Student- instructor rapport is a mutual relationship based on trust and understanding. This relationship helps create an atmosphere of openness where the student can learn with ease and gain knowledge. With the knowledge gained they perform well and get more motivated to excel even more in their chosen fields.
I believe it's the most important thing in the classroom as it breaks down the barrier between teacher and student. If an instructor can show that they're "human", flawed and makes mistakes, and have the same type of personal experiences as the students, then the instructor is seen more as a guide than just an instructor.
From personal experience; it fosters a level of trust and builds characters. The student is more willing to move toward his own personal goals if you show them you have their back and believe in where they are trying to go.
Hi Keelan,
Right you are about needing to establish rapport with students. Earning their respect goes a long way in establishing rapport which leads to enhanced learning and greater student satisfaction.
Gary
Developing a rapport wit student helps u understand why the students is enrollled in your class and who they really are as a person. Which will go a long way as class progresses foward.
To facilitate learning, students need to know that the classroom is a safe and non-threatening envioronment. By developing a good rapport with the students, they will be more likely to ask questions and participate in classroom discussions.
Hi Clarence,
Good points about establishing rapport. You are right about how many brilliant people are not able to establish rapport with students. I feel sorry for them because the biggest pay off for me as an instructor is the relationships and rapport I have with my students. The students are my legacy to the field that I get to teach about and they get to enter upon graduation.
Gary
Hi Tracey,
Based upon your forum comments I am assuming that you are a dedicated instructor that cares about students. This is the essence of being a professional educator. You are doing so many things to create a connection between your students and yourself. Keep up the good work with this student centered approach.
Gary
The same brain physiology that stimulates learning in the enthusiastic student is at work when the brain has a positive emotional responce to personal rapport. The amigdla and hippocampus "color" the nature of data received in the brain to prioritize memory. The rapport a student feels toward the instructor sets this positive emotional responce and increases success in learning. Many of the most brilliant people are terrible teachers. They lack this ability to establish rapport.
Students must understand that no question is "stupid" if they do not know the answer. The only way they become comfortable with this concept is when the teacher can be trusted and is predictable regarding their responses to questions whether valid or not.
To acomplish this, I give students my definition of an "educated person". An educated person is one who realizes that:
1. they don't know everything
2. when they don't know, they admit they don't
know
3. they know where to go to find reliable answers
4. they are able to assimilate new nformation
for future reference
The whole process is called learning and requires, even your teachers, to study every day.
it aids in the students comfort factor
I feel like I have a great rapport with my students. They respond to me well because I make sure to treat them with a level of respect that causes them to treat me the same way back. I am always available to "listen" if they are having a problem. I enjoy playing a get to know each other name game at the start of each new class term. We work on teamwork and each student trusts me to not let them falter. I let them know that we are a team and each member in the class will rise up and support anyone who is feeling like they are lacking in some areas. I give student helping student pins for their uniforms and to encourage the team effort. Overall, I have no issues with rapport with the students. Remember, what energy you put out.(negative or positive) will come back to you.
I believe that having a good rappaport with the students help create a better learning enviroment, and it also helps to keep them wanting to see you as a kinowledgeable person and not just another instructor
Developing a rapport with the students allow them to feel comfortable with you as instructor and allows them to feel more confident to approach with a question about the material. This then allows the student to better understand what is being offered to them and the retention level of the material increases greatly. Also the development of rapport allows the student to more comfortable in the classroom setting and further helps them during any exams and assignments to think critically.
Without a rapport with students, nobody wins. Students don't trust the instructors as they need to in order to learn, and instructors don't have the trust from the students they need to teach them. Once that trust is established, students are more likely to get more out of the class because they're more comfortable opening up and asking questions. Without developing the rapport, however, learning can't truly happen.
..and create a sense of trust and confidence.....
Hi Anita,
Establishing rapport with students from the beginning of class really helps a class go well. Everyone gets engaged and focused on the needed outcomes. I wish you much teaching success.
Gary
Hi Osiel,
Good point and one that needs to be reinforced by instructors. They need to set up the class so students feel supported and respected.
Gary
I am beginning to realize how important it is to establish rapport from the very beginning of the first class!
I agree to this. Students must feel comfortable at giving any opinion freely
