Rapport Example

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences Coming from the UK and only working with British students, when I arrived in the UAE which is an Arab country following a strong Islamic faith, most of my new work colleagues and students were Arabs and followers of Islam. The last six years of working in the UAE have taught me a valuable lesson about why cultural sensitivity is so important, especially when working with the future generation of a nation, not only am I building rapport as a teacher, but also as a representative of my own country. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Chloe M. Respecting both the culture and faith of your students is the foundations of building a successful learning environment, where the students respect...  [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]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas What are ice breakers and when and where do we use them? In this blog post, we will cover these issues and give actual examples of activities you can use with your classes. Icebreakers are games or activities that are designed to ‘break the ice’. Typically you would use these kinds of games or activities at the beginning of a new school year, when you have a new set of students, or a new class that you don't know and they don't know you. You also can use icebreakers to get your students going at the start of the lesson speaking in English and that's really important as you don't want to come into the classroom and say, “Open your books to page five” and then start studying....  [Read more]

  This presentation is going to focus on the theories, methods and techniques of teaching and we're going to start with a quote. This is an interesting quotation because it contains within it a philosophical argument and it's a philosophical argument in the way in which we learn. Basically, this one is saying that the intelligence of their own children comes about due to a natural process. So this one could be said to be due to nature. This is exactly the opposite of this one, which is saying that they're teaching the environment that we create, creates that intelligence. So this one can be said to be due to nurture and this argument 'nature versus nurture' has been going on for thousands of years. These two viewpoints are two ends of a scale, or a continuum if you like, and every...  [Read more]

Federico Riva TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas The teaching of Business English has a number of differences from teaching regular classes in a school. The student groupings are often mixed and they will be learning English for a whole variety of reasons. In this blog we look at some of the do’s and don’ts of teaching BE. Federico Riva TEFL Information Games can be very useful in all stages of a lesson if used correctly. As most games are not invented for use as EFL activities they will need to be adapted. In this blog we will look at a couple of very well known games and how they can be used for speaking practice activities. ...  [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 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 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 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 TEFL Information Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas A teacher-student rapport plays an integral role in promoting positive teaching outcomes. A connection from both the instructor and the student is evident in terms of positive thoughts and an identical feeling of familiarity. In addition to this, a perception of a bond fosters quality interactions where the student feels vulnerable so that they feel confident to share their weaknesses and challenges(Webb & Barett, 2014). Similarly, the relationship is defined by mutual trust, an ingrained sense of connection, and an emotional affinity where the instructor can cultivate the desired outcomes without feeling burdened(Fleiming, 2003). There...  [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 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]

  In this episode, we cover the pronunciation of the word "ingenuous". This word refers to an innocent or unsuspecting person or situation. Synonyms of ingenuous include naive, innocent and simple. The origin of the word is from the Latin word "ingenuus" meaning native or freeborn. 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. This unit discussed the teaching receptive skills and the categories of reading and listening. The reasons for reading and listening...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Although it is important that a teacher maintains the students' motivation throughout the course, the initial stages are particularly important because they lay the foundation for the course. For example, if a strong motivational atmosphere is not initially established then he/she will have more difficulty motivating them when correction is needed in the later stages. If a strong motivational foundation is laid then the students' will understand that the teacher has their best interests at heart and is trying to help them as best as he/she can. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Ann R. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. A teacher's...  [Read more]

  Which is the best course for me? A typical question asked by prospective trainees. It is not always an easy question to answer as it really depends on one's background, financial situation and time constraints. Where a person wants to teach can also be a factor in the course you select. For example in some regions the 120 hour online course is the basic requirement by employers but in other regions the 4 week in-class course is basic requirement. Contact us if you need assistance in deciding the right course for you. We will be happy to provide you with the relevant information you need to meet your particular needs and requirements. Go to our web site or follow the link above. -~-~~-~~~-~~-~- Are you ready to Teach English Abroad? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pcXD_GNR04...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Teaching English as a foreign language for the first time is not as easy as it may seem. A TEFL course is an important precursor for anyone interested in teaching English professionally because it provides the necessary tools, techniques, and guidelines that will make the teaching experience as successful as possible for both the teacher and the students. A TEFL course provides prospective English teachers with essential information regarding lesson structure (ESA), grammar fundamentals, class size dynamics, class material information and many other lessons that prepare the teacher for the role. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Brittany G. Please note that this blog post might not...  [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]

Linda Dunsmore Alumni Experiences I have had the pleasure of living and teaching in Brazil over the past 2 years and in my time in this country I have learned a great amount about the difficulties that are seemingly unique to native Portuguese speakers trying to learn English as a second or even third language. There seems to be deeply ingrained assumptions within the way Portuguese speakers approach both the pronunciation of words based on their spelling, and their understanding of grammatical structures and the usage of said structures. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Brian P. The first and foremost point to address with respect to what the typical Portuguese speaker has ingrained as an instinct with respect to the...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Idioms are a relatively difficult language point to teach. However, with these fun activities you will be able to make your students activate new vocabulary faster and easier. Keep a running list of idioms in your classroom. As students hear or come across an idiom in class (or at home), add it to a list on a bulletin board or poster board. Students use this list as a reference during conversation periods or when writing. Also Read: The How-To Guide For Americans To Teach English in Europe If you carry out your lesson online or there is an internet connection in your classroom, find websites that offer self-study idiom lessons and quizzes. For example, a4esl website. Encourage students to work on their own and...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Rapport according to the Cambridge dictionary means “a good understanding of someone and an ability to communicate well with them”, it can also be defined as a close and harmonious relationship in which the people or groups concerned understand each other's feelings or ideas and communicate well. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kudzai K. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. Establishing rapport with your students can make a great amount of difference when teaching, especially in a second language. It increases the bond between a teacher and his students and thus more often than not makes learning interesting and more fun for...  [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 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 First impressions can be a daunting topic for many, as they will generally set the tone for the rest of a relationship and can be hard to revert. These first impressions will not only be key toward the ease of establishing rapport with someone but also toward what the other party will expect of you in order to maintain an amicable relationship from then on. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Nicolas F. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The number of people that one needs to establish a rapport with will be a major factor in deciding the necessary dynamics to do so. Connecting with individual clients in the business world can be...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas Since one of the essentials of being a good teacher is being respected by your students, it’s very important to make sure one does not offend culturally by one’s behavior or the content of the lessons. Lessons should be fun and at times feel “free” in the sense that students are laughing and interacting with each other and with the teacher perhaps in a game, but at no point should boundaries be crossed that would make students uncomfortable or put them in a defensive posture. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Renata D. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. From the get-go, in establishing rapport, the teacher should do so in...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Alumni Experiences A teacher has an important responsibility to get to know his or her students to ensure that they are engaged with the lesson on a daily basis. Learning another language is not easy so it is imperative that a teacher does everything in his or her power to get to know their students and become as familiar with them as possible. One of the most effective ways a teacher can begin to do so is by establishing rapport with their students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Kathyrine L. Establishing rapport with students is ideally something that should happen at the beginning of the course. It is better to get to know your students as soon as possible rather than later. There is much to be...  [Read more]

Ahmed Taha Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas This blog post explores what criteria should be used to evaluate activities in an ESL classroom. Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas One of the most important concepts to cover in the use of the board is that of “dead time”. This is the time we are writing on the board and nothing is being said. Here we look at 7 top tips to reduce the dead time to a minimum. Federico Riva TEFL Information Teaching Ideas In any lesson the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking are important. When we focus our...  [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 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 In this essay, I will give an introduction on how to teach beginner level students and I will not only outline how to approach the subject matter to teach first but I will also highlight techniques to create a positive learning environment to keep students motivated about studying. I will focus on teaching adults because young learners will need a slightly different approach. However, some common rules apply to both groups of students. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Dennis S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In general, it is very important to adjust the classroom environment and teaching style to the needs of beginner level...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas One of the most important aspects of becoming a great teacher is establishing a positive rapport with students. Even with all the technical knowledge of teaching theory in the world, a class will not be successful without creating beneficial bonds between the teacher and pupils. With a tactful and thoughtful approach to building a deep rapport with the students, these bonds can establish a learning environment in which the students and teachers can thrive. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate James S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. For every class lesson plan there should be an icebreaker to ease the students into the material....  [Read more]