How To Build Rapport With Students
Photo by Julia M Cameron.
It’s no surprise to anybody that building rapport with your students is the best path to a long and successful career as a teacher.
It’s even more important in the digital world, where parents can choose from a large pool of qualified tutors, all vying for the privilege of teaching their child.
But building rapport in the modern world is easier said than done. Students come from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of learning needs and styles.
It can be easy to be all fun and games to get students to like us, but is that really helping the students’ learning in the long run?
So, what can we do as teachers to help connect with our students, to have fun with them, to get them to like us, to trust us, but also to enjoy our classes and want to learn from us?
Well, that’s just what we will explore in this article.
Join us as we outline a variety of ways to build rapport with students in the digital classroom.
1. Personalize Communication
Learn Names: Use students' names in discussions and feedback.
Introduction Videos: Share a video introducing yourself, including your interests and background.
Personal Check-ins: Send individual messages to students to see how they’re doing.
This first point is a small thing, but it goes such a long way for students, young and old. We’ve all heard how someone’s name is music to their ears. In a sea of students, remembering a student’s name means something to them.
Having a teacher introduction video on your online teaching profile is standard practice these days, but many teachers just “phone it in.” Going the extra mile will help students connect with you and help you stand out to perusing parents.
2. Create a Welcoming Environment
Icebreakers: Start with icebreaker activities to help students get to know each other.
Virtual Backgrounds: Encourage students to use virtual backgrounds that reflect their personalities or interests. Consider using your own virtual background that makes your classroom fun and enticing.
Office Hours: Hold regular virtual office hours where students can drop in for a chat.
Communicating with a native speaker in their native language can be incredibly intimidating for language learners. Greeting students with a smile, having a welcoming environment (digital or otherwise), and being available for communication outside the classroom is a great way to build rapport with students. While you may feel a little “over the top”, some things get lost in translation, so while it feels like a lot to you, it might be just right for your student.
3. Engage Actively
Interactive Sessions: Use tools like polls, quizzes, and breakout rooms to keep students engaged.
Discussion Boards: Create discussion forums for students to interact with each other and with you in the target language.
Live Q&A: Allocate time for live Q&A sessions where students can ask questions in real-time.
Being engaging in the digital classroom is certainly a challenge, but with all the new tools that have been developed in the past few years, things are getting easier. Try to include just one of the above ideas (or your own) into each of your lessons and watch your students connect with you.
4. Provide Feedback and Encouragement
Timely Feedback: Give prompt and constructive feedback on assignments.
Positive Reinforcement: Highlight students' strengths and achievements in class.
Growth Mindset: Encourage a growth mindset by praising effort and progress.
Being a curmudgeon who only picks out mistakes isn’t going to build rapport with students, but neither is praising every single thing they do. Be constructive in a positive manner that shows how much you care. Students will respect you for having their best interests at heart rather than ignoring their mistakes, especially if you deliver your criticism with care.
5. Incorporate Multimedia
Videos and Images: Use multimedia resources to make lessons more engaging.
Gamification: Incorporate game-like elements such as badges or leaderboards to motivate students.
Interactive Tools: Utilize tools like Padlet, Kahoot!, or Google Jamboard for collaborative activities.
This one is a no brainer! Who doesn’t love a good video or game? Just be sure it supports what you are trying to teach and doesn’t take up too much class time.
6. Foster a Sense of Community
Group Projects: Assign group projects to encourage collaboration.
Peer Review: Use peer review sessions for assignments.
Social Media Groups: Create a class social media group or chat where students can share ideas and resources.
This might be hard to do, depending on where you teach online, but fostering this type of peer community shows your students that you trust them. You trust them to take their education into their own hands, and that garners respect.
7. Be Accessible and Approachable
Response Time: Ensure you respond to emails and questions promptly.
Transparency: Be clear about your availability and how students can reach you.
Empathy: Show understanding and flexibility regarding students' challenges.
Gone are the days of the inaccessible, strict, scary teacher who doesn’t acknowledge students outside the classroom. Modern-day teaching requires more transparency to build rapport with students. Just be sure to state your availability, clearly communicate it, and create respectable boundaries.
8. Create Consistent Routines
Class Structure: Maintain a consistent structure for your classes to create a sense of stability.
Regular Updates: Send regular updates and summaries of what’s been covered and what’s coming next.
This is great for both child and adult learners. Creating a consistent routine shows you are organized and stable. These are admirable qualities in a teacher. Doing this also enables students to know what to expect. This not only helps their learning, but helps them feel a stronger connection to their teacher.
9. Solicit and Act on Student Feedback
Surveys: Regularly survey students to gather feedback on what’s working and what’s not.
Adapt: Be willing to adapt your teaching methods based on student feedback.
Feedback is a two-way street! Giving your students the opportunity to respectfully share their preferences and opinions is a great way to build rapport with them. Show your students that you are committed to learning and improving as well by taking good suggestions into account and implementing them.
Build Rapport with Students for the Long Run
Building rapport with students is an ongoing process that requires patience, empathy, and creativity.
By personalizing communication, creating a welcoming environment, engaging actively, and providing constructive feedback, you can foster a strong connection with your students.
By implementing these techniques, you not only enhance your students' educational experience but also pave the way for a successful and fulfilling teaching career.