Establishing Rapport With Students

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Teaching English in a foreign country with students who speak very little of the language is a challenge. It is not a walk in the park as most people would like to think. There are customs and cultures which teachers must be aware of and must respect in order not to offend locals. There are certain things which teachers do in the United States, which cannot be done in other countries, let’s say Thailand, for example. It is of utmost importance for teachers to get acquainted with the dos and don’ts of the country where they are going. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Jhoana C. Teaching English to non-native speakers and making sure that you respect the customs and culture while doing...  [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]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Friendly atmosphere in a classroom is crucially important. Not only does it create a conducive environment for the study process, where students are relaxed and therefore tend to participate more, but also provides a safe space for a teacher. From my experience, building good rapport is especially important for young teachers as it helps to boost their confidence and unleash all the potential they have in order to make lessons effective and fun. Here are some ways of forging a friendly relationship with students, that worked out for me. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Anastasiya E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Apparently,...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Establishing rapport is essential not only for a successful classroom but for creating successful and harmonious relationships between people or groups. It is essentially trust and a decisive factor that can define the interaction between different bodies. In this case, I will discuss why establishing rapport is essential in the classroom, focusing on having a good connection between the teacher and students. The benefits of good rapport include more efficient learning, universal application, and rewarding results. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ellen X. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily...  [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 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]

  In this epidose, we cover the pronunciation of the word operationalize. This word is used as a verb and refers to the action of putting something nto operation. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. Getting to know your students and establishing a rapport is one of the most important things you can do. it is important that your students know you and like you so that everything will be smooth sailing. as explained in the text, you can start out the...  [Read more]

Jon ITTT Alumni Experiences Whether teaching English or teaching Mathematics, it is always important for teachers to establish rapport in their classroom. Rapport means a good relationship in which those concerned can communicate well with each other and understand each other’s ideas. Not only is it important for a teacher to build a relationship with their students, but it is also important to create opportunities in the classroom where students can build relationships with each other. Establishing rapport is important because it will help the teacher manage the classroom effectively, it will allow the students to learn and grow together, and it will allow teachers to grow in their teaching abilities. This post was written by our TEFL...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Anyone can be a teacher but not every teacher is likable or caring. I found in my experience as a student, especially as a child, I would find myself dreading the classes with the teachers that had bad attitudes and would look forward to the ones who not only kept the class interesting but showed true interest in the student's lives. The truly talented teachers would take examples of scenarios people had discussed from their personal lives and use it as a tool in their teaching strategies. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Priscilla L. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The only thing that separated these two types of teachers...  [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 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 Teaching Ideas I first decided to take this TEFL course because I am currently teaching English in rural Japan. I plan and execute English lessons for Junior High School students, as well as serve as a cultural representative of my country and foster cultural exchange. Here's the catch though - I don't speak Japanese. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Gwendolen J. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. I've had to think a lot about how to get students to like me and the subject I teach without relying on verbal communication. I don't know enough Japanese to convey my outgoing personality, or to make jokes, or to ask questions about their interests....  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Establishing Rapport is important because it plays an important part in helping the class be successful, enjoyable, and engaging. If the teacher has established rapport, the students are more likely to feel comfortable, which will result in the students being active and participating in class lessons. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Angela H. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. This may sound simple and obvious, but it is very important to learn your student's name. For a teacher, this can be difficult especially if there are numerous students in the classroom. Learning the student's name can help to facilitate two-way...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Establishing rapport happens when a bond is formed between a teacher and their students. This relationship is said to be close and well natured and allows for good communication and co-operation. Building rapport with your students is extremely important, as it is the foundation for how well they respond in a learning environment. Rapport can lead to increased levels of engagement, gives the teacher leadership presence and control, and overall creates a much more rewarding and positive learning space for all involved. Some things that may encourage rapport in the classroom is; using personal examples, making eye contact with students, smiling, being humorous, sticking to your word and a positive and supportive...  [Read more]

Mark Crocker Alumni Experiences There are many factors involved when teaching English as a foreign language, but which are the most important? In this post, an ITTT graduate explains why they think that confidence and empathy are crucial traits for a teacher. Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their own thoughts on establishing rapport with the high-school students in China. Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences In this blog post, our recent TEFL graduate shares their thoughts on classroom management. Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences ...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Establishing a positive rapport with their students is one of the most critical factors of creating a successful classroom environment. While establishing rapport is a process and takes longer than a single class session to do, it all starts with the introduction to the classroom. A teacher who enters a classroom of students with an energetic attitude and expresses their enthusiasm for teaching and eagerness to get to know the students is likely to have much greater success with their students than a teacher who does not positively present themselves. This is not to say that all teachers must be extremely energetic and outgoing in personality to be effective, but there are ways for people of even more timid...  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences Establishing rapport with students is important as it encourages higher motivation. When students generally feel rapport with their teachers and feel that their teacher's personalities are similar to their own, motivation is higher. This will lead to an enhanced understanding and sometimes trust is necessary for rapport to develop. The teacher has a wealth of techniques and tools at their disposal to develop and maintain excellent rapport with their students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Barry P. A new teacher is most likely going to be teaching a class or group of students who are established and well known to each other. The teacher is in essence the newcomer and as such needs to...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas I have been teaching ESL classes professionally for two years. In addition to this experience, I have several years of experience as a volunteer teacher/mentor with ESL students. Through my experiences, I have learned that importance of establishing immediate rapport in the classroom. In this short article, I will talk about why it is vital to establish rapport from the very first day between the students and teacher as well as among the students. I will offer advice from my own experience of teaching both young learners and adults. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Michael S. Establishing rapport between the teacher and student is something that begins on the first day of class and it...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Every teacher in his/her career is faced with the first lesson in a new class. This lesson is vital for the teacher to establish rapport and set the tone for the rest of the course. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Irina B. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. First of all the teacher should introduce her/himself and write her/his name on the board, in case the students forget it. After that, ask the students to make a card with their names and put it on the desks. From this time the teacher should call her/his students only by their names. It is a pleasure for every person to hear his/her name. So the teacher and the students have...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas There are many important things to remember as a TEFL teacher if you're going to have a successful class and satisfied students, but perhaps the most important thing that could determine whether or not your class will fail or succeed and that is, of course, establishing a good rapport between you and your students the minute they walk in that door for the first time. It's very important that students feel comfortable, safe, welcomed, appreciated, encouraged, excited, and that they're treated with the utmost respect as their desire to learn will be greatly increased as they become more inclined to stay in your class and learn. There are several ways of achieving this that every TEFL teacher should know how to...  [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]

  This video focuses on the modal auxiliary verb "can". In the classroom, you probably initially introduce the word "can" in the context of ability. However, there are more usages, such as possibility, permission, request and advice. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. Establishing rapport and a sense of trust is going to play a major part in how well one can convey the and how well the student is able to absorb the information given. As stated in...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas “A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill the love of learning.” The previous quote as said by the American lawyer Brad Henry highlights the effect of a teacher. The latter whether it is positive or negative can last a lifetime. Teachers move lives, inspire creativity in their students, and enhance their confidence. For the teacher to meet its learning objectives and supersede, managing a classroom could be challenging for some. This is because any teacher needs to have the right balance between being firm and friendly, entertaining but controlling, creating a relaxing atmosphere, and setting discipline. Students nowadays, regardless of their age group, are continually distracted by...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Every single person who wants to be a teacher needs to develop some skills such as being creative, respectful, good listener, motivate students and dominate the subject if he/she desire to become a proficient teacher, however, any of these will not be enough in a class if the teacher is not able to gain the students’ trust, and this will certainly happen if this person can establish rapport with the students as well as to help them to establish it between each other, to create a good environment and the class flows properly. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Carlos E. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. A teacher, who can...  [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 Alumni Experiences Classroom management is an important part of every classroom lesson. Due to the classroom complex dynamics having this skill is important to maintain discipline, to have an organized lesson, to create a friendly and positive environment to nurture the student’s learning. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Oscar V. As part of classroom management, maintaining discipline is important to ensure the class is effective and goes according to the plan in order to achieve the lesson’s goal. There are plenty of ways to maintain discipline inside the classroom. The first thing to consider when dealing with bad behavior or disciplinary problem is to act immediately as this will prevent a problem...  [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]

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]

  In this ITTT TEFL review Ben from South Africa describes his experience as a TEFL/TESOL student with ITTT. ITTT offers a variety of TEFL/TESOL certificate courses that vary in duration, study method and price. No matter which course you select we guaranteed to provide high quality and practical teacher training. Check out our web site to find the right TEFL/TESOL course for you. Below you can read feedback from an ITTT graduate regarding one section of their online TEFL certification course. Each of our online courses is broken down into concise units that focus on specific areas of English language teaching. This convenient, highly structured design means that you can quickly get to grips with each section before moving onto the next. I thought that this lesson was...  [Read more]