What Happens In a Typical Individual Consultation?

If you come in as a client at the University Speaking Center, here are some ideas about what should happen:

You arrive within 5 minutes of your scheduled appointment time. It's important that the consultation start on time so that you, the client, can get "your money's worth."

You will be greeted by the staff and directed to the room in which the consultation takes place. The consultant(s) who will lead your consultation will introduce themselves and show the client into one of the viewing rooms. Everyone will get comfortable.

The consultant will collect some basic information. This information helps us with our records and gives us an idea of how we can best help you. Basic questions will include: Name, final presentation date, course, professor, purpose of consultation (what you need help with), whether or not you were required to come and whether you want your presentation videotaped.

The consultant will explain what happens next. If you've been to the Center before, this won't take long, but if you're just trying us out for the first time, this can be really helpful. If you have any questions about how things work or what something is, please, ask us.

You will get ready to present. This includes setting up any equipment you need to use, getting relaxed and ready, asking any questions or explaining any situations or things that you think the consultant should know before you start to actually present. When you're ready, you'll tell the consultant and they'll start the stopwatch.

You present. While you are talking, the consultant will take some notes on things they think you are doing really well and some things they think might improve your presentation. Remember to relax; this is not for a grade.

When you finish, the consultant will ask how you think it went. You are the first one who gets to comment. When you're finished, the consultant will go through the report form with you and give you feedback on your organization, delivery, or anything else that you've asked them about. If you have concerns or comments that you don't hear covered, ask the consultant and s/he will give you feedback on that too. Make sure you get all of your questions answered. That's what we're here for.

You get to give feedback, too. The consultant will ask you to fill out a feedback form. It's very quick and it is just a way for us to find out what we need to make sure we keep doing and what things we can do to make your next consultation better. You get to have privacy while you do this, and you donât have to put your name on the paper, so feel free to be honest. Help us help you.

The consultant will make you a copy of the report form. This way you get to take something with you that reminds you of what things you discussed in your consultation. We will also make a copy of the report form to send to your professor, so s/he knows you came in to polish your speech. If you ever don't want us to send it to your professor, just say so, and we'll only keep the form for our records.

You get to head back to your regular schedule. Leaving with some more confidence in your presentation, a copy of the report form and some invitations to come back anytime you want more help, you will be done.

Page Issues?

AOL UNCGSpeaking