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When teaching One to One, there is a great chance to build rapport, but some teachers fail to take that opportunity. During this course, I have learned how important it is to build rapport with children, with task oriented learners, with reluctant learners, and with beginners. When working with children, as the course says, you should not start by opening your book and beginning a grammar exercise. Still, many teachers do just exactly that! Instead, some playful chatting and games should warm up the rapport. Also, as the course materials said, creating a happy looking classroom can communicate your willingness to be their friend. Often children learn One to one online. So in that case, having things in the background like stuffed animals helps. I have seen hand puppets help as well. Being silly is another thing essential to one on one rapport building. Making funny faces and showing your positive emotions helps build rapport with children One to one. Second, it is essential to build rapport with task oriented learners One to one. For example, if you have a business student, you can use a needs assessment to show them how much you care about their interests and concerns. I once had a doctoral student one to one. I had to listen to his reactions frequently so that he felt I had a good rapport with him. It was almost as if I had to do frequent needs analyses. I one had an African American gentleman who was head librarian at the African American Studies Library at an Ivy League school. His needs assessment showed that he wanted to communicate more effectively in emails and memos. Keeping a good rapport with him required that I frequently address his weaknesses but in the context of my respect for him. Third, rapport is important with reluctant learners when working one on one. The course emphasizes not putting reluctant learners on the spot. When it is a one to one situation, that is almost impossible. As a result, rapport building must happen before each lesson and during and after each lesson. For example, I teach EFL to a little girl with dyslexia. She is reluctant because she has a learning disability. The Engage phase of each lesson is helpful in building rapport with her because it is just she and I. For example, if we are going to read some authentic materials that day, in the Engage stage I can try and get some fun or even funny discussion going about her experience with the topic. Games are helpful one to one with reluctant learners because it takes the focus off of them personally, but builds rapport. Building rapport with beginners one to one is important because they are insecure. As the course says, lots of positive feedback is necessary and one must not correct them constantly. You are their first teacher so you must try to get them to like you! Anything mentioned above can help with that. Games can help. Play with dolls or visuals can help. Smiling is really important. Rapport with one to one students is key, and many teachers miss out on the opportunity. This course has really taught me the value of rapport building. It has changed the way I teach. Thank you!
