How a well-rounded approach can enhance your virtual communication, both professionally and personally.
CEFR Level: All Levels
What is decorum?
Decorum refers to the behavior, etiquette, and manners expected in a particular setting to ensure interactions are respectful, professional, and appropriate.
Decorum in online meeting behavior refers to the set of etiquettes and guidelines that participants are expected to follow to ensure the meeting is productive, respectful, and professional. Here are some key aspects of decorum in online meetings.
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Successful Meeting Suggestions
Hello, I'm Haitham. I've been a Lingoda language teacher since 2019, and I look forward to meeting you. I've conducted over 9,500 group and one-on-one private classes for Lingoda alone. I also have a lot of teaching experience at other schools in the US and in Turkiye.
I'm American, originally from Wisconsin, but I've lived in several places, including Montreal and Milwaukee (where I grew up), Atlanta, England, Libya, Kuala Lumpur, and Istanbul. I have a degree in computer science, which I completed during the pandemic. I also have a 120-Hour TEFL Certificate in Teaching English. In my free time, I enjoy producing videos on YouTube, writing blogs on my website, and engaging in photography. I use a medium format Fujifilm GFX 100s camera and several Fujinon GF lenses. I also maintain a photography website to showcase my images. My days often begin at 5 am UK time, or sometimes even earlier.
Now, I’d like you to meet the "Classy Crew." These are wonderful meeting attendees who "grease the wheel" in their professional lives. Whether in their jobs, social circles, or classrooms, the Classy Crew are highly valued. If you don’t understand any of the idioms, feel free to ask me in class.
Here is our Classy Crew:
1. To Video or Not to Video Valerie
Valerie opens her camera to help everyone feel more connected. If her camera is off, it can cause confusion and make it harder for the teacher to remember her. Using a camera also avoids the annoying question, “Hello, are you there?”
2. No Camera Carl
Carl is successful without opening his camera. He uses phrases like:
- “Hmm, can I take a minute to think about it?"
- “Hmm, I’m thinking, teacher, please bear with me."
- “Hmm, good question, please give me a second."
Carl knows that, since others can't see his face, it's important to give voice signals to show he's still in the Zoom meeting. Carl is awesome!
3. Visual Cues Victor
Victor uses non-verbal signs like nodding or looking confused to help the teacher understand him. Keeping his camera on makes this possible. Victor can also have a successful lesson by following Carl’s tips.
4. Time Awareness Taylor
Taylor knows the lesson time is 60 minutes. That's not a lot of time. He's successful because he's mindful of his speaking time and gives everyone a chance to participate.
5. Forward-Thinking Frank
Frank asks his questions 10 minutes before the lesson ends. He understands the teacher has other classes to teach and can't always stay after class.
6. Polite Meeting Questions Mary
Mary uses polite language and phrases like "May I ask a question?" to be respectful and professional. People like Mary because she also says, "No, thank you" or "Yes, I have a question."
7. No Cutting Off Catherine
Catherine is super awesome. She waits for others to finish before she starts speaking. When she must interrupt, she uses professional language like:
- "Please excuse my interruption, I want to ask something."
- "I'm sorry to interrupt, I have a question."
- "Please pardon my interruption, can I add something?"
When Catherine must interrupt, she does so positively and professionally.
8. Never Tardy Tom
Tom never arrives late. He always arrives on time or within the first minute of class. Tom grew up in Wisconsin, where meetings start promptly at their scheduled time. Tom respects the start and end of meetings. Even if he's late, Tom knows the meeting will start without him. If his friend is late, they may be disappointed to find the meeting already started because, in Wisconsin, meetings always start on time.
All of the classmates above are great attendees because they use their cameras, communicate politely, allow others to speak, don't hog time, and use these tips to succeed in their classrooms and jobs.
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