Are you new to teaching, and all the things you should be doing seem overwhelming? Been there, done that. When I became an English teacher, I realized that I had not thought about a burning question. I asked myself what I teach, how I teach it, and how I assess my students. These are valid questions, and it is essential to deal with them. However, looking back, I should have known that there is more to making your students learn efficiently. We tend to overlook another equally important aspect of teaching that is at the core of How do I build rapport with my students? If you want to know the answer and build fulfilling relationships with your students, read on to find out more. I am excited to share my 12 fail-proof tips to build rapport with your students. Take note of the ‘quick fixes’ that match each tip so you can start shaping the relationship with your students in your next class.
1. Call your students by name.
The first tip speaks for itself, but it might be challenging to use, especially when you work with larger groups of students. I usually teach one-to-one lessons or small groups, even so, I am not good with names. For this reason, I always write my students’ names down. I make sure to check their names before meeting them either in person or online. As time goes by and you get to know your students, remembering their names will not be an issue anymore.
Quick fix: Write down your students’ names and if you work with larger groups of people, add a distinguishing feature to each name. Even though this name list is only for your personal use, be kind when you think of traits that help you tell your students apart.
2. Care about your students’ interests and aspirations.
Your students’ hobbies and goals make up a huge part of who they are. You might find it easier to motivate your students when you present them with topics that they are invested in. You can tailor vocabulary words to fit topics your students are interested in. When it comes to teaching adult learners, they often have a realistic idea about the vocabulary they want and need to learn. It makes more sense to teach them words they will end up using. Discussion questions and icebreaker activities are a great way to find out where your students’ interests lie.
Quick fix: The next time your students talk about themselves, make note of the free time activities and entertainment they enjoy. Make sure to occasionally ask your students about them. Surprise your students with a topic that matches their interests without losing sight of the learning objectives.
3. Show a sense of humour.
Many of us can remember at least one teacher who would beat any stand-up comedian. Not everybody is naturally funny though. I can get behind the idea of bringing our ‘A’ game, yet I do not want to put on an act. If you are a genuinely funny person, you do not necessarily need to tune it down in class. Being able to laugh at your own expense comes in handy on days when either you or your students are a little tongue-tied.
Quick fix: If you make a mistake, just laugh it off. Crack a joke or share a funny meme. Do not get discouraged if your students do not appreciate your comedic genius. Finding age-appropriate material is key. Do not shy away from self-deprecating humour if it matches your personality.
4. Be there for your students outside of class.
You should do a little soul-searching and set healthy boundaries because it is a double-edged sword. I agree that you should be there for your students but with reasonable limitations. I do not believe in arriving to class early and staying late because sticking to my schedule is a priority to me. I try to be as punctual as possible and I take my well-deserved breaks. Lunchtime is also sacred. However, I allow my students to contact me outside of class. I have designated office hours and I have built an online presence. These days, it could be easier to get in touch online for some students.
Quick fix: Think about having office hours, setting up an email address or social media profile to keep in touch with your students. Do not be available 24/7, that is what automated responses are meant to do. You should treasure your downtime.
5. Be respectful.
Respect is a two-way street in my book. If you want to earn the respect of your students, you should also treat them with respect. Under no circumstances should you ridicule or put down your students. If they are disruptive, try to bear in mind that it is not who they are but what they do. I cannot stress enough how important it is to take care of yourself. If you are overworked and you have not had a good night’s sleep for ages, it is more probable that you will overreact.
Quick fix: Educate yourself about Classroom Management and learn from seasoned teachers in Facebook groups or forums. If a classroom management technique does not work for you and your students, try a different approach.
6. Be humble.
You should be a person your students can look up to, not a know-it-all who thinks that he is better than everybody else. Yes, your students know less about the subject matter than you, but that is the reason why you are in a privileged position to teach them. Put yourself in their shoes and keep in mind that you also had to start somewhere. You did not become an expert in your field overnight, either. Do not hold grudges if a student of yours outgrows you. Even though it is quite rare, it can happen, and you should not let it drive a wedge between you.
Quick fix: Surround yourself with people of different ages, experiences, and areas of expertise. If there is somebody who knows more than you, learn from that person! When you meet somebody who knows less, you should help that person grow.
7. Be aware of your body language.
You might or might not be aware of your body language, your students pick up on it either way. Body language is a powerful tool that may engage your students or discourage them from learning. Ways to keep your students alert include maintaining eye contact, using mime and gestures to help retain new vocabulary, or to encourage and praise students. A simple smile goes a long way. Be mindful of nonverbal cues that send a negative message. Do you often fidget? Are you constantly checking your phone? Do you slouch in class and seem indifferent to what your students are saying? You might want to change these patterns of behaviour.
Quick fix: Pick one thing at a time and work on it. For example, put a sticky note on your laptop reminding you not to slouch. Get rid of distractions. Turn off your notifications or put your phone away so you are not tempted to check it every 10 seconds.
8. Enjoy teaching and be passionate about what you teach.
Being overly enthusiastic and optimistic all the time is emotionally draining and might be perceived as fake. However, if you seem content and your students think that you genuinely enjoy teaching them, they will also find joy in learning. If you are dissatisfied with things that you have the power to change, change them for the better.
Quick fix: If you feel a little bit down, try to remember why you got into education in the first place. Keep a box of treasured little gifts, drawings, and notes your students got you to remind you this is all worth it.
9. Be consistent.
Organisation, structure, and consistency are gifts that keep on giving. Being organised takes effort, but once you have put your systems in place, you can rely on them every day. To achieve the best results, re-evaluate your practices once in a while and modify them if necessary. Being consistent also means that you should keep your word. Your students need to know that you are a trustworthy and reliable person. Trying to make your students meet deadlines and be responsible defeats its purpose if you are absent-minded.
Quick fix: When did you last revise your organisational systems? If it has been a while, brush up on them. Do you have your course policies in writing? Explain them to your students, they have the right to know what standards they are held to.
10. Be relatable.
You are not infallible, and you are not a person to be feared. You are a mentor whose role is to guide your students and make expert knowledge accessible to them. To put your ideas across easily, limit specialised language, and explain things in everyday terms. If you relate the information to your students’ lives, they will remember it with ease. If you give examples from your private life, your students will get to know you better. Bringing up spare-time activities, the movies or books you enjoy could be nice ways to connect with your students without giving too much away about your personal life.
Quick fix: Use simple words. Give personally relevant examples from your life or students’ lives.
11. Do not be too hard on yourself or your students.
Some days are better than others. The sooner we accept that there are problems hindering our students’ progress and performance, the better we will feel about ourselves. Your students are allowed to have a bad day, and so are you. To put things into perspective, try to recall your own experience with great teachers. Chances are that you remember the values they represented and the way they made you feel. It is not about being perfect all the time but helping others succeed.
Quick fix: To justify not being a perfectionist, think about inspiring educators in your life.
12. Foster active learning and interaction.
I am sure that you want your students to be active learners. One of the possible ways to do so is to think in terms of teacher talking time (TTT) and student talking time (STT). Teacher talking time is the time that you spend talking in class instead of your students. Student talking time is the time your students spend talking. Pair work and group work, with you monitoring these activities, are the most self-explanatory ways to give your students more talking time.
Quick fix: Limit teacher talking time. Agree with your students on having a set collection of gestures to substitute oral instructions.
If you are interested in more content for teachers, check out The Peira.English Podcast for educators on YouTube.
