grade.
I am not sure if B is suitable grade based on my work.
I know that I did not do well for quiz3 and I know that I have a couple of '0's.
Therefore, I dare to ask, if you don't mind, could you please reconsider my
grade?
Thank you so much for reading this mail and hope to hear from you soon.
Sincerely
[student’s full name]
Dear Professor,
I am really sorry that I wasn't being able to go to class today. I was having
feminine prombles and has to go back to the dorm.
Once again, I am really sorry.
[student’s full name]
Hi,
I was planning to drop by your office
but I feel kind of hard to move.
I know you will not accept the essay by email
but I thought it will be better to givemy essay by mail first
and then give you by hardcopy.
So, I attached my essay with mail.
Also, I'm struggling with essay.
I want to talk to you about it.
Bye.
[student’s first name]
Dear Professor [my last name],
Sorry, I did not attend the class because there is nothing to encourage me to
attend the class. This morning I woke up to go to the class but again I started
to cry because I feel very bad, I feel inferior.
When I started to this course I was here*............................................................................*
and now I am here. My friends encourage me and they said that "you develop
yourself." However, I am person an so I need that kind of motivation to
feel better.
I was not that kind of person. Furhermore, there is a lot thing to encourage
me, to motivate me and my second midterm I took 92. this is very big successful.
Although I study too much for this class and I try to do my best, there is nothing
to motivate me.
(I want to learn result of the third quiz, could you email me please?)
Thank you for your interest.
Dear Professor [my last name]!
We know that we have to write a journal about the last book and we have to analyize
author’s tone, writing style, and topic. and we are going to compare it
with other essay that we read. Isn't it?
If it is not true?? Could you explain us, please?
Furhtermore, I want to inform that we could not buy the book although it is
cheap because we had not any money. However, now we have the book because our
family send us money.
This is [student’s full name]
from [student's class].
I have write 3 pages so far, and I feel like I'm totally out of control again.
I wish to get advice from you. would you read my essay briefly and suggest me
what to do?
and by the way, this essay is very rough, I didn't correct grammar or revice
content yet.
please just look over how essay goes.
and my biggest concerns.
please write me back professor !
everyone is working hard on the essay but,
everyone seems to be out of control too!
Dear [my first name]:
I am a freshman, and I will be in your classes. I am very expected about that.
But I have a little trouble now.
I went to the book store yesterday, and found the " Mercury Reader"
were all sold out. And the stuffs there told ne the new books will come on Sep
15th. It will be too late, right??? So I am trying to order the book from Amazon
now. They will send me the book on Sep 5th. But I don't know which one to order,
there are so many kinds on the internet.
I wonder could you show me the cover of the book? Then I can order one as soon
as possible.
Thank you so MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
best wishes
[student’s first name]
Hi, Miss [first syllable of my last
name].
This is [student’s full name] from your writing [class number] class.
I have a question about our assignment for monday.
As you have explained on Friday,
there are three ways we can write a reading journal.
So, I have picked the third way.
Do I still have to have two more quotations and responses?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
[student’s full name]
P.S I hope I did not make any mistakes in this e-mail.
But if I have made any mistakes, please inform me
so that I can correct next time I send you an e-mail.
[sent ten minutes after the email above]
Hi Miss [my last name]!
I am so sorry for my impertinent mistake.
For sure I know your last name.
But since I was writing my mail late night,
maybe I was too sleepy to find out my mistake.
Again I am sorry, please do not take it seriously.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
[student’s full name]
Dear Professor [my last name],
I know that it is American University but I can not undersatand that why my
other friends from home do not have same kind of problem or why I haven't got
same kind of problem in my other couse computer scince. Furthermore, there might
be lots of opportunities to use them but I didn't know them and I didn't know
how can I use them so I can not use them in your office.
I think unfortunately I haven't got any chance to pass my class. isn't it?
Dear Professor [my last name],
You can not understand me. I do not want to attend the class because there is
nothing to motivate me! However, you understand I did not attend the class so
I can not motivate but it is wrong!
Hello Ms [my last name],
I am terribly sorry about my absence since 2 weeks. I had to go back to Turkey,
because my grad father passed away. It is a great Turkish tradition to attend
the funural and all the activities after that and since my grand father was
the oldest member of our family it is a big ceremony and I could not skip that
all. I could not send you an email because all of this happened very fast and
I had no time to emerge this situation to you, I know I skipped 3 classes and
I will do everything to catch up. I have just returned to the states and I am
aware of I have missed many due works, but I will do the best I can to catch
up. what I should do? Hope you will be conscience about my situation.
Thanks [student’s full name]
dear [my last name]
as you know, my program is very taught and many changes occur many times. I
have a change about my schedule and because of this change I'm gonna miss your
class every Wednesdays. so besides classes that I've already missed i think
that I'm gonna miss a lot. I'm wondering if this situation will bother you and
my colleagues in the class.
If it will be ok I'll be attending your classes that I find very interesting.
other day.
have a good evening
[student’s first name]
Professor [my last name]
Hello. I am [student’s full name].
I know it's late night but I want to say thank you today.
Thank you for helping and ,especially, encouraging me.
I will not let English, hold me down.
You will see how my English has improved in three years before I leave [student's
college].
I will try to participate more in class.
Good night.
Sincerely,
[student’s full name]
hi professor,
It's [student’s full name] i apologize for missing my first class of the
year its jsut my illness peaked over the weekend. Apparently i was a virus that
no Dr. can actually explain so i keep having the feelings light headedness,
sweat and weak. Althought i do expect today to be the last days of my virus
the worst has past. i is over I do understand though that today we were to recieve
our graded work back and do the analytical part for wensday so i was wondering
how i should have this done for wensday? If you wanted to meet tomorrow or jsut
have me do it for friday?
once again im sorry i hate missing class but at the same time i did not want
to distract my class. Enjoy the rest of your day and if you could please let
me know what you would like to do for the graded work.
[student’s full name]
Dear. Professor [my last name]
Yes, when I checked E-mail from you, I said, YES, I would.
I want to surly have one-on- one ESL tutoring.
Thank for good chance to improve my English.
If I get tutoring, I would do take it.
It must to help my English Speaking skill.
[student’s full name]