Saposcat, and probably due to the similarity in Japanese language, Mr Micawber may already know that we Turks cannot call anybody who is older or senior than us with their names: We have to add some relative titles after their first names ( as Elizabeth abla, James abi, Sam amca, Alice teyze, Ben emmi, George dayı, Michael baba etc). In turkish language, just like in japanese, names come first, and relative titles follow them. (Even family names used to be called before "first" names before 1920s. But the application was changed with a law on the way of westernizaton.)

Understandably, we also call our teachers with their first names putting "hocam" or "öğretmenim" (=both means my teacher) after their first names. Like Charles Hocam, instead of Mr Harper.

While it is not common to call anybody with their last name ('cause this mostly means "cold and distant") and it is nearly impossible to use first name without a title, what do you suggest we should use to call them in English?

PS: I hope my question is clear enough. :) We Turkish people have a very common problem about adressing our teachers with their first names in English language.

I call MisterMicawer: Micawber the sensei, or sensei Micawber. And Saposcat. Saposcat Hoca:)

Maybe I m not supposed to answer this question but as I have worked with English teachers for a while, I just wanna share what it was like then .They (the natives) got the students to call them" Sir " for male ones and "Ma'am " for female ones but of course that was the case in terms of students and teachers put forward by them then :))

I call MisterMicawer: Micawber the sensei, or sensei Micawber. And Saposcat. Saposcat Hoca:)

But Micawber is a nick name inspired by a fictional last name.

But Micawber is a nick name inspired from a last name.

Whatever!.. It holds true for for any names and surnames as well as nicknames.:)

Maybe I m not supposed to answer this question but as I have worked with English teachers for a while, I just wanna share what was it like then .They (the natives) got the students to call them" Sir " for male ones and "Ma'am " for female ones but of course that was the case in terms of students and teachers put forward by them then :))
Actually I bet SIR and MA'AM adresses are very well known by our members. The problem is that they do not include firts names.

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In an English class with native teachers, you should of course not worry about the Turkish system. The English system is quite simple and universal. Age has nothing to do with it, as the respect is based on the relationship-- we have many young teachers and many mature students.

With any teacher, older or younger, you should address them as "Mr/Ms + family name" (Good morning, Ms Smith) until the teacher suggests that you do otherwise. Nowadays, many classes are quite informal, and teachers may well ask you to address them by their first name only (Good morning, Mary).

If you are hesitant at first, simply ask 'How should I address you?' When you do not know the surname, you can use the title: 'How should I address you, teacher?'
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I basically agree with everything Mr. Micawber said above.

SO we do not have any phrase which can be used with first name. :) Unfortunalety we have to dismiss any option used with last / family name since, I've already said above, it will mean an unnecessary distance between the teacher and the student.

To make it clear, I change my question. Many of English Teachers becomes a member of dilforum using their first name, for example Fatih Hoca, Seyfi Hoca... And we have no idea what their last names are. We want to address them without being offensive. What must we do?

PS: This question becomes important because our secondary school members and others finally decided to use English while writing their messages. They are very confused about how to call us. (I do not have any problem since my last name as well as my fist name is already known.

Many of English Teachers becomes a member of dilforum using their first name, for example Fatih Hoca, Seyfi Hoca... And we have no idea what their last names are. We want to address them without being offensive. What must we do?

PS: This question becomes important because our secondary school members and others finally decided to use English while writing their messages. They are very confused about how to call us. (I do not have any problem since my last name as well as my fist name is already known.

Unfortunately, as far as I know, there is no real "solution" to this particular dilemma. "Mr." and "Ms." can only be used with last names, and there is simply no corresponding title to use with first names (as is done in Turkish, for instance). As a result, the only way to deal with the problem is for the students to either continue to use "Fatih Hoca", "Seyfi Hoca", etc., or for them to simply swallow their urge to be respectful and simply address all the hocas and öğretmens as "Fatih", "Seyfi", etc.

P.S.—A phrase like "Mr. Jerry", "Ms. Anna", etc.—i.e. "Mr." or "Ms." + first name—can occasionally be heard in English, but it is certainly not to be preferred inasmuch as, in my experience at least, it is only used in English by very young children (kindergarten, 1st grade, and the like) to address their elders. In other words, it sounds childish.

As a result, the only way to deal with the problem is for the students to either continue to use "Fatih Hoca", "Seyfi Hoca", etc., or for them to simply swallow their urge to be respectful and simply address all the hocas and öğretmens as "Fatih", "Seyfi", etc.


Thank you Saposcat Hocam. :) The second option cannot find a usage for itself since it'll make feel the same (if not at least three as much as) as you call your own father with his name in English language. However, hard as I tried, I was not able to express, to my American friends, how bad a Turk feels while calling someone older or seniour with his name. :) It is just a shame, for both sides. :)

Thank you Saposcat Hocam. :)

Don't mention it, Mr. Mamger.

The second option cannot find a usage for itself since it'll make feel the same (if not at least three as much as) as you call your own father with his name in English language.

Actually, I've seen this done in a few liberalesque families, with kids calling their parents "John" and "Jane" or whatnot. It's still pretty rare, though.

However, hard as I tried, I was not able to express, to my American friends, how bad a Turk feels while calling someone older or seniour with his name. :)

Yeah, it's probably pretty hard to get that across because most English speakers find absolutely nothing shameful in addressing a so-called "superior" by their first name. On the contrary, when I was teaching, I really hated being called "Mr." or "Teacher" or "Hoca" or "Öğretmen" or whatnot. :)

It is just a shame, for both sides. :)

Yeah, but so it goes in language, eh?

How about changing our user names? (the ones who use their real names)

Mr / Mrs / Ms + Last Name

I grew up in such a family where i usually call my brothers "Siz (You in a polite form)" or like Metib abi(Brother Metib), Muhip abi(Brother Muhip). It's something about our culture. I appreciate this usage and they are pleased about it as well.
If i even call my brothers in such a polite and respectful way, i can't imagine myself calling my teacher or someone older than me just with their names. Maybe native ones would not mind my calling but i surely would be ashamed of my behaviour and would feel unconfortable.
And i've seen the same case in some other subjects as well.
I've heard people calling each other Dude/Dudettes. They may not mind such a little little word(I am used to it now) but when a native girl called me "Dude" i felt somewhat disrespected.

Thankies.

SO we do not have any phrase which can be used with first name. :) Unfortunalety we have to dismiss any option used with last / family name since, I've already said above, it will mean an unnecessary distance between the teacher and the student.

To make it clear, I change my question. Many of English Teachers becomes a member of dilforum using their first name, for example Fatih Hoca, Seyfi Hoca... And we have no idea what their last names are. We want to address them without being offensive. What must we do?

PS: This question becomes important because our secondary school members and others finally decided to use English while writing their messages. They are very confused about how to call us. (I do not have any problem since my last name as well as my fist name is already known.

to your question, MR. MAMGER, i can answer that teachers who are our members should use their last names when writing to the forum. that will make everything clear and i think we'll be more polite than ever when talking to them. so the solution is giving our last names. but of course as we use nicknames, this makes it completely complicated. i think all member take this problem into consideration. :)

How about changing our user names? (the ones who use their real names)

Mr / Mrs / Ms + Last Name

i think you are right, sir. that would be better. but using nicknames feels good:D(i like it)maybe theachers certainly should do it this way. that maks sense?

I'm not sure I have absorbed all of the posts here,but I can say that I fully agree with Saposcat re "A phrase like "Mr. Jerry", "Ms. Anna", etc.—i.e. "Mr." or "Ms." + first name—can occasionally be heard in English, but it is certainly not to be preferred".

It is, I understand the custom in several Asian countries (inspired I think by English teachers of those nationalities) to address teachers as either 'Mr/Miss First Name' or 'Teacher First Name', and while it is 'cute', it will be inappropriate if the unfortunate student transfers to e.g. an American college. I continue to try to discourage this.

On another earlier issue which I don't think has been fully addressed yet here, familiarity has increased generally to the extent that a 'Sir' or 'Ma'am' is seldom required except of very young children in very formal situations. Nowadays it is usually dispensed with, and "May I ask your name, sir?" can easily be replaced by 'May I ask your name?" with no real weakening of courtesy.
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Some students call ''Teacher'' but when we translate into Turkish ''Öğretmen'' that sounds so poor.Personally,I prefer to call '' Mr,Mrs ,or Hocam''..