How do Americans call their teachers?

[Tom]

Hi, guys. I'm a college student from Taiwan. This semester our department has a new teacher from New York, named Baron Kelly.

One day I go to him after class to ask him some questions about our assignment. I said "Sir, about the assign....", and he interrupted and asked me to not call him Sir, but just call him Baron, for he is not any different from others just because he has a PhD.

"Okay," I reply, but I just can't make myself to do it. I don't know if this is because of our cultural differences. In Taiwan, and probably every other country in Asia, we never ever call our teachers' name. We always address them as "teacher" or "professor" in our equivalent terms. To call a teacher's full name in his/her face is accounted as extreme disrespect. And to call his/her first name only is plain awkward.

So, I am wondering if it's normal in America to call teachers' name, without any title applied to it like Sir or Mr.? How should I get myself used to it?

[Spawn of Totoro]

It is up to the teacher. Some prefer to be formal, some don't.

I suggest always be formal about it unless they say otherwise.

There is no universal rule that applies here.

[Satoru]

I'd say "Sir" is a bit uncommon in America. Most teachers prefer to be addressed as Mr/Ms whatever. But like yours there are exceptions.

[Hextravert]

Interesting.

First of all, I admire your willingness to adapt, change, and get used to this awkwardness!

If you really want to get used to it, you'll just have to call him Baron from now on. In any and all situations; for instance, when you raise your hand and ask a question or when you bump into him. Even when other students and teachers are around. Not just after class when it's the two of you! That would be the fastest way.

However, your teacher is the expat here, and I feel he should be the one posting on forums; asking how he should get used to being held in high(er) esteem than he was accustomed to in New York!

Besides, can you ever feel truly comfortable calling him Baron when other teachers are around? Perhaps if you were in New York you could, but in Taiwan this seems nearly impossible to me.

Needless to say, it is very, very unlikely any student/teacher is going to call him by his first name any time soon. Both students and teachers are going to stick to their guns, and simply continue calling him Sir/Professor Kelly.

Because Baron is living and working in Taiwan now, he will most likely emerge from the expat bubble, and immerse himself in the local culture in no time. For this reason, I think he's going to adapt faster than you guys, and, sooner rather than later, will stop insisting on being called Baron when he's working at school.

Finally, consider the following: yes, there are many teachers in The West who allow students to call them by their first name. However, as a teacher, being called Sir/Professor by students in the USA is far, far more common and acceptable than being called by your first name is in Taiwan!

[Team Fortress Two]

Or you can pretend it's a dialogue and never mention their name or any form of their name.

:P

[76561198062658773]

It is just personal preference. I for one don't like titles, but that doesn't mean that everyone prefers it that way. Same thing here. Just call him whatever he wants you to call him :p, or just do what the poster above said.

[5st]

don't you mean what do americans call their teachers?

[PLZ Watch Battlestar Galactica]

In grade school, generally we call them Mr/Mrs. [last name]. In college generally the professor I just call them Professor [last name], that is if I can pronounce the instructor's last name, if not I just call them Professor.