Teleconference Process/Protocol for Great ESOL Websites

1. Charlie will be the "Voice Traffic Controller"

2. Before you speak, remember some people may not recognize your voice. Even if you think, "everyone knows me," always begin with "This is Laura," and then speak. When you pick up the conversation again, repeat, "This is Laura again." -- Please use your own name!

3. Don't be afraid of silence. Because the phone is devoid of facial expressions, you can't always read emotion. Someone may be formulating a question in his or her mind and need another minute to chime in. Silence doesn't always imply consent. Make sure someone has finished speaking before you begin, or you always end up interrupting others mid-sentence.

4. Keep side conversations to a minimum. It's frustrating as a remote teleconference participant to hear "babbling" in the background. It's difficult to distinguish the actual speaker from the other noise and sounds like a constant echo on the line.

These were adapted from Productive Teleconferencing:
Planning, Process, and Protocol