How do I ask students to borrow a USB stick?

It is completely normal to feel insecure when asking for something, especially at school. Here are some tips on how to ask politely and effectively for a USB stick, and an example explanation if you need to make a written request:

Oral questions

1. Be direct and polite: Go to your classmate or friend and ask directly. For example:

• “Hi [name], I hope you can help me. I just don’t have a USB stick on my hand and need one for an important project. Would you have one I could borrow for a short time?”

1. Explain the reason: Just explain why you need the USB stick. This shows that you don’t just want to borrow something, but there is a certain reason:

• “I’m working on an important project for [Fach/Kurs] and urgently need a USB stick to save my work. ‘

1. Offer something in return: If possible, offer something in return to show your gratitude:

• “I will only need it for today, and I can give it back to you tomorrow. If you want, I can help you with something else if you need it.”

Written questions

If you need to make a written request, for example in a note or email, the statement might look like this:

Subject: Request to borrow a USB stick

Hello [name],

I hope you’re okay.

I urgently need a USB stick for an important project that I must complete until [date]. Unfortunately, I don’t have my own USB stick at the moment. So I wanted to ask if you could borrow a USB stick.

I will only need him for a short time and make sure to treat him well and give you back as soon as possible. If you need it for something else or have concerns, I understand.

Thank you in advance for your help!

With kind regards,

[Your name]

Additional tips

• Respect the answer: Whether the answer is ‘yes’ or ‘no’, be grateful and respect the decision.
• Self-employment: Consider whether there are alternatives, such as the use of cloud services or the borrowing of USB sticks in the library or teachers, if available.

With these tips, you should be able to politely ask for a USB stick and clearly communicate your request.

(but it is not entirely risk-free to borrow a usb-stick)

L.g.