Email Guidelines

Communicating across cultures is challenging. Each culture has set rules that its members are unaware of because, cultural norms and values are not taught explicitly, most of the information is absorbed subconsciously.

With the advancement of technology in our world, Intercultural communication has become widely spread via email communication. Be it an academic or professional contacts, email is one of the primary means of communication. Email does not involve face-to-face interaction with the potential audience, however, it does not mean that it should be considered less formal.

International students often worry about how to address an email message to a professor – especially one whom they do not know or they have not met in person. In this chapter, we will discuss some concerns students need to keep in mind when composing an email to their instructors or professors.