Building Rapport in the Virtual EFL

Classroom
• On a scale of 1-9 how are you feeling this
fine morning?

How I’m feeling: 6 and 9.

• How has your weekend been? Have you

done anything new/exciting?

I was making this presentation, reading two

books and catching up on some TV shows
during the weekend.

Presentation by: Boris Simonovski (4th year)

Subject: ELT Methodology 3
Let’s speak of our personal experiences (as
students, or teachers during their practical
lessons)
How do you define rapport?
Let us try to define rapport
by establishing a rapport
with one another!
Rapport = Personal (non-professional)
relationship between the teacher and their ss.
RELATIONSHIPS
Among
Pupils (and their
teachers)
PLAY
OVERPOWERING
ROLES (IN THE)
TEACHING
(ENVIRONMENT)
 Example of rapport in
19th c. literature
'Miss Grey was a queer creature: she
never flattered, and did not praise them
half enough; but whenever she did
speak favourably of them, or anything
belonging to them, they could be quite
sure her approbation was sincere. She
was very obliging, quiet, and peaceable
in the main, but there were some things
that put her out of temper: they did not
much care for that, to be sure, but still it
was better to keep her in tune; as when
she was in a good humour she would
talk to them, and be very agreeable and
amusing sometimes, in her way; which
was quite different to mamma's, but still
very well for a change.’’ (Taken from
Agnes Grey, Anne Brontë, 57); One of
the pupils speaking of the governess
Anne Grey; example of the significance
of rapport
 Benefits of (online and offline) classroom rapport 
• Personalisation with the ss
• Increase ss’ motivation (teacher’s too!)
• Positive attitude (towards the teacher and learning material) :D
• Aids in teacher-student communication, mutual trust and respect

Can you think of other benefits from classroom rapport?

So, you must be asking Bu
be t, B
yourselves now… go abl ooo
ss? od r e to ris
Pl app est how
s h or a ab
elp t w lish will
me it h I
 my

You can establish rapport by:

• Showing interest in ss’ hobbies and lives
(but not too much).
• Share your personal experiences with
them.
• By playing games and activities (‘GTKY’
Activity – Get To Know You activity); Two
Truths One Lie…).
• Remember details from conversation with
ss, remember their names (!)
• Give genuine feedback, ask follow-up
questions.
Example of virtual classroom rapport:
CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY

• Approximate time: 5 mins

• Objective of the game: pair the question and answer cards in the funniest,
most absurd and intelligent way possible.
• Each turn there is a judge (czar) and a question card. The rest of the players are
given 5 answer cards and must choose one that best suits the question card.
• E.g. Question card: I love Jesus because ________.
Answer card: He looks like a hippie guitarist.

• The judge chooses the best answer and the player gets one point. The player that
gets to 3 points wins! https://picturecards.online/static/index.html?game=LRZP