Build A Rapport With Students

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas It doesn't matter what industry you're in or what position you hold, knowing how to build rapport can bring you countless opportunities. Generally, rapport is characterized by positive thoughts and feelings of closeness. Some people might argue that this is all a natural gift, either you can build rapport with people or you can't. However, this is not certain. Rapport can develop naturally, but anyone can also nurture and improve rapport, just as they can any other skill. Rapport forms the basis of meaningful, close and harmonious relationships between people. Connection senses that you get when you meet someone you like and trust, and whose point of view you understand. It's the bond that forms when you discover...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas In my life, I had the opportunity to work in several different jobs. I use to work as a physical education teacher, swimming coach for kids, fitness instructor, supplement salesman, and many other roles. In all those jobs and also in personal relationships establishing and building rapport was from the critical importance, and being an English language teacher and establishing rapport with the students is no different. The answer is simple. If someone likes us, respects us and trusts us they are more likely to be motivated to do what we are asking them to do. In teaching English that would mean that they will be motivated to come to our class, they will feel comfortable with us as their teachers, they will pay...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Imagine this, you walk into the classroom and your students don’t know you don’t know the students. You want to create an environment of safe learning, but you don’t know-how. Well, one of the things you can do to create this type of environment is to establish rapport with your students. When you establish rapport with them you are creating a connection or relationship with them. When someone has rapport, they have a connection with someone else, a harmonious understanding. It could be with an individual or a group. Sometimes rapport can happen naturally but often it needs to be built up especially in the classroom. So why is it important to establish rapport? There are several reasons why an English...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Individuals like nurses, doctors, therapists, and teachers who are employed in the helping professions build positive and trusting relationships with the people that they work with by establishing rapport. Rapport can be defined as a friendly and harmonious relationship characterized by mutual understanding or empathy making communication possible and easy (Merriam-Webster, 2019). This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Toni M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. When rapport is built between two people, they can learn, teach, and influence each other because of the connection and relationship that has been created. Rapport, or a bond,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Establishing rapport with your students is crucial for many reasons. Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines rapport as “a friendly, harmonious relationship especially: a relationship characterized by agreement, mutual understanding, or empathy that makes communication possible or easy.” This means that establishing rapport is like laying a foundation for understanding and communication. One of the most fundamental purposes of any language is to provide a way to understand and communicate with other people. Taking the time to establish rapport is simply the first step to laying a foundation for teaching and learning a language. A true teacher does not teach a subject, they teach students. As a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Second language acquisition depends on the interpersonal relationship) between teacher-student as well as student-student. These interpersonal relationships are based on rapport, which is defined as ”a mutual, respectful, enjoyable, and positive connection” (Frisby, 2018). There are two quotes that reflect this. First, Aristotle stated, “educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” Second, Confucius stated, “By three methods we may learn wisdom; First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is bitterest. These quotes highlight the need for rapport. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate William...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas One thought, in particular, stood out to me as I was reading Unit 6 of the Business English course. That was how to relate to others who are from different cultures around the world. So as a teacher relating to students means in my mind establishing connections (establishing rapport). I believe rapport is the foundation that binds a teacher to students. Without rapport, there’s no trust and poor communication which is the opposite of what I am trying to achieve. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Loretta J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. As of this writing, I do not have experience teaching English as a foreign language so...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Establishing rapport with students can be challenging sometimes, especially if this is a class of students who’ve already had different teachers or the students change around a lot. When there is inconsistency in teaching style or people, it can be more difficult for students to create a more meaningful bond. One of the key things I’ve always found in establishing rapport is to be friendly, positive, kind, consistent and understanding. There are different ways a teacher can show this. The way s/he introduces her/himself and shows interest in students initially, the level of professionalism displayed, the teacher’s attitude towards students, the reward system put in place and the expectations set among many...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas While there are many things a teacher can do to prepare for the classroom, the way students interface with their teachers is something that can be both difficult and spontaneous. Building rapport with students is crucial to maintain a high level of energy and focus throughout a class session. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Matthew P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Even though a teacher may have an entire lesson planned out, if students do not feel comfortable participating in front of their teacher, the pace of the class becomes stilted. A well-constructed lesson plan may be filled with fun activities for the students,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Learning a new language can be a daunting task. It requires a lot of studying, practicing, and participation in order to fully comprehend and be able to use a new language. That is why people who want to learn a new language prefer to take a class on it instead of trying to learn it themselves. Taking a class on the English language can help build a student’s confidence and motivate them. It is especially important for an English teacher to develop a rapport with their students because English students need to feel comfortable with the person teaching them their new language skills. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Cheyenne K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Establishing rapport means to build a friendly, trustable and cooperative relationship between two parties. For teaching, it is an indispensable step to starting any satisfactory class. Having been a teacher for more than 1 year in China, I realize how important it is to establish rapport with the students before to ensure a successful class. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jia L. Since a teacher and students are playing different roles in a classroom, the distance between two sides is naturally born. Moreover, there are differences in the educational backgrounds and ages of the teacher and the students, which will probably contribute to a further distance in between, in the end. Under...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences A major consideration for any teacher is going to be building and maintaining rapport. The importance of rapport is that within our communicative activities we're asking the students to talk to each other and if they feel comfortable with each other and with us, then that interaction is much more likely to be useful. One approach is to consider two stages of the teaching we are involved in. The first stage could be called “the start of the course” and the second stage called “throughout the course”. Considering the first stage, to help build rapport at the start of the course, it's very useful if we ask the students to create a name card and to make that name card...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Establishing rapport with students is a crucial part of any successful teacher because it allows teachers to teach their students more effectively and in different ways. Rapport is defined as, "the ability to maintain harmonious relationships based on affinity...is more colloquially thought of as what happens when two people “click”—they connect, interact well, and respond to each other favorably" (Weimer, facultyfocus.com). This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Dominic D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. This "click" is the ability of a teacher to connect with a student to ensure that motivation is always kept high. If a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas No matter how well-prepared a teacher may be, every classroom is different, which means each student is different, and each teacher needs to be able to adjust and be able to establish rapport with the new class. For some teachers, working in a foreign country may cause them to feel uneasy; however, a teacher needs to overcome this feeling to be successful in the classroom. Indeed, building rapport with all students will help. Although this is a continuous process throughout the term, the key to establishing a friendly learning environment starts on day one. Thus, the best way to build rapport is to know the students’ names and interests by the end of the day or week (depending on class size). This post was...  [Read more]

  Our next consideration is going to be building and maintaining rapport. The importance of rapport is that within our communicative activities, we're asking the students to talk to each other. If they feel comfortable with each other and with us, then that interaction is much more likely to be useful. So how do we actually build and maintain rapport? Well, it's easiest if we consider two stages of the course itself. What we can do at the start of the course and what we can do throughout the course to help build and maintain that rapport. So at the start of the course, it's very useful if we ask the students to create a name card and to make that name card visible to everyone. Secondly we need to try to do some ice breaking activities that will allow the students to interact with...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Ever have someone try to establish rapport with you? When we think about it carefully, the answer is affirmative. You need to build rapport with people to make friends. To do business with establishing rapport, as well as sales. Establishing rapport makes things much easier than you don’t. Imagine meeting someone for the first time and you are not interested in him. What is your next move？Obviously you will end the conversation with him? Let us focus on the importance of building rapport in class. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jiajia Z. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In my point of view, the good relationship...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas When presented with the dilemma to name the most important element of education, one has many options. A music teacher would comment that a student’s willingness to express himself/herself rhythmically takes precedence over anything else-the role of the teacher is not heavily emphasized. An advanced math teacher would say that the students’ motivation for learning the subject holds extreme importance. A kindergarten teacher might answer that keeping the students’ interest is paramount. All of these scenarios are true. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jamie B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. While we can agree that...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences When I was younger, I had a dog that played fetch, walked to the park, and learned new tricks with me. Over time, we created a bond that was irreplaceable and unconditional. One day my dog passed away and three weeks later, my family and I decided to get a new dog. This new dog was friendly at first but hardly wanted to learn anything new. However, I was quite distant from the new dog, to begin with, because I always thought about the good times I had with my previous dog. Afterward, I realized that I needed to move on and create a new bond which I then remembered how my previous dog and I became best friends and how we both learned from each other. It was a high relaxed positive energy, spending a good amount...  [Read more]

Federico Riva Teaching Ideas It is undeniable that rapport between the teacher and students and between students themselves makes the class successful and enjoyable. However, some teachers face problems trying to establish rapport with the students. Being an experienced EFL teacher, I keep facing the same problem: it is hard for me to create a relaxed atmosphere in the classroom and keep a balance between being students’ reliable friend and their authority. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Elena K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. To begin with, it is important to create a warm relationship from the very beginning. Therefore, the first lesson should be more...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Many programs allow educators to become volunteer teachers, specifically, my experience as a TEFL instructor in the Peace Corps China program has provided me with valuable insight into the importance of establishing strong relationships with students from different cultures. Teaching English in rural China was filled with many challenges but I believe that the most important challenge that I needed to overcome was bridging the cultural gap with my students. By bridging this gap, I was able to build strong student-teacher rapport and help the students improve their English language abilities over time. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nicole E. Please note that this blog post might not...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Some people might think that the methodology is of greater importance than any other teaching aspect. Yet teaching is based on human relationships. Therefore it is essential whether the teacher manages to establish harmonious interactions between faculty and students. Bernieri defines these interactions as 'rapport' (Galzier 2016). According to Frisby and Myers, rapport is "the ability to build a relationship based on trust and harmony and is considered to be a positive and prosocial behavior that is relationally powerful enough to enact cohesiveness, reduce the threat, and structure social interaction (Fleming 2009)." Multiple studies have...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Besides the thousands of things they have on their minds (personal problems, health issues, daydreaming, etc.) and the temptation to just chat with their neighbors in the classroom, students can also be easily distracted by their smartphones. Distraction is not the only obstacle to the class, boredom and absenteeism don’t help the class either. To prevent those behaviors, students need to be motivated, which is every teacher's challenge. While all students have different backgrounds and expectations, the teacher still has plenty of resources to tease students' attention and increase their participation. How do you keep students motivated in the English class? This essay lists and elicits a few possibilities to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Building and maintaining a good rapport is one of the most crucial parts of a successful relationship. Cambridge dictionary defines rapport as – ‘a good understanding of someone and an ability to communicate well with them.’ This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nagashree C. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Rapport is a skill that goes beyond simply agreeing with others in order to connect with them. It allows a free and non-judgmental exchange of different viewpoints and creates a sense of security to express without condemning, fear or guilt. It is rather a positive feeling of being understood and respected. Establishing a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Besides the thousands of things they have on their minds (personal problems, health issues, daydreaming, etc.) and the temptation to chat with their neighbors in the classroom, students can also be easily distracted by their smartphones. Distraction is not the only obstacle to the class. Boredom and absenteeism don't help the course either. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Melanie P. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Students need to be motivated to prevent those behaviors, which is every teacher's challenge. While all students have different backgrounds...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Classroom management skills are an important part of a teacher’s profession. The success of EFL and ESL learners depends on the teacher’s expertise in delivering an effective lesson in a well-managed classroom. Classroom management skills vary from one teacher to another. Classroom management skills are a trial and error process. They take time to build and come with experience. Every teacher has a different style. If the students are learning effectively in a classroom, then the teacher has succeeded in delivering a solid lesson with good classroom management skills. A successful teacher has a positive effect on students’ learning. The teachers’ personality does not determine whether they are a good...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences I choose" establishing rapport" as the topic of my summary, cause that's my priority and very important to me.establishing rapport is often overlook and undervalued by teachers.basic my own experience, building rapport with your student makes your student value the class more. they more motivated, they participate more. and their focusing class is much better.why? because of the experience I had.in my mind we all can pass the exam to be a teacher if we study hard. but that doesn't mean you can be a "qualified" one. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Doris M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I'm from China, I'm still here. We...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences Rapport in this context is the relationship between the students and the teacher, and among the student group within a classroom environment. Why is having rapport within a classroom important? Because without a friendly connection among the participants there is a real danger of disruption to the learning process. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Juri N. “Respect is a two way road,” this statement says that without one side or the other of the Street of Respect, respect is not there. Meaning, if the teacher does not respect the students and show the students that respect, then the students will not respect the teacher in return. This scenario can very easily ruin the teaching of a...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Whether you are a seasoned professional starting a new year at a school you’ve taught at for years, or you’re teaching your very first ESL class, the first-day teaching can be very intimidating. Teaching English as a second language, whether in your home country or a non-English speaking country, can be especially difficult due to the language barrier faced by both the students and the teacher. Because of the language barrier in ESL classes, it is vital to build rapport with your students to create a productive and comfortable learning environment. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Samantha S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Teaching Ideas It is important to establish rapport with students within a classroom for a variety of reasons, it builds trust between students and teacher, insights confidence in students and allows for a fun learning environment. All aspects of teaching require a teacher to have some sort of rapport with students. Students will retain more information and do better in classes when the teacher is engaged and shows love for their job as well as an interest in their students. Most students will not learn well from a teacher who comes to class, does not greet the students let alone knows their names and just reads through the lesson without showing any interest whatsoever. It is far more beneficial for a teacher to have a good...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas A teacher’s role has the greatest impact on a student’s ability to learn the language. I have never experienced teaching a language to foreign students yet, but I have been a student of a foreign language. The students always tend to feel overworked, or overly informed, and lose their attention and interest in the class, regardless of their own decision to attend the class. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Beatriz E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. It is very important to define a teacher’s role, not just to be the facilitator or resource person, but to be their language model and influence. Being fully aware of your...  [Read more]