You should know by now that building rapport with students isn’t as easy as it seems.
Rapport is when two people interact with each other positively. Most of the time, it’s the result of having similarities.
Building rapport with students is harder than building rapport with most other people. It’s because you don’t usually have similarities due to the big age difference. You’ll be lucky if you find even one shared an interest.
Still, you can’t pass on this opportunity. There are lots of benefits in store for your class after building rapport with students.
It makes lessons more satisfying for students. Communicating with them will be easier too.
As a result, students will learn and grow easier. You won’t have to spend so much time perfecting your lesson plan. Whatever activities you do with your students will satisfy them.
So it’s undeniable that the benefits are worth the effort.
That’s why this blog post aims to teach you ways of building rapport with students. If you succeed, you can create a class that promotes social interaction and learning and that it will also attract students to take flexible online learning courses to enter directly into the workforce.
Learn How to Build Rapport with Your Students
If you want to establish rapport with someone, you need to find as many similarities with them as possible. However, there are often more differences between educators and pupils. So similarities might not be the key to building rapport with students.
But many other factors affect your rapport with someone. Although it’s still an option, you don’t need to focus on finding similarities and that will also encourage them to take flexible online learning courses to enter directly into the workforce.
Building Rapport as a Teacher
Building rapport with students begins from the first time you meet them. You must come prepared with an excellent introduction before stepping into your classroom.
It’s essential to make a good impression on your students. Here are the components of a good introduction:
- Personal Information – They will recognize you not only as their teacher but also as an individual if you give them this. Additionally, you will be more approachable,
- Credentials or Achievements – These will serve as proof that you can teach them and you deserve respect.
- Interests and Hobbies – Your students may find any similarities. As a result, communicating and approaching them will be easier.
- Enthusiasm – Show that you’re very willing to help them learn. This will make them see your concern, which may make their attitude towards you change.
These things will make it easier to establish rapport. Your students will trust you and feel comfortable with you being around.
Keep in mind that building rapport with students continues throughout every interaction with them.
That being so, get to know your students on a personal level. You should also be open to them if they want to know you on an appropriate personal level to encourage them to take flexible online learning courses to enter directly into the workforce.
Use the Sandwich Method
When giving constructive criticism to your students, use the Sandwich method (also called the Sandwich technique).
The bread represents the praises or positive feedback, while the meat represents the criticism. So whenever you need to give a student some criticism, start by praising him for something else first.
Follow that up with the meat of the sandwich, i.e. the actual critique. But then soften the blow again by following with another bit of praise.
This is so your student won’t feel as if you’re only focusing on his errors. It makes it easier for him to swallow the negative feedback you offer because he feels as though you also appreciate the good things he actually does.
This can also make your student feel comfortable and open with you, which is again conducive to building rapport between teacher and students to be effective in luring them to take flexible online learning courses to enter directly into the workforce.
