Just introduce yourself with a visual (a photo, a gif. or a video).

GROUND RULES for our Padlet Reflections:

1. Name yourself with our registered section (YOUR NAME+section) like Gamze GY(Section 1). Don't forget that I need to be able to follow who you are so I can mark you correctly! Help me, please!

2. Participate actively in this Padlet and do NOT limit your reflections & comments to one or two! Yes, only one reflection + comment is enough to grab the points, but points don't mean everything, connecting means a lot!!!

3. ENJOY the ride to the fullest and be genuine, as this is OUR playground! 

Please check the course syllabus in detail and please reflect on the questions below:

1.     What do I already know about this course?

2.     How do I feel about this course? (excited, anxious, curious, nervous)

3.     How does this course relate to something I already know?

4.     What questions do I have already about this course?

• Did you find any differences in the dynamics of your conversations by using the first 5 advising strategies and 6 tips? 

• How can you relate the pre-class reading with the class content?

• You must write your reflection & leave a thoughtful comment on any of your peers reflections at the forum thread Week 3 at AYBUZEM RALL101 Class/Padlet.

• What works for you may not work for another person at all. 

• It’s important to spend a lot of time learning about a person.

• To walk a mile in his/her shoes.

• Empathy and sympathy aren’t the same.

When it comes to body movements and gestures, I think they are like the fuel for a car, helping to keep daily conversations going. For example, nodding shows that we understand the other person and makes the conversation more effective. Also, eye contact is a must in a conversation because it shows that we take the other person seriously. Silence can have two meanings, in my opinion. First, it can mean we are listening to the other person, or second, it can mean we are not paying attention. Its meaning depends on other gestures and facial expressions.

I think that reading before class is very important in terms of coming to class prepared and also critical in terms of responding to our teacher. It is also an important detail in terms of English reading practice.

These are my experiences and thoughts:)

The six tips, like back-channeling, nodding, and eye contact, kept the conversation fluid and engaging, showing my active involvement. Prompting encouraged deeper sharing, and moments of silence gave space for reflection.

I didn't know about these strategies and tips in my previous conversations with my friend, so frankly, there were times when I couldn't fully perceive his problem during the conversation, and therefore I couldn't help him enough. But thanks to these strategies and tips, I understood my friend's problem better and I felt like I was providing better counseling.

The pre-class reading provided foundational knowledge on effective communication strategies, especially in an advisory or supportive context. In class, we practiced applying these theories in real-life conversations. The readings emphasized the importance of active listening and empathy, which we directly explored through our use of advising strategies like repeating and empathizing. These readings also highlighted the psychological effects of non-verbal cues, which I found closely tied to the in-class content about tips like eye contact, nodding, and mirroring.

Repetition and restatement provide an opportunity to better understand what is being said, while also showing the listener that you are actively participating. This eliminates misunderstandings during the conversation and increases the clarity of the conversation. Especially on difficult or emotional topics, summarizing the conversation both keeps the conversation focused and helps the other party feel understood. Empathy is one of the key elements of establishing a mutual connection and making the conversation more supportive. When you show empathy, the other person expresses themselves more openly and comfortably, which contributes to the deepening of your relationship.

Small but effective strategies such as complimenting change the tone of the conversation to a positive one. In particular, appreciating a person's efforts or feelings increases that person's self-confidence, while also making the mutual relationship more sincere and constructive. Compliments are simple yet powerful tools that motivate and boost people’s morale.

In addition, the six tips keep the natural flow and interaction of a conversation alive. Back-channeling, that is, supporting mutual communication with expressions such as “hmm” and “I understand”, makes the conversation more interactive. Making eye contact not only shows that you are listening, but also shows that you are showing interest and respect to the other person. Nodding your head or remaining silent at the right times allows the other person to finish their thoughts comfortably and shows that you value what they are saying.

Like others, I also noticed that I could not fully understand the problems in some conversations before using these strategies and tips. This naturally caused me not to be able to provide sufficient help. However, after learning these techniques, I feel that I can understand the problems of the people I am talking to more deeply and help them more effectively. As Tuna emphasizes, these strategies create a more productive and supportive conversation environment.

As a result, the readings that everyone agrees on beforehand form the basis of these strategies. Learning the importance of active listening and empathy, especially when taking on a consulting or supportive role, was reinforced with classroom practices. This theoretical knowledge emphasizes how effective body language, eye contact and silence can be during conversations. The psychological effects of non-verbal cues, in particular, overlap with the topics discussed in classroom discussions.

After I started taking these courses, my communication with my roommate changed. I remembered these strategies again. For me, I can say that she is a strong person because she is a psychology student, so in short, while I am trying to understand her and using these strategies, she can immediately notice this. Still, we continue to communicate and enjoy the conversation.

While using these strategies, 6 tips and 3 principles, what I had the most difficulty with was mirroring. I think this is not in my character, but I will strive for it. My communication with her before has really changed after these strategies. I no longer directly express my thoughts and feelings.

Yes, 5 strategies are really great, but I think the salt of the conversation is 6 types. As I try to use 6 tips, our conversation becomes deeper and, although she is an introvert, she wants to talk more.

After I started taking these lessons, I observed these and wanted to reflect them. Reading your thoughts, my friends, has been a great encouragement to me. May the Lord bless you.

This cues like" eye contact, silence provided" that I am listening your words with understanding and carefully. I ensured communication in good way. Conversation became longer or deeper because the other person feels understood and encouraged to share more

When I consciously applied these strategies and tips, I realized that my conversations became much deeper, more meaningful, and genuine. My friends and family mentioned that they felt more supported and motivated by what I said. Additionally, showing empathy and listening carefully helped the people I was talking to feel more comfortable and understood. Asking questions encouraged their active participation in the process, rather than just giving advice. This turned the conversation from a one-sided monologue into a two-way dialogue.

In conclusion, using the five advising strategies and six helpful tips in daily conversations not only helped me be a better listener but also allowed me to be a conversation partner who could truly help others. Both I and the people I spoke with noticed that these strategies made our conversations more valuable.

I realized that when I complete the pre-class readings, I can participate more actively in the lessons. I was able to analyze the course content better and take a more active role.

During my recent conversations, I applied the five advising strategies and six tips, and I noticed significant changes in how the discussions unfolded. Using techniques such as repeating, restating, summarizing, empathizing, and complimenting made the interactions more fluid and meaningful. These strategies helped me actively engage in the conversation and build a deeper connection with the person I was speaking to.

Repeating and restating what the other person said allowed me to ensure that I fully understood their perspective, which also clarified certain points that might have been missed otherwise. It demonstrated that I was listening closely, making the other person feel more comfortable and open. Summarizing helped keep the conversation on track and organized, while empathy created a supportive environment where the other person felt understood and valued.

The six tips, especially eye contact, back-channeling (like nodding or saying "uh-huh"), and providing space for silence, made the conversation even more dynamic. These small but impactful actions showed my active involvement, which encouraged the other person to share more deeply and reflect on their thoughts. Before learning about these strategies and tips, I often struggled to grasp the full scope of what someone was trying to convey, which sometimes hindered my ability to help them effectively. Now, I feel more equipped to understand their problems and provide better counsel.

By connecting these techniques to the pre-class readings and discussions in class, I realize that these strategies aren't just about improving communication—they're about fostering a sense of trust and mutual respect. In class, we discussed how effective communication is key to building relationships and understanding others. This hands-on experience reinforced that idea, showing me how small adjustments in how we listen and respond can significantly impact the quality of our interactions.

I realized how important concepts like backchanneling, nodding, mirroring, eye contact, prompting and silence are. I especially understood how crucial it is to maintain proper eye contact and the significance of nodding. In some moments, prompting was very supportive in helping them speak comfortably. In the end, my friend told me how helpful my approach had been, and they mentioned that their stress had decreased.

I also use some of these approaches for myself when needed, and I find them incredibly calming, reassuring, and grounding.

If we could integrate these five advising strategies and six tips into our lives, we would observe how calming and reassuring we are in our human relationships. When we advisor them as advisors, we see how beneficial we can be to those we are advising.

During the conversation I tried to use five strategies and the six tips to improve the quality of converstaion and be more active listener.

While speaking about the problem, I realized he was stressed a bit and could not the problem clearly. Because of that, I repeated what he said. I think this repeating strategy provided for him to see his problem clearly. I also try to empathize with him because I am an engineering student too and facing similar problems. It was natural to be stressed. Because in these projects the time is limited and they are generally challenging. For my roommate the feeling of being understood makes him feel better. Also with back-channeling and eye contact, he felt he listened because I was actively reacting to his sentences and looking his face mostly. I was not doing something else while speaking with him.

About the pre-class reading, this document explains the 5 strategies and tips. These detailed explanations and conversation examples make them more understandable. Reading this document before the class definitely help to understand these strategies better. In the activities we made during the class, we can be more active, know what we are doing, and use the strategies effectively.

While I heavily rely on body language, empathy, and repetition, I noticed that since I am often the quieter one, I don't use restating or complimenting as much. This might give the impression that I am not fully engaged in the conversation. Therefore, I believe that making an effort to talk more and actively involve the other person in the conversation will help me improve my communication skills in future interactions.

At the same time, I was already using the 6 tips a lot in my daily life communications and I used them in this communication as well. I realized how much I enjoyed applying the items of back channeling and reflection in particular.

I saw how all these elements we used fed the communication, and the fact that my reactions made my friend feel good also made me feel very good and increased my self-confidence. I realized how much healthy communication actually affects our bond with a person we have just met.

I think that the contents of the RALL 101 course really touched on very important communication points for our lives. I feel that reading before class will make us think more about the content of the class, I think this is an important element since the time of the class is limited.

Using the 6 tips also helps a lot in keeping the conversation dynamic. Especially making eye contact is very important in every face-to-face communication. The other person also understands that they are cared for and respected. Using the tips of nodding and remaining silent here and there gives the other person the opportunity to express themselves more comfortably. These tips are underestimated but very important details in communication.

Learning these strategies and tips reminded me how important it is to communicate and to feel understood. I also learned and experienced that these strategies contribute greatly to mutual respect.

For the 6 tips, they are the most important communication steps. Concepts such as back channeling, nodding, mirroring, eye contact, suggestion and silence increase the power of expressing concepts that words cannot provide in communication. Sometimes I cannot find the words to say, but using these tips takes the burden off my shoulders. In this way, the person in front of me feels that I understand him, listen to him, and care about him.

In summary, I realize how much all this learning has facilitated active communication. I realize how much it helps to eliminate misunderstandings. I am very happy that it makes both parties understand and feel good.

When I was talking with a friend, she said that the courses are too hard and she wants to drop the course. She looked seemd stressfull. I tried to give advices with using 5 strategies. I asked her to tell me what she was worried about and tried to make it clear to her that I was listening and interested by repeating what she was saying. I told her that I understood her, that my classes were hard too, but that everything would be fine if we proceeded calmly and regularly. She relaxed as she listened to me and said that she could try it. Before I learned these startegies I was nervous when I had to give advice to someone and I didn't know how to give advice, but this time I was happy to be able to give advice effectively and calm them down. I will try to use these strategies more in my daily life :)

Last week, a friend told me about his work-life challenges. Listening to him, I showed that I supported him by occasionally giving him feedback like, “You're right, this can be really hard”. He was relieved to feel I was listening to him. Based on my own experience, I tended to offer a solution immediately. However, without pulling myself back and judging him, "This is a challenge that you are experiencing, and what matters here is how you feel. So how can I help you?" I took his problems at my center. On the one hand, my friend stopped talking and became immersed in thoughts. I gave him some time and kept it quiet. "What happened next?" by asking questions such as, I allowed my friend to open up more. I accompanied him with constant eye contact while my friend told me about his problems. This showed my interest in and respect for him. These six tips helped us build deeper and more meaningful bonds. It was useful both to understand the feelings of the other party and share our thoughts.

When I reinforced these techniques with pre-lesson readings, I realized that, in counseling, it was not enough to focus on solving the problem, but I also needed to give importance to the inner world of the person. The five counseling strategies and six helpful tips I learned during the course gave this theoretical knowledge a practical direction.

Pre-lesson reading is important for a better understanding of the lesson. It is difficult to understand a topic when we see it for the first time. If we read before the lesson, we will have a general knowledge about the subject. We can understand the lesson better and participate actively. If we have a question in our mind, we should take a note somewhere and ask the instructor if this question is not answered in the lesson. When I study before the lesson, I have more productive lessons. It is a mystery how much I apply this :)

I then reiterated their feelings by saying, “Yes, you feel that we’re struggling to find time for each other. You’re right about that.” Later, when they expressed, “I’m really busy, that’s why I can’t meet you,” I rephrased it by asking, “So, your workload has increased, and that’s making it difficult for us to meet, am I understanding you correctly?” At the end of our conversation, I summarized by suggesting, “So it’s becoming harder for you to find time, and that’s affecting us. Maybe we should review our schedules and find more suitable times.” To show empathy, I added, “I understand; being busy can be really challenging. I can imagine how you’re feeling in this situation.” I also allowed for silence when needed, giving them space to reflect.

Furthermore, at the end of our conversation, I complimented them by saying, “I appreciate your dedication to your work. Thank you for trying to find time for me despite your busy schedule.” This approach helped to clear up any misunderstandings between us and strengthened our relationship. This experience once again highlighted the significance of effective communication. Additionally, our pre-class readings provide us with prior knowledge related to the lesson and assist in better understanding the topic.

Restating is different because in this case I put the person’s thoughts in new words. This helps me see their situation from another person. I have observed, in fact, that in so doing, restatements lead people sometimes to realize some things they did not realize before. Restatements help to focus the attention of the person to look at the whole picture.

A summary is also important because it means I get together the main points of a long conversation, and I do not get lost in too many details. Summaries help me dig in with questions that could lead to great lessons.

Empathizing has been especially useful in establishing rapport with other persons. When I empathize, I try to understand how the other person is feeling. For example, if a friend is nervous about a big event, I can say, "I appreciate what you are going through. That must feel like a lot of pressure." This shows him that I care and understand how he feels.

Lastly, complimenting would be a great way of bolstering people's spirits. I have learned that when I give genuine compliments, it serves as a support. :)

Since I started using these strategies, I have noticed a significant improvement in my communication style. With back-channeling, when I support the other person to keep talking with small sounds of affirmation, conversations become more fluid. Nodding and mirroring shows the other person that I understand them and that I am on the same wave with them. When I make a point of making eye contact, I feel we connect on a deeper level and people start to feel more valued. Encouraging questions and remaining silent when necessary opens the door to more thoughtful and meaningful conversations. These small changes have made me a better listener and more empathetic communicator both at work and in social circles.

Pre-lesson reading helps us build a stronger connection with the lesson content. Reading beforehand provides a foundation for the topics that will be covered in the lesson, so that students can make connections more quickly during the lesson.

Before I started using these strategies in my daily life, I remembered a very impressive sentence that Gamze Hoca said: ‘You have to lie down on the ground to pick up someone who is lying down.’ This sentence was about the mirroring tip. This sentence must have seemed so right to me that this became my primary strategy. In my daily dialogues, before starting to talk, I mirrored the sitting/standing position of the person in front of me. In line with other tips, strategies and principles, I tried to make my communication partner feel that I understood and listened to them with my empathy by nodding my head, that I was in a neutral position and that I would never judge them throughout my daily communications. With repeating and restating, I aimed to make the person I was dialogue with aware of what he/she said and hear his/her problem from different perspectives. I also briefly summarized what my dialogue partners said so that they knew I was listening and gave feedback. I also used the power of silence and compliments at appropriate times. In addition, I applied what I think is my biggest takeaway from the lessons. What is this? When the person in front of me mentioned a problem, instead of giving him/her solution advice related to his/her problem, I tried to help him/her find the solution himself/herself. I would like to give an example of one of my applications: My cousin said that he felt very stressed and anxious because of the inter-school sports competition and that he questioned his competence in the team and at the same time could not spend enough time on school lessons due to his trainings. I repeated his sentences by reducing the number of words, and restated them in my own words to make him see the problem from my perspective. I summarized his sentences and gave reactions like ‘hmm, okay, then?’ to his speech. After some questions I asked, there was silence and I let him think. I continued eye contact and mirroring throughout the dialogue. I appreciated his efforts in this regard and expressed that it was not easy for him to try to improve himself in two areas and that I understood his feelings on this issue. At the end of this dialogue, I received a compliment that made me very happy: my cousin said that I was a good listener because whenever he told someone else about this problem, he received definite advice such as quitting sports or studying completely on the weekends, and that he felt that I understood him when he told me about this issue.

After these practices, although I noticed that the person in front of me felt nervous at first while explaining his problem in my daily dialogues, I noticed that he started to sit more comfortably and feel calmer in the following minutes of the practice. Also, I did not say that I was doing a practice related to my lesson in any of my dialogues and I communicated as if I was in a completely daily conversation in order to see the results of the practice fairly. After these fair practices, I noticed that my daily communications started to become more productive because I could express myself better during the dialogue and understand the person in front of me better. As the conversation started to become more fluent, I also felt that I became a better listener. Being a good listener made the dialogue more valuable because I was able to establish a deeper connection with my conversation partner. On the other hand, while the Pre-class reading mentioned the 5 strategies in the 3rd week topic, it also mentioned silence and mirroring among the 6 tips that were the topics of the 5th week. In addition to the strategies and tips in the course content, this reading also mentioned various different methods, and the other strategies were directly related to the course content, but the most striking and thought-provoking of these different methods were using metaphor and challenging. Using metaphor is one of the best ways to explain the situation we are in with simpler sentences because it visualizes the situation and allows us to look at it from the outside. Challenging is an important strategy in terms of not acting according to the personal limits we unconsciously set for ourselves and not lowering our expectations from ourselves. Giving examples to our conversation partner using appropriate metaphors and questioning their own limits by asking challenging questions are also very useful strategies. Pre-class reading is an informative text with very useful different strategies in addition to the strategies in the course content.

As she described her dilemma, I noted how stressed she was. I understood that because of her stress, she was having difficulty expressing herself clearly. So I employed the repating strategy, echoing her remarks back to her. I might have remarked, "It sounds like your teammates aren't doing their tasks properly, and this is delaying the project, right?" By doing so, I helped her see the issue more clearly. I discovered that this method helped her better grasp and explain her worries.

Additionally, I tried to empathize with her. While I’m an engineering student, and the challenges in group projects can be different, I can imagine that in a field like public health, teamwork might bring unique difficulties. Group projects in both disciplines can be challenging at times. I reassured her that stress in such tasks is natural, and that problems arise when responsibilities are not appropriately distributed. Empathizing with her allowed her to feel understood, and the dialog grew more open and honest.

Additionally, I demonstrated that I was paying attention by making eye contact and back-channeling. Small answers like "yes" or "I understand" to her phrases showed that I was paying attention to what she was saying. I focused entirely on her, avoiding distractions and maintaining eye contact. The effectiveness of the conversation increased as a result. Silence also played a significant part; I occasionally kept quiet to allow her time to collect her thoughts. She was better able to think and communicate her feelings during these quiet times.

In conclusion, my friend felt supported and understood after our talk. By employing these techniques, I was able to better understand her issue in addition to listening to her. I came to see that allowing someone to express themselves and recognizing their feelings significantly improves communication.

After I started using these strategies, my conversations with people have gotten much better. Back-channeling makes the other person feel comfortable continuing the conversation. Nodding my head and mimicking his or her movements shows that I am listening and understanding. When I makeeye contact, we build a more secure and intimate connection. I encourage them to talk more by asking questions and sometimes I stay silent to give them time to think. These techniques help me to communicate with people more powerfully and efficiently.

Pre-lesson reading, when linked to the lesson content, helps students to be better prepared. Pre-readings introduce the basic concepts of the lesson and thus students participate more actively during the lesson. In addition, topics that attract students' attention or arouse curiosity during pre-reading can be made more meaningful by addressing them in depth during the lesson.

Yes, I found some differences in the dynamics of my conversations by using the first 5 advising strategies and had a chance to understand better how I act. First of all, I tried to use these conversation strategies while talking with my family, and this led to a big change compared to my previous strategy (I think my previous way of speaking was a bit judgmental. I believe this is because I tend to judge my own actions too much in my mind, and it has become a habit and because of the negative influence of society as well).

The parts I found the most difficult to apply, as you might guess, were "empathizing" and "complementing." To solve the problem with "complementing," I had to look at situations from different perspectives, but while doing that, I also had to find the right angle to express my thoughts without judging the person listening to me. This was challenging at first, and it still is, because, as I will explain in the "empathizing" part, I tend to judge people at first, even though I don’t express it in the conversation. However, with practice, this tendency has become less frequent.

About "empathizing," I want to say this: I believe everyone has the tendency to think that others are like them, even unconsciously. For example, when my awareness weakens, I feel like everyone judges themselves the way I do, so I tend to think it’s okay for me to judge others too. But as I mentioned before, this happens quickly and is immediately controlled, because as soon as the judgmental part becomes active, my awareness also strengthens.

So, to sum up briefly, if I used to think once, now I think twice.

After using these five conversation strategies in daily life, I observed these things. I hope you liked my reflection, and I hope I understood the concept of reflection correctly

Thanks to everyone who read this far, and I wish you a good day 🙂

(I wanted to share this photo with you, which has a special place for me, and I hope you also liked it. )

Also, the pre-class reading material feels like a longer and more complex explanation of our course content. They state the same contents mostly. I feel like the course content is a compact, well arranged version of advising strategies content in the pre-class reading.

For example, when she mentioned struggling with speaking fluently, I repeated what she said to confirm I understood her feelings. I empathized by sharing my own challenges with learning a new language, which helped to build a connection. Using back-channeling techniques, such as nodding and making small verbal acknowledgments, seemed to encourage her to continue talking and explore her feelings more deeply. I also used prompting to gently guide her towards identifying specific areas she wanted to improve, rather than just focusing on her frustrations.

Applying these strategies made the conversation flow smoothly and helped me stay more engaged. I noticed that summarizing what she said periodically also helped to clarify her thoughts and allowed us to discuss practical steps for improvement. Compared to my previous conversations, I felt more confident in advising, and the strategies seemed to make a positive difference in how the conversation unfolded.

Regarding the pre-class reading, I found it valuable for providing a deeper understanding of each strategy. The detailed explanations and examples helped me grasp how to use them in real-life conversations, and I noticed that this preparation made the in-class activities more meaningful and effective.

Reflection Assignment 2 (10pts): 

Watch the two demo advising sessions and fill in the checklist the 12 strategies here. The f2F video is here and the online version is here. Reflect on your observations on the advising session relating to the readings:

-What strategies would you prefer if you were the advisor of this session?

-What questions would you ask your advisee?

Here's another demo session that you can watch and reflect on. Start watching at 1:14:20, please :)

What strategies would you prefer if you were the advisor of this session?

If I were the advisor in this session, I would focus on using strategies such as empathizing, powerful questioning, and experience sharing. Demonstrating empathy would help build a trusting relationship and make the student feel understood and supported. I would also use powerful questions to encourage the student to reflect deeply on their thoughts and decisions, promoting self-awareness and critical thinking. Additionally, sharing my personal experiences related to the student's situation could help them feel more connected and provide practical insights or advice.

What questions would you ask your advisee?

What are your main goals or challenges right now?

How do you feel about your current progress?

What steps have you already taken to address these issues?

Is there something specific you’d like more support or guidance on?

What motivates you the most to keep going, even when things get tough?

Face-to-face sessions also allow counselors to adjust their approach on the fly based on student responses, which increases engagement and responsiveness. This real-time adaptability is essential for building trust and intuitively addressing unspoken concerns. In addition, accountability feels more tangible in a face-to-face setting, where the formal setting reinforces commitment to goals and encourages students to take their responsibilities more seriously.

While online counseling is convenient and efficient, especially for sharing resources quickly, it lacks the warmth and depth of face-to-face interaction. Ultimately, I would approach this with similar questions and would prefer a face-to-face service as I find face-to-face counselling more holistic and supportive.

For the first question, I can say there are already a lot of strategies used in both sessions. As I said found the sessions professional and effective. Of course all of the strategies are helpful and can be used but for me the most important strategies are repeating to understand problem better, summarizing to be able to keep important details in mind, emphasizing if it is possible to make the advisee feel better about the situation, powerful questions to look for the root cause of the problem and try to make solutions, lastly experience sharing to give some examples to the advisee.

For the second question, the questions I would ask to the advisee would be mostly about the details of the problem, characteristics of the advisee and feelings of the advisee about the situation. As a result of these questions, I think understanding the situation and the problem would be easier. Also knowing the advisee better helps me to suggest somethings.

Asking Powerful Questions also played an important role in promoting self-assessment. Open-ended questions like, “What do you think is the root cause of this challenge?” helped the advisee analyze their learning methods. However, I noticed that the issue of Accountability was emphasized less; without clear goals and checkpoints, it becomes challenging to maintain motivation.

If I were the advisor, I would primarily use Empathizing, Accountability, and Summarizing strategies. Establishing empathy initially creates a safe space for open sharing. Additionally, I would encourage the advisee to set specific, short-term goals to incorporate structured accountability. For example, I would suggest they dedicate ten minutes a day to vocabulary practice. By using Experience Sharing, I would strengthen the connection by sharing my personal examples of overcoming similar challenges, helping the advisee feel less alone.

I would want to ask my advisee the following questions:

1. “What specific goals do you want to achieve this month?”

2. “Which study techniques have worked in the past, and can they be applied here?”

3. “What steps can you commit to taking for consistent progress this week?”

4. “How about setting a short check-in date to review progress?”

• So, thinking about what is most important to you, what kind of goal would make you happiest?

• If you could achieve one thing right now, what would it be?

• Based on how you're feeling now, what would you like to try in the next few days?

• How do you feel about your current goals? Is there anything you'd like to change about them?

• What would make you feel successful?

• Is there something you've always wanted to do but have felt held-back?

• If money, time and obligations were no issue, what would you want to do?

With the physical setting, the advisor understood the student better and read the student's body language better, but there was no such situation in the online session.

She/he gained confidence with eye contact and communicated better. In the online session, on the other hand, it was more like a formal session, eye contact could not be caught.

If I were an advisor, I would prefer the face-to-face one because it would be stronger in terms of communication.

I preferred the strategy of asking challenging questions because I would push the other side to think and make them give different answers.

If I were a advisor, I would ask how you are following the path to learn English and how old it started.

In the online format, advisors can instantly share documents, visual aids, and other materials, which can be useful for guiding the discussion. From another perspective, it is harder for an advisor to empathize with a student who is not physically present compared to one who is. In conclusion, both types of sessions, both advising environments, provide a unique experience for both the advisor and the student. However, if I were to choose one, I would definitely prefer face-to-face sessions where I can better sense my student’s feelings and emotions.

If I were the advisor in this session, I would try to empathize with my student to understand and reassure them, and I would try to build a connection by asking powerful questions and sharing relevant experiences. I would indicate to my student the importance of thinking deeply about their topic and provide the necessary environment to implement this. I would create this environment effectively through the questions I asked. With these questions, my student would gain self-awareness and learn to think critically.

What questions would I ask my advisee?

1. What do you think about your current progress?

2. What would motivate you more as you move forward?

3. What do you think is the biggest challenge you are facing right now?

4. What is one small change you could make?

Although the online advising sessions may be effective in terms of sharing resources, they lack personal warmth. Virtual format can be helpful in instantly sharing documents, visuals, and links by advisors, which would help in structuring the session. However, rapport building and assessing the emotional state of the student is more difficult without physical cues.

If I had to advise in these sessions, I would adopt strategies such as Empathizing, Summarizing, and Asking Powerful Questions. Empathy provides a background for trust, while summarizing guarantees that all key points are retained and weighed. Powerful questions foster deep reflection by students in identifying root causes of their challenges. I would further encourage accountability by asking them to set small achievable goals. Sharing my experiences would allow the student to feel supported and less singularly on a journey.

For any such sessions, my key questions would include

1-What is one concrete thing you'd like to accomplish on a short-term basis?

2-What methods have worked for you in the past that you could try again now?

3-What do you think is your biggest hurdle now?

After analyzing both the face-to-face and online advising sessions, I’ve come to appreciate the distinct advantages and challenges each format presents. In-person advising offers a richness that online formats often lack. The ability to read body language and make eye contact fosters a deeper connection with students, creating a supportive environment that encourages open communication. This physical presence allows advisors to pick up on nonverbal cues, making it easier to empathize and adjust the conversation based on the student’s immediate reactions. This adaptability is vital in building trust and ensuring that the student feels understood.

Conversely, online advising provides convenience and immediate access to resources, enabling advisors to share documents and visual aids on the spot. However, this format can feel more formal and may hinder the development of rapport. It’s more challenging to gauge a student’s emotional state without the benefit of physical presence, which can limit the effectiveness of strategies that rely on empathy and personal connection.

If I were the advisor in these sessions, I would prioritize strategies such as empathizing, asking powerful questions, and summarizing key points. Empathy is crucial for establishing trust, while powerful questions can prompt deep reflection and help students articulate their challenges more clearly. Summarizing ensures that both the advisor and student are on the same page, reinforcing understanding and commitment.

In terms of specific questions, I would ask:

What challenges are you currently facing in your learning journey?

How do you feel about your progress so far?

What strategies have you tried, and how effective have they been?

What support do you think would help you move forward?

By incorporating these elements, I believe the advising experience can be more impactful, regardless of the format. Ultimately, while both in-person and online sessions have their merits, the personal connection achieved through face-to-face interactions makes it my preferred choice.

I observed that the strategies highlighted in the pre-course readings were effective in fostering a more personal connection with the learner. This approach aligned well with the focus on individualized engagement emphasized in our readings.

If I were a consultant, I would prioritize empathy to reinforce this personal approach, aiming to create a trusting environment. I would also ask open-ended questions to explore the learner's goals and strengths in greater depth.

In an online setting, I would consider incorporating additional visual aids to sustain engagement, as these could help maintain the learner’s motivation. Additionally, I would use metaphors to make complex concepts more relatable and complement the learner's positive behaviors, helping them feel valued and understood.

Moreover, I would employ strategies such as repeating and summarizing and intuiting a the learner’s words to ensure mutual understanding, restating to clarify points, and complementing their efforts to boost confidence. I believe that these techniques, combined with empathy and visual aids, would support a stronger connection and foster more effective guidance.

•Are there areas where it is difficult to motivate itself?

•What can you do to increase motivation in these areas?

•What are the most important gains you want to achieve in this journey?

These questions can help increase the learner’s awareness and take steps toward their own goals. It also permits the learner to find sources of intrinsic motivation, identify obstacles, and think about improving their personal skills. 

In a face-to-face session, I would prioritize Empathizing, Powerful Questions, and Linking strategies to support the student effectively. Face-to-face interaction allows for observing body language and tone, fostering trust and making the student feel comfortable sharing her frustrations. Validating her dislike for traditional, reading-heavy methods of English learning would help her feel understood.Using Powerful Questions, I could uncover her motivations and connect English to her passion for anime. Questions like “What about anime would you enjoy discussing in English?” and “How do you see your English improving through anime?” would prompt her to view language learning as enjoyable. Linking her interest in anime to her goals would deepen her engagement, making English feel less like studying and more like an extension of her interests.

For an online session with Haruka’s Danish goals, I would focus on Empathizing, Powerful Questioning, and Planning & Accountability. While online sessions may lack some nonverbal cues, they offer comfort and flexibility, supporting structured planning with digital tools. Empathizing with Haruka’s pronunciation and speaking struggles would help her feel understood, while Powerful Questioning would clarify her goals. Questions like “What inspired you to restart Danish?” would help her set priorities. Planning and Accountability would involve creating a manageable routine, such as short daily practice sessions. By asking, “How could you fit Danish into your daily routine?” and using reminders, I could encourage consistent practice, making the online format ideal for goal-setting and follow-up.

Both formats have unique benefits: face-to-face sessions excel in building trust and empathy, while online meetings are ideal for structured planning and accountability. The advisor’s approach can be adapted to each student’s needs, ensuring effective support in either format.

In face-to-face meetings, the ability to observe students' body language, facial expressions and other non-verbal cues made communication more natural and deep. Eye-to-eye communication was quite effective in terms of continuity of details. In general, I think that he did not have a significant empathy, showing that the students could be understood created a more intimate environment for him. He also recognized the possibilities that the process could be more sincere and tolerant, since he could be instantly stimulated according to the reactions of the conversations.

A more practical solution was available in online counseling. Counselors and their proven, digitized data and visuals could be shared instantly. The flexibility of online relationships, especially the elimination of time and space constraints, was provided. However, the online format had some limitations in terms of establishing personal connections; therefore, due to the lack of physical activity, the counselor could not fully observe the emotional changes and reactions of the young person. This situation reduced empathy and personal connection to some extent. The process is more unhealthy.

In both cases, the student felt safe and understood and was ready to be more open and sincere in the conversations. Powerful questions were asked. These questions, transformed into depth, helped the student express himself more clearly and discover his root causes. However, I found face-to-face communication to be healthier. The process is a better plane.

In face-to-face meetings, the ability to observe students' body language, facial expressions and other non-verbal cues made communication more natural and deep. Eye-to-eye communication was quite effective in terms of continuity of details. In general, I think that he did not have a significant empathy, showing that the students could be understood created a more intimate environment for him. He also recognized the possibilities that the process could be more sincere and tolerant, since he could be instantly stimulated according to the reactions of the conversations.

A more practical solution was available in online counseling. Counselors and their proven, digitized data and visuals could be shared instantly. The flexibility of online relationships, especially the elimination of time and space constraints, was provided. However, the online format had some limitations in terms of establishing personal connections; therefore, due to the lack of physical activity, the counselor could not fully observe the emotional changes and reactions of the young person. This situation reduced empathy and personal connection to some extent. The process is more unhealthy.

In both cases, the student felt safe and understood and was ready to be more open and sincere in the conversations. Powerful questions were asked. These questions, transformed into depth, helped the student express himself more clearly and discover his root causes. However, I found face-to-face communication to be healthier. The process is a better plane.

-Do you have the opportunity to speak English in social environments? How does this situation affect you? How do you think creating opportunities to speak affects you?

-How do you reward yourself to increase your motivation to learn?

-How does setting goals for yourself affect you? Do you experience low motivation when you cannot reach your goals?

-What do you do to follow and control your learning process? What are the methods or materials you use in the follow-up process?

I think these questions are good examples of the 10th strategy, 'powerful questions'. They can benefit the process by making the advisee think.

Obviously, each strategy has a very important and unchangeable place in giving advice. Each strategy can be used at appropriate times according to the subject and the process of the conversation. If I were advisor of this session, I would try to use all 12 strategies, but I think some strategies would be more effective in giving advice during the language learning process. I would especially try to use the strategies of empathizing, repeating, restating, summarizing, powerful questions, metaphor, and challenging. Empathizing is very important, the language learning process can be challenging, empathizing can provide more harmony with the advisee, and understanding the advisee's efforts in this regard can make the advisee feel more comfortable. Thanks to metaphor, abstract thoughts become more understandable with concrete examples and explain the current situation better, and the use of metaphor allows the learner to look at himself and the situation from an outside perspective. The use of metaphor is also very well exemplified in online and face-to-face advice videos and strengthens the dynamics of the dialogue. Repeating, restating, and summarizing are 3 key strategies because they show the advisee that you are listening and highlight important points. In both videos, Satoko frequently applied these 3 strategies, which impressed me. Asking powerful questions helps the advisee think deeply about their goals and motivation. Challenging is also an impressive strategy because it increases self-confidence by emphasizing that the advisee should not keep their expectations low, and self-confidence is a very important feature in the language learning process.

While online advising can be effective for sharing resources, it often lacks the warmth that comes from in-person interactions. The virtual format allows for quick sharing of documents, visuals, and links, which can help organize the session. However, it is more difficult to build rapport and assess the emotional state of the student without physical cues.

If I were in a position to advise during these sessions, I would focus on strategies like empathizing, summarizing, and asking powerful questions. Empathy helps to build trust, while summarizing ensures that important points are captured and encourages deeper reflection on challenges. Additionally, encouraging students to set small, achievable goals promotes accountability. By sharing my own experiences, I hope to make students feel supported and less alone on their journey.

1. What methods have been effective for you in the past that you could revisit and apply again now?

2. Are there specific areas where you find it challenging to motivate yourself?

3. What are the key outcomes you hope to achieve throughout this journey?

1. What issues do you want to improve on right now?

2. What are the areas where you feel the strongest?

3. What is the personal trait that you most want to improve in yourself?

In face-to-face sessions, counselors can adjust their approach in real time based on student responses and provide a more responsive and engaging experience. This immediate adaptability is crucial for building trust and addressing unspoken concerns. Additionally, the formal setting of face-to-face counseling fosters accountability, encouraging individuals to take their goals and responsibilities more seriously.

While online counseling offers the convenience of sharing resources quickly and without requiring space, it lacks the warmth and depth of face-to-face interactions. Despite this, online sessions can be effective in certain situations, offering flexibility and accessibility. However, I personally prefer face-to-face sessions because they provide a more inclusive, supportive, and understandable environment. If I were a counselor, I would use similar questioning strategies in both settings, such as asking students about areas they would like to improve on, strengths, and personal characteristics they would like to develop.

What motivates you? How long will you be satisfied to work?

I would ask questions like that.

Comparing these two different sessions, I think the online one was a bit more efficient. For the face-to-face one, I think there are more things like distractions, but the online one felt fuller and more productive. The online one was less repetitive but there was much less encouragement.

I think I would continue with an online advisor.

("By the way, Hocam , it didn’t look like this in Word, but there’s quite a big space showing up between the two checklists. I completed separate checklists for each demo.)"

As I mentioned, I observed and analyzed the practice of advising. So, let's talk about the things that I would If I were Satoko. First of all, I thought Satoko's use of reflective questions and how she managed the process was very good. She allowed the advisee to express themselves and guided them in finding their problem without judgment.

If I were in her place, I would follow the same approach; in fact, I might even ask the same questions. However, as part of my reflection, I need to find other questions I could ask. Here are some alternative questions that I could ask:

Instead of asking "Why do you think it happens?" ,even though it is a good question, I would ask "How about noticing which parts you find the most challenging and talking about them?" Even if I’m not sure if it is a good question to ask.

Other than that, there are lots of questions out there like:

-"How do you usually practice? Do you feel that your current methods are helping you improve?"

-"What goals do you have for your language learning?"

-"Can you share a recent experience where you felt challenged while learning?"

I hope you liked my reflection. Thank you for reading this far :)

Questions;

1)Are there any strategies that have worked well for you in the past that you could try again now?

2What strategies could help you understand your problem better?

3)What made you decide to start learning Danish again?

If I were the consultant for this session, what strategies would I prefer?

I would prioritize active listening techniques to ensure that both Satoko and Isra feel fully heard and understood. This involves encouraging each speaker to paraphrase and reflect on what the other is saying before responding, fostering deeper engagement. Additionally, I would incorporate non-verbal communication cues—like maintaining appropriate eye contact and using gestures to show empathy—as these can reinforce emotional support, especially if one speaker feels misunderstood or hesitant.

What questions would I ask my consultant?

If I were seeking advice from my consultant, I would ask:

How can I better facilitate understanding between Satoko and Isra when one seems more dominant in the conversation? This would help address potential power imbalances or ensure that both voices are equally valued.

What techniques could I use to encourage deeper emotional engagement? This would help in drawing out any unspoken feelings or concerns that may be affecting the flow of the conversation.

How can I create a more supportive environment where both feel comfortable expressing disagreement without causing tension? This is key to fostering honest communication without fear of conflict.

In my daily life, I listen to the people in front of me very well in order to establish healthy communication, and I saw that the advisors in these sessions that I watched were good at this.

If I were the advisor of these sessions, I would add more powerful questions and metaphorical embellishments to my session. These strategies have a great impact on my daily life.

There are a few reasons why I think that giving advice using the metaphor strategy is very important:

Facilitates Meaning: Metaphors make complex or abstract topics more understandable. For example, saying "the heart is like a safe" implies that we keep our feelings secret and safe. This expresses an abstract concept in a more concrete way.

Creates an Emotional Connection: Metaphors allow people to connect emotionally with what we are saying. For example, the metaphor “life is a journey” creates a common understanding by referring to people’s personal experiences that have ups and downs. This makes it easier for us to establish an emotional connection.

Deepens and Inspires Thought: Metaphors help people develop new perspectives by making thoughts more effective. They broaden meanings and encourage the listener to think and explore more deeply. For example, the metaphor “planting the seeds of an idea” describes the creative process as a development that takes time and directs the person to be patient in this process.

If I were a advisor, the questions I would ask in these sessions would be:

How do you deal with a situation where you have difficulty in your learning journey and what can you do to make this process more enjoyable?”

When you start something, does the process or the result motivate you?

The strategies from the counseling session on pre-course readings were effective in creating a more personalized experience, aligning with the personal approach highlighted in the readings. If I were advising, I would prioritize empathy to foster this approach further. Asking open-ended questions would help uncover the learner's goals and strengths, providing a deeper understanding of their needs.

As a counselor, my focus would be on showing empathy to build trust and understanding with the learner. I would also use open-ended questions to encourage them to reflect on their abilities and aspirations. In an online setting, I might incorporate visual aids to maintain engagement, as I believe this approach could boost the learner's motivation.

Here are some questions that could support the learner’s self-awareness and goal-setting:

• Are there specific areas where you find it challenging to stay motivated?

• What steps could you take to increase motivation in these areas?

• What are the key outcomes you want to achieve in this process?

These questions can guide the learner in identifying intrinsic motivation, recognizing obstacles, and considering strategies to strengthen their personal skills.

As a student, ı watched both face-to-face and online sessions for language learning advising, and each has its unique benefits.

In face-to-face sessions, learner feel a stronger connection with advisor. It’s easier to read their expressions, ask spontaneous questions, and have a more fluid conversation. There’s a natural flow in person, and learner find it easier to stay focused and engaged. Plus, the immediate feedback helps learner feel confident about their learning strategies.

On the other hand, online sessions offer incredible flexibility. Learner can join from anywhere, which saves their time and makes it easier to fit into schedule. Although it’s virtual, Learner still feel supported by advisor, who provides resources and encouragement in real time. Sometimes, screen-sharing tools even make it easier to work on digital resources or review learners progress.

Overall, both formats are valuable, and I appreciate having the option to choose based on my needs and availability. If ı was a advisor in this talk ı focussing on summarizing, empathizing, complimenting and experience sharing ı want create a safe and reliable place for learner for more free space. Also the questions ı want to ask are;

1- What was the motivation for learning this language in first place?

2-What are doing when you usually feel stress about learning journey?

Powerful questions help the student get to know himself during the counseling process and reinforce his motivation. Especially in the language learning process, strategies such as empathy, repetition, summarization, use of metaphors and strong questions increase the student's self-confidence and provide support in the process. For example, while metaphors help concretize abstract concepts, empathy strengthens the environment of trust by showing sensitivity to the difficulties experienced by the student.

Although each of the 12 strategies is important in the counseling process, especially empathy, powerful questions, metaphor and challenge strategies can be very effective in difficult processes such as language learning.

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Although online counseling is convenient and accessible, it often lacks the warmth and depth of in-person interactions. While online sessions are useful in certain contexts, face-to-face meetings provide a more supportive and engaging environment. As a counselor, I would incorporate similar questioning strategies in both settings to understand students' goals, strengths, and areas for growth.

Repeating helped confirm understanding, making my family feel heard and validated, as they saw I was fully present and engaged.

Restating clarified points, reducing misunderstandings and ensuring everyone was on the same page.

Summarizing allowed me to condense lengthy discussions, helping us focus on the core issues and come to conclusions more quickly.

Empathizing deepened our connection, as showing empathy made it clear that I understood and respected their feelings.

Complimenting created a positive atmosphere, boosting morale and making each conversation feel supportive rather than critical.

Metaview/Linking enabled us to see the bigger picture in our discussions, helping us understand how our issues were interconnected and encouraging more holistic solutions.

Using Metaphor made complex feelings or situations easier to understand, adding a layer of creativity to our conversations that resonated with my family.

Intuiting allowed me to sense unspoken emotions or concerns, which helped address issues more directly and showed my attentiveness.

Challenging pushed us to confront difficult topics, leading to greater honesty and a willingness to tackle longstanding issues.

Asking Powerful Questions led to deeper insights, as open-ended questions encouraged family members to reflect and share more openly.

Experience Sharing made my communication more relatable, as sharing my own experiences fostered mutual trust and helped others feel less alone in their struggles.

Accountability ensured that each of us took responsibility for our roles in the conversation, promoting lasting positive changes and encouraging commitment to follow through.

Overall, these strategies transformed our communication, creating a more understanding, respectful, and productive dynamic within my family.

On the other hand, online sessions have their own benefits, particularly when it comes to efficiency and accessibility. The digital format enables the advisor to quickly share resources or tools that may help the advisee, which can make problem-solving more immediate. However, without in-person cues, it can be harder to gauge how the advisee feels, which might limit the impact of empathy-based strategies.

If I were advising in these sessions, I would focus on using strategies like summarizing and asking powerful questions. Summarizing can help clarify the main points of the conversation and make sure both parties are aligned. Powerful questions prompt the advisee to reflect deeply on their goals and motivations, which can lead to valuable insights. For example, I might ask questions like, “What’s been the biggest challenge in your learning process recently?” or “How do you feel about the progress you’ve made so far?” to encourage self-reflection.

I also noticed that using metaphors could be effective, as they make abstract concepts more relatable and can help the advisee feel more connected to the advice. For instance, describing learning as a “journey” with “milestones” helps frame setbacks as natural parts of progress. This can be motivating and remind the advisee that every experience contributes to growth.

Reflecting on these sessions has shown me how these strategies can enhance communication and problem-solving, regardless of the format. I see now how important it is to adapt our strategies based on the context of the conversation.

Conversations felt more encouraging and supportive instead of being merely goal oriented. Later, my cousin complained that he or she had been listened to which got me thinking about the efficacy of the above methods- how they help in bridging relationships.

With respect to the assigned pre-class readings, these reiterated or advanced the principle which states that good advising seeks to understand and nourish rather than offer quick fixes. The texts noted that use of such simple gestures as burial head, eye contact and pitching of voice do affect very much the process of advising which was supported with practical illustrations during the classes.

In case I were an advisor, I would consider more useful strategies: Empathizing, Summarizing and Accountability in building the trust and ensuring that the advisee is progressing while still feeling supported .For example, where Empathizing would ensure that there was no harm in making the person risk, Summarizing would provide the basic structures of the problem and the solution . Conversely, Accountability would serve to sustain Everest’s commitment measurements through goal setting which is very casual.

The main subject of the questions I would address to the advisee would be their internal problems and aims. For instance:

“What, in your opinion, is the main reason why you cannot realize your aspirations?”

“What are your thoughts on your current standing and how do you expect us to assist you?”

“What can you do in this regard and what would be the best and most practical action you can take?”

Tying these principles and strategies together, I objective is to offer a supportive without losing the focus on results advising session.

1. What were the highlights of the sessions?

2. What did you like about and learn from group advising sessions?

3. Think of what you did during the Group Advising Session. What do you feel most proud of?

(What did you do in the Group Advising Session that makes you feel proud?)

I would like to ask, ''Why do you think you are struggling?'' as well, because even if the advisee doesn't realize something, they can still give important feedback for the next questions. I believe I can shape them accordingly with that feedback. Also, intuiting could be the decider of the session, it usually sets a breaking point and can help both the advisee and advisor a lot. You still have to take some risk for it to happen but I would like to use that in my sessions in the future.

1. How do you feel about your WLL experience?

2. What did you like about and learn from today’s lesson?

3. Do you think you could make use of this tool in your advising sessions? How?

I have watched the advising video of mark and the lady. The talking environment was really warm and sincere yet, I think that the lady asks a lot of questions and if I were her advisee I would get bored and start to question myself. Instead of that I would use all of the strategies in a balancing way. The questions the lady asked were quite powerful and I would ask similar questions to my advisee.