Technical English - For Educators;2) Communicate with a Panache!

2) Greet with grace

Greetings are a polite way of expressing goodwill and exchange of positivity. The style of greeting gestures and cultures vary from country to country. For instance in New Zealand, a traditional greeting involves pressing one’s nose and forehead to another person's nose and forehead. The greeting gesture, ‘Namaste’ in India is carried out by joining the palms and fingers together facing upwards in a praying position and bowing slightly. We can say that Greetings create an aura of charisma and pleasant thoughts.

In a classroom setup, greeting students sets the tone for a fresh start every day. Teacher-student interaction forms the building block of a good and lasting relationship. Imagine yourself in a new environment. Do you remember the first day of your class when you felt like a fish out of water? What made you feel better? A simile and a greeting must have certainly made you feel relaxed and welcome.

Being prepared and greeting students on their arrival allows teachers to observe whether a student is happy, distracted or attentive. Greeting students sends across the message that they are cared for. So, let’s see how we can make the greeting more meaningful and go beyond a “Good Morning !”

To greet students beyond "Good Morning !"

•       Be prepared and arrive in the classroom before the students.
•       Welcome students with eye contact and a smile that exudes warmth and respect.
•       Bear in mind their academic needs as well as social needs.
•       Give students time to pause and associate by asking interactive questions
•       Address students with their names ( at least a few, initially)
•       Establish a greeting pattern.

  Use phrases like:

                    “I ‘m so glad to see you today.”

                    “I couldn’t wait to be back with you all ”

                      “What a pleasant morning! How do you perceive the day?”

                      “Let’s celebrate the bright and warm day by learning something new.”

  

 When meeting people for the first time in a formal setting, use the given phrases with a  

        relaxed breath and a gentle smile:

      “Hello! It’s a pleasure to meet you." 
 “I’m pleased to meet you.”

      “I’m glad to meet you.”

Note: Can you guess who is the strongest and balanced person in an auditorium of 100 people? 
-Well! It is the person with a relaxed breath. :)

Ms. Shashi Prabha

 Assistant Professor

 BNM Institute of Technology

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