Rapport
What skills do you need to build rapport with a studen?
gabriela,
You are right! Today's students are very aware of being "sold". Their hyperawareness almost creates a shield as soon as we call them or they walk in the door. Great insights!
Dr. Jean Norris
genuine interest is key. if you are just asking surface questions the person will know. you need to have that genuine interest and it will flow naturally. once it flows naturally, the conversation will go towards the right direction. the student will then see you are not being fake, you are being sincere and gain your trust
I agree with you and Teresa. When I have an initial telephone conversation with a prospective student, I try to learn a few personal things about him/her that I can incorporate into my first face-to-face meeting. Having questions to ask the student that are not always academically-related can help him/her feel more at-ease about the meeting and gives them the confidence that I am interested in more than just enrolling them, I am interested in their life-experiences as well as their potential for future success.
Great insights, Teresa. Taking the time to get to know your students and what is happening in their world on their terms is a powerful way to begin building meaningful rapport. Genuine interest in another person's situation can absolutely help to establish trust and help the person feel comfortable opening up.
To build a good rapport with the students you must know about their particular world and be able to discuss their individual situations on their level, therefore creating a trust and a bond where they feel comfortable to contact you when a situation arrives.
