I occasionally adjunct. What students call me at the beginning of the semester is always awkward:

Them: "Hello Professor"

Me: "Technically I'm not a professor."

Them: "Okay, we'll just call you Doctor."

Me: "Yeah, about that... not a doctor either."

Them: "So why are we paying you?"

Me: "Technically, you're paying the school. And the school is paying me... very little"

Them: "Answer the question"

Me: "Because I know stuff that you don't."

Mostly they still just call me professor and I feel awkward every time.

I knew someone who was TA'ing a class back when they were in grad school. I heard a story about him - to get ahead of this uncertainty he gave the class three options for what to call him:

1) 'Steve' (his first name)

2) 'Mr. Wolfman' (his last name)

3) 'Darth Wolfman' (funny, obvious not meant to be taken seriously, option)

Guess what the class overwhelmingly voted for? :)

I don't think you should feel awkward. I refer to all my teachers in emails as professor ( unless I want to list more detailed honorifics ). My current analytics guy is clearly very smart, seems to be in that adjunct zone, but I address him as professor out of sheer respect.

For all the complicated social protocols in that neck of the woods, this would be simple in Japan. You're just 先生 (sensei) and that's it.

If they ever ask "What do we call you?" you should answer,

"God-Boss."

(Pace Steven Brust.)

I teach first-years in Australia, where boys from private schools call me "sir". When I'm feeling mean, I tell them to drop and give me ten pushups.

> ten pushups

I'm guessing you don't teach computer science

OK. 10 push_backs() then.

A short guide to academic titles: https://maniagnosis.crsr.net/2016/02/a-short-guide-to-academ...

Not the case in the UK at least.