How should I request office hours to ask a professor about lecture material at a Korean university?
Consider an international student in Jeonju who understands the assigned reading but struggles to follow some explanations during lectures. The syllabus lists office hours without saying whether students need an appointment. How should the student ask for a meeting and explain which parts they need help with?
Note: This is an editorial persona question created from common experiences of foreign residents in Korea.
1 Answer
Email the professor to ask whether the listed office hours are drop-in or require an appointment. There is no need to assume a university-wide rule: follow the course instructions, and ask the teaching assistant if the syllabus names one as the contact for course questions.
You could write: Dear Professor [Surname], I am [Name] in your [Course title and section] class. I have read [reading title or chapter], but I am having trouble understanding how [specific concept] connects to the explanation in the lecture on [date]. May I come to your office hours on [day and time], or should I make an appointment? I would also appreciate knowing whether we could discuss the question in English. Thank you, [Name].
Before the meeting, choose two or three specific questions and bring the relevant page, slide, and your notes. Explain what you understand first, then point to the step you cannot follow. For example: I understand the definition on slide 8, but I cannot see why it applies to the example on slide 10. This is more useful than saying that the whole lecture was difficult.
Do not assume that an English-language meeting is available; ask in advance. If the listed time conflicts with another class, mention the conflict and suggest a couple of alternatives. If you receive no reply, check the syllabus for the preferred contact method and send a brief follow-up. The department office can help you confirm how to contact the professor, while the international student office may be able to suggest language or study support.