American Journal of Educational Research, 2017, Vol. 5, No. 10, 1102-1107 Available online at http://pubs.sciepub.com/education/5/10/12 ©Science and Education Publishing DOI:10.12691/education-5-10-12 Influence of Student-Teacher Communication on Students’ Academic Achievement for Effective Teaching and Learning Glory Amadi 1,* , Akpan Kufre Paul 2 1 Department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria 2 Department of Curriculum Studies and Educational Technology, University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria *Corresponding author: augustine_okamgba@yahoo.co.uk Abstract This paper examines the influence of student-teacher communication on students’ academic achievement for effective teaching and learning. Three objectives of the study, three research questions and three research hypotheses guided the study. The population of the study comprises of all 100 level and 200 level undergraduate students from the Department of Educational Psychology Guidance and Counselling, University of Port Harcourt Rivers State. The total population of the undergraduates from the Departments is four hundred and thirty (430) students. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting one hundred and fifty (150) students from the entire population as the sample for the study. A structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection tagged Students-Teacher Communication Questionnaire (STCQ). Validity of the instrument was done by experts in the field of Educational Psychology, and the reliability was established using Cronbach’s Alpha Analysis and the reliability coefficient of 0.75 was obtained. Mean, standard deviation and Regression Analysis were used as statistical tool for the study. Findings from the study reveals that that students have a strong positive relationship between their level of communication and their academic achievement in schools, student have a very weak positive relationship between their attitude and their academic achievement in school, the findings also revealed a very strong positive relationship between students’ benefits on student-teacher communication and their academic achievement in the department. Based on these findings conclusion and recommendations were made. Keywords: teaching, learning, communication Cite This Article: Glory Amadi, and Akpan Kufre Paul, “Influence of Student-Teacher Communication on Students’ Academic Achievement for Effective Teaching and Learning.” American Journal of Educational Research, vol. 5, no. 10 (2017): 1102-1107. doi: 10.12691/education-5-10-12. 1. Introduction Teaching involves a sequential and systematic presentation of facts, ideas, experiences, knowledge, skills and information by the teacher to students. This process is not as simple as it is often perceived. Why do some teachers, despite their perceived knowledge of the subject matter and probably the methods of instruction, fail to achieve their set objectives or satisfy the learners? The fact remains that a good socio- emotional atmosphere must be created in the classroom for actual learning to thrive. It is against this background that this paper emphasizes the importance of effective communication in class room instructions especially in this 21 st century system of teaching and learning. Some important ideas of what teachers need to do to have the best social and emotional classroom climate are highlighted. 2. Concept of Communication The Dictionary definition of communication puts it thus: as an exchange of information between people by means of speaking, writing or using a common system of signs, or behaviors. The process of communication requires the creation of rapport between the sender and the receiver. Rapport is the interconnectivity that enables the purpose of the information to be adequately decoded by the receiver. When someone passes an information, communication cannot be said to have taken place until it is understood by the receiver. By implication therefore, if a teacher fails to attract the interest and understanding of the learners to what he presents, no communication has occurred. This process of communication is however not the mere talking and hearing that happens in every normal classroom, but we are considering the psychological and emotional communication that predisposes the learners to effectual learning. Below are some proactive ways teachers can ensure effective communication in the classroom. 2.1. How to Ensure Effective Communication in the 21 st -Century Classroom Johnson [1] in a study highlighted ten ways a teacher ensure effective communication in classroom; they include: Show a sincere enthusiasm or humuour: The first lesson content the teacher communicates to learners is his