How to Interpersonally Relate to Students

Studies have shown that establishing an interpersonal relationship with students is just as important to the learning experience as are the actual lessons that you teach. Instructors need to balance instruction with interpersonal skills. Read on for a few tips on how to relate to students on an interpersonal level.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• Humor
• Time

1. Promote active listening in the classroom. Make it a habit to acknowledge students when they raise their hands. Look them in the eye. Listen to what they are saying. Repeat back to them what they ask or say by paraphrasing their remarks; in other words, rephrase what they say in your own words.

2. Reinforce behavior through praise. Look for something in every student that you can say something positive about. Even if it is only that you like their new book bag, attention goes a long way in bolstering a persons self-esteem. Students who feel good are going to be in a better position to learn what you have to teach them!

3. Share your own stories with your students. Teachers and professors of the old days kept a strict distance from their students. Today that is not the case. Share something about your personal and/or professional life with your students. Let them get to know you as a person--not just a scary authority figure.

4. Set clear expectations whenever possible. Maintaining a good interpersonal relationship with students includes letting them know on a timely and consistent basis what it is you expect from them. In this way you will gain their respect and hopefully set the stage for imparting some of your wisdom to them.

Tips & Warnings

• Open the lines of communication with your students. Share your email address with them.
• Don't go overboard! Remember that you are a professional. Getting to know students does not mean dating students.