Please observe the following courtesies when calling in. This will ensure the best teleclass experience for everyone on the call.
Use a land telephone for the best phone reception. This means NO cell phones, internet phones or speaker phones. If you must call in from a cell phone, please be prepared to either mute yourself or hang up and call back on a different line if you bring an echo or static to the call.
Disable "Call Waiting" on your phone. The "Call Waiting" feature is reinstated once you hang up. Turn off the ringer to the second line when using a multi-line phone.
Use the mute feature on your telephone if you have one. Or, use the mute feature built into the bridge line, as instructed. Background noises, such as other people, a radio, or papers rattling, are amplified by your phone and distract other participants. If you don't have a mute button, please call from a quiet location.
Don't use the "hold" feature on your phone if it plays music or pre recorded messages. Please hang up and call back when you are ready to rejoin the call. It's very difficult to conduct a class over the music piped in from your hold feature.
Use the class handouts for recording information and making notes, not tape recorders. Comprehensive class notes are emailed at the end of each class.
Verify the starting time of the class for your time zone. Class times are NZ time. Call in to the class on time so the class can start on time with minimal interruption. The Teleclass begins promptly at 2 minutes after the listed start time. Please don't call the bridge before the scheduled time as another conference may be in session.
Late for the Call then no problem, just dial in and be silent until you catch on to what's being discussed. You will usually hear, "Hi, who joined us?" however, if;the session is well underway you may not be acknowledged officially but that doesn't mean you're not welcome. (By the way, when you need to call in late, it is a good idea to listen for awhile before asking questions.)
Sharing. Callers are often asked to participate throughout the call. Please wait to be prompted. When you do, say something like, "Sharon, this is John from Auckland." You will then hear "Yes, John, go ahead." (On smaller calls this formality isn't always needed)
Cross Talk. If another caller says something that you want to comment on or ask more information about, please go through the teleclass leader rather than speaking to the person directly. Announce yourself by first name before speaking so that other callers can identify you. Please keep your questions or observations short and to the point.
Heavy Breathing Some people breathe more heavily than others. Most of the heavy breathers don't realize it. What works for everyone is to hold the mouthpiece or telephone headset microphone away from their mouth and nose, unless they are speaking. This sounds pretty silly, but when you're on a call with a heavy breather, you'll understand why this is important.
Troubleshooting
I called the bridge, but no one else connected.
If the phone rings but won't connect, you may have mis-dialed, or your timing may be off. Double check the number and redial. If still no success, then check the date and time for the class.
I got a busy signal when I called the bridge number.
If you get a busy signal, it means that you either misdialled or the bridge is full. Check the number and dial again. If you still get a busy signal, then the bridge is full and is likely to remain full for the duration of the teleclass. Because of the high no-show rate for FREE classes, these sessions are usually oversubscribed so it's wise to call in on time to guarantee your place.
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