Frequently Asked Questions

What Happens During A Typical Face-to-Face Individual Consultation?

If you plan to visit us for a consultation, here are some ideas about what should happen:

You arrive within 5 minutes of your scheduled appointment time.

It’s important that the consultation starts on time so that we can finish up on time.

You will be greeted by the staff and directed to the room in which your consultation will take place.

The consultant(s) who will work with you will introduce themselves, get some information from you, offer you an overview of what is to come, and ask you to identify what it is you wish to accomplish during the session.

If you are planning a public speaking practice session, you’ll present your speech.

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. We don’t judge or criticize, we offer feedback and guidance.

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.

If you are looking for help with the organization of your individual or group presentation, you’ll have a seat.

This type of session involves our offering some combination of instruction, guidance, and feedback as we work with you on planning your next speech. While we cannot write the speech for you, we can help with topic choices, thesis formation, research, organization/clarity of message, style, and more.

If you are looking for assistance with interpersonal communication, we can help.

These sessions most often involve instruction, guidance, or feedback. You’ll need to be prepared to discuss your interpersonal communication goals with us.

If you are looking for the conversation practice sessions that we offer to Non-Native speakers of English, you can learn more here.

https://speakingcenter.uncg.edu/services/support-for-non-native-speakers/

If you want or need us to watch a recording of you for review or goal setting, you’ll have a seat.

For these 30 minute sessions, you can bring a friend as long as the friend is working on the same assignment (you both do not have to be in the same section of the class). We will start with some instruction on how to give judgement free feedback. Next we will watch recorded speeches to give you the chance to practice giving value free feedback.  We will also help you to set goals for your next presentation. If you need to complete a self-critique for your class, bring the form along as there will be an opportunity for you to work on that as well.

You get to give feedback, too.

The consultant will ask you to complete a feedback online survey or form. It’s very quick and it is just a way for us to find out how things are going. You get to have privacy while you do this.

The consultant will make you a paper copy of the report form or email you an electronic version.

This way you get to take something with you that reminds you of what things you discussed in your consultation. If you want a second copy that you can hand to your professor, just let us know. You can forward the electronic copy to your professor.

You get to head back to your regular schedule.

You’ll be leaving with improved confidence, a copy of the report form, and an invitation to come back anytime.