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I think it’s safe to say that we have all had those two teachers in our past. The one who made us sit rigidly on the edge of our seats, afraid of giving an incorrect answer or spelling something wrong. They were the authority with the stack of exercises, dreaded tests and bold red markers. We just wanted the class to be over to move on to anything else where the weight would be lifted off of our shoulders so that we could breathe deep again. Then, there was that other teacher who walked into the room with a smile, looked us in the eye and asked us what was new in our lives or if we had heard that thing on the news? How we looked forward to that class. Our work was filled with interaction and the feeling that our opinions mattered. We wanted to succeed because that teacher made us feel as though they cared and that we were capable and worthy. What was the difference? The rapport that was set up from the moment that those teachers entered the classroom. A good teacher wants to keep their class progressive and enjoyable. They need their students to be at ease, enabling them to feel free to ask questions and participate in class discussions and drills. Some people have an innate ability to build rapport with others. Some have to work harder to make it seem natural but both need to follow basic principles: 1) Especially when trying to build rapport with an ESL class, a teacher needs to be culturally appropriate. By using common sense, empathy and general human kindness a trusting relationship can be built. 2) Smiling puts people at ease and crosses all borders and differences. 3) Learning students’ names is essential no matter how foreign the sounds may seem to our English tongue. 4) Listening is vital whether it was in answer to a question or an unsolicited expression. Patience, consideration and interest go a long way. 5) Our demeanor, dress and overall body language should show that we are happy to be there and are respectful of the students’ time and efforts. Every good relationship starts with good rapport. It’s what draws people to each other. First impressions, especially when walking into a classroom for the first time, can set the stage for either building good rapport or sabotaging it. Students are coming to us as teachers to help them progress toward their goals. We should try to make this relationship as comfortable and enjoyable as possible. People listen to people with whom they have built a rapport. How much more enjoyable is the interaction between people who are at ease in each other’s company. Perhaps one of the best ways of maintaining rapport is to find a common ground. This may seem daunting when we are dealing with varying degrees of language barriers. However, we shouldn’t let this deter us since all people are similar in the desire to experience joy, mutual respect and laughter. There should always be something that can be found to build a teacher/student bridge. Regardless of age, language or culture, a good rapport between a teacher and their students makes for a pleasant, motivated and successful learning environment.
