Establishing a positive relationship and rapport: making the student feel confortable with is key for helping all to learn. When students less anxious (click here for information on how to lower their anxiety or "affective filter"), they are more likely to be motivated to learn. Also we need to make them feel we value their culture and be respectful of them as individuals. Some ways to help build a positive classroom climate include:

• Value the language of the student. It is important that stduents see the value of their home culture and language as they transition to the English language and become acclimatized to American culture.
• Learn words in the student’s language, label things in the classroom, correctly pronounce the student’s name
• Sometimes students would prefer to be tutor with a buddy who is at the same level of proficiency, if they learn better this way try to get two tutees at the time. If their buddy is more advanced, do not use the buddy to be the translator
  -Begin assessing and getting to know them in informal ways first, such as asking simple questions, drawing (if they can speak)
• - Use literature that is relevant to their culture
  - Use activities at their level of proficiency, for example Total Physical Response (TPR) with beginning students
• Use a variety of ways to teach --approaches and strategies--the same language or skills and find out how they learn better
• Have plenty of materials so you can give them choices
  
  •Comment on the student’s talents and assets
  
  • Explain to the student, in his or her first language, the language acquisition process and the reason why extra tutoring is needed

  You should encourage students to be proud and develop their primary language and use it (but during the few tutoring hours try to use as much English as possible, you can use translation if they need it and you know their language, specially to explain harder concepts, but for basic vocabulary for eample such as nouns try to use as much English as possible. For this, use as much as Comprehesible Input as possible, such as pictures, parapharasing, etc.. Students should view language and culture as the keys to making meaning. Some ways to help promote this include having signs around the room in a student's native language and newlestters as well. This way students will be more apt to value their home language and culture. These strategies can also strengthen the home-school partnership.

  Make the curriculum relevant to the student's life.

• Use a student's native culture in the materials whether through storytelling or books written in that language.
• The most tutoring session is one where student have input and share ownership of what happens in the time together.
• Be aware that each student learns differently--have different learning styles--and therefore instructional practices should be tailored toward student strengths. Be familiar with cultural tendencies as a reference point, but do not consider these strategies steadfast rules. Consider making a 100% smart chart at the beginning of the year where students create a pie chart that represents their strong style as part of the idea that we have multiple intelligences (Linguistic, Musical, Logical-Mathematical, Spatial, Kinesthetic, Intrapersonal, and Interpersonal) This visual representation will serve as a constant reminder that everyone learns differently.

Click here for scenarios on establishing rapport