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Establishing RapportRapport is the process of creating trust and harmony between two parties. In this instance between teacher and student. It is essential to the success of the teacher - student experience, and therefore it is in the Teachers best interest to establish and maintain a good rapport with all the students, all the time. The reasons are numerous, but especially as the students are in a foreign environment, either actually being in a foreign country or just being in the classroom and learning a foreign language (like our example). A good rapport will help to make the learning environment as comfortable as possible. In certain instances, rapport is established without any effort, teacher and student 'just connect'. Here the emphasis will be on maintenance, maintaining the channel of communication open, in order for the student to remain comfortable with the teacher - but within the boundaries of the teacher / student relationship. But more than likely the teacher and student come from different backgrounds and have differring outlooks on life.Initially the teacher will need to meet the student on there 'level', and come up with ideas to engage with the students to win them over. All this with a view that the student being comfortable will enable them to study and be more productive. There are a few key elements in building Rapport.. ? smiling - genuinely. There is nothing like a warm smile to ease your students into a new environement. ? asking questions of common interest - easiest would be to ask something about there own country and look for things to talk about around that. ? making eye contact - without over doing it, and depending on the origins of the student, in order not to be offensive. ? using a little humour - helps to put the students at ease too and creats a friendly environment. ? listening - this is essential - giving each student the opportunity to be heard - will go along way in instilling confidence in the students. ? complimenting and praising - this goes a long way in building the students up, helping to encourage them to study harder. ? enthusiasm - being lively, livening up the classroom, will definately help. ? being courteous and kind - there is no replacement for good old fashioned manners. Implementing these measures to create a good rapport with the students will help insure that the class is a success. It is the ability to meet the students where they are in order to build a climate of trust and respect. The students have to trust and respect the teacher in order for them to believe that they can learn from him / her. Building rapport is one of the most important steps to ensure a good learning environment, ESL or otherwise. By building rapport you learn more about what is important to your students and can make your teaching more authentic and meaningful. It will make all the difference in your students enjoyment of the class. Rapport is something that comes naturally. It is just a matter of caring about your students and really being present. Meditating and breathing before class is a perfect way to clear the mind and become more present. When you relax into it and let go of any seriousness you may have from preparing for class, your openness will be apparent to your students and will invite more interesting conversations. Every teacher will encounter students with difficult personality types that they might not otherwise not develop an affinity towards. Rapport is not about getting approval or being liked though it can certainly be an outcome. In these cases rapport can be developed by trying to understand what the students underlying need is and how to satisfy that need in some way. The basis for any successful student-teacher relationship is rapport. The first class is a time for the fun of getting to know your students and providing opportunities so they can get to know you and there classmates as well. That can occur through games or simply through conversation. From then on each class should begin with a point of personal connection with ones students and proceed in a way that makes all students feel welcomed and valued.
