Rapport With Students

  There are some other classroom management issues that we need to consider and they may include issues such as writing on the board, giving students individual attention, the use of teacher talk time, the way in which we should give instructions to our students, the building and maintaining of rapport with our students, and finally the one that perhaps most new teachers particularly spend a lot of time worrying and thinking about, is the issue of classroom discipline. So what we'd like to do is to take each of these in turn and look at some of the major issues surrounding these classroom management issues. 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...  [Read more]

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 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 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]

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]

Caroline Chartier Alumni Experiences Teaching Ideas Being a teacher is more than teaching the subject matter that you are paid to deliver. We have a lot of impact on the kids that enter through our classroom doors and reside in our halls. Teaching is made easier when a teacher forms a strong connection with her students. Now, a teacher will not connect with every one of her students- some students just do not care about school, do not care about teachers, or simply like other classes better. However, making those connections with specific students will help you as a teacher have a better classroom and strengthen relationships with the rest of your class. You're spending most of your time with your students inside the classroom....  [Read more]

Linda Dunsmore TEFL Information Having a good relationship with your students has many benefits as a teacher. They will become more interested in your lesson, they will learn a lot more and it creates an overall comfortable classroom environment for both the teacher and the students. However, it’s often easier said than done to build rapport with those in your class. So how do you do it? This article highlights the 5 best ways to build rapport with your TEFL students. Our TEFL certification courses also teach you useful techniques and methods to further build rapport for your students. We’ve all had that teacher or professor who doesn’t bother learning our name and just goes around calling everyone “you”. Did you enjoy taking their...  [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 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 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 The relationship a teacher has with their students or clients is critical to their learning experience. It is often overlooked and deemed unimportant, especially compared to the lesson itself. However, the rapport a teacher establishes is the foundation on which the class stands. It affects how the students feel about the class and sometimes helps motivate them as well. Good rapport with the students makes teaching a lot livelier and learning a lot easier. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Katherine S. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. In the hierarchy of the classroom, the teacher is at the top. Students come to take a...  [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]

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]

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 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 The idea behind writing this essay is to highlight the importance of a teacher’s rapport among the students. Rapport forms the basis of meaningful, close and harmonious relationships between teacher and the students. Connection senses that you get when you meet them. It is the bond that forms when you discover that you share one another's values and priorities. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Syed M. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. The rapport among the students means an excellent relationship between the teacher and the learners. Rapport is important for all kinds of learning environments. A good rapport among the class...  [Read more]

Elizaveta Pachina Teaching Ideas The rapport between teacher and students plays a very important role in determining if a class is successful and enjoyable. No matter whether your students are teenagers or adults, they wish there is a good relationship between the teacher and them. This post was written by our TEFL certification graduate Wenpei Z. Please note that this blog post might not necessarily represent the beliefs or opinions of ITTT. There are some reasons why rapport is so important in class. First of all, students are more likely to contribute and take part in the lessons when the atmosphere is relaxed. They are willing to cooperate with the teacher and take part in the class activities actively, which makes the class effective....  [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 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 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]

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]

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 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 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 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 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 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]