Recently, I was asked a if and how well written curriculum could result in relationships being developed between the teachers and students. I immediately answered yes, but had to think about the “how” part of the question.

To properly explain how a good curriculum can aid in relationship building, I need you to think back to when you were in school. Think back to your favorite class. My guess is you learned a decent amount in that class and that the teacher made the learning fun.

Now imagine your least favorite class. Again, just guessing, but I would imagine the teaching style was a bit dry and the teacher served as a disseminator of information more than as an actual human being. You also probably didn’t learn as much as in your favorite class.

What does any of this have to do with the question that was asked? Well, think about your favorite class and imagine that is was your least favorite subject, or that the lessons were boring, or that the teacher didn’t have a clue how to teach. Would it be the same? Would it be your favorite? Probably not.

The goal of our curricula is to provide well-crafted curricula for any native English speaker to use. While it is designed to get the students comfortable speaking English, it is also designed for all the students to enjoy the process. When the students enjoy the process, they connect with the teachers. In a very short time span, the teachers become a “safe” and “fun” person that the students want to spend time with and talk to.

I whole-heartedly believe: the better the design of our curricula is, the better the relationships will come about between teacher, student and host (whatever group is using the curricula). If that wasn’t the case, then someone should tell the students who invited me and the rest of the teachers over to their place for a ridiculously huge meal.