Listen |Notice|Reflect

I think that the day to day hustle and bustle of life barely leaves time for reflection and noticing the small but truly significant things. Once the alarm rings on Monday morning most people jump out of bed and start a non-stop routine which continues until Friday or Saturday afternoon.  This leaves virtually no time to reflect on one’s day or simply inhale and exhale deeply just long enough to feel the warmth of the sun. We scatter through the morning, to tensely sit in rush hour traffic and start the workday being mindful of the laborious and elaborate schedule. However, in the midst of this mad hatter routine I often forget to listen, notice and reflect. These are the elements of this program which I appreciate the most.  Over time I have slowly found ways to practice these skills in the classroom and include them in the lessons. I am more attuned to the students’ level of fluency, pronunciation errors, areas of interest and interaction patterns within the classroom; thus, I am able to adjust the flow of the class accordingly.  I think my students appreciate these periods of the lessons when they are not required to speak but simply slow down the learning process. As a result they can observe their classmates or their surrounding, they can write about the listening process in their L2 or close their eyes sink into their seat and actively listen to a story in their L2.  As I learn techniques and find ways to use them, I incorporate them in my lessons and encourage my students to use them as well.  Overall, these simple ideas have made me feel more relaxed, confident and grounded in the classroom. In a sense any classroom becomes my classroom because I have moved from the well rehearsed actress to the producer of my own series.

Author: W. O.

Current and Future Obsession ...... Women & Girls pursuing quality education, entrepreneurial and leadership opportunities -Lover of languages -English Education Enthusiast View all posts by W. O.