How We Got Our Students to Gel

1. How We Got Our Students to Gel Jessica Toro International House Zaragoza, Spain

2. IH Zaragoza 20th Anniversary • 2010 Friday afternoons • In the past, teens stayed in our school usually till the last term before finishing secondary school. • No official exams but Trinity were offered.

3. All of the sudden: “What was happening with this Friday Afternoon class?” • 12 students, stayed the whole year and came to class.

4. Howwastheteacherworkingwiththem! Developing English through “Self Esteem”

5. WhyisselfConfidence so important in languagelearning? • “Affect is, by definition, an intrinsic motivator. Positive affect sustains involvement and deepens interest in the subject matter” Stated by: Rodriguez, Plax and Kearney (1996:297)

6. Moskowitz (1999:178) “Students are more likely to do well when we incorporate activities which, while providing good language practice, take affect into account by supporting self-esteem or developing positive relationships”

7. Stevick (1980:4): “ Success… depends less on material, techniques and linguistic analyses and more on what goes on inside and between the people in the classroom”

8. Healthy Self-Esteem • Nottalkingaboutcreatingunrealisticexpectations and egocentricbehaviour. • Wewantourstudentstohave: • Positive and Accuratebeliefaboutthemselves and theirabilities • Commitment • Responsibilty • Selfconfidence • Motivation • Makeaneffort

9. Factors involved • A sense of security • A sense of identity • A sense of belonging • A sense of purpose • A sense of competence (recognition)

10. ACTIVITY TYPES USED…

11. TARGET LANGUAGE • Do you like the language? • Do you think it is difficult to learn? • What exactly is ‘language’ for you?

12. THE TARGET LANGUAGE COMMUNITY / CULTURE • Stereotypes • Integrative motivation v Ideal L2 Self (Dörnyei 2005) • Individual experience / preferences

13. THE LANGUAGE LEARNING EXPERIENCE • Group dynamics • Experiences at school • Success • Motivation • Objectives

14. WHY? DIFFERENT FROM SCHOOL? FRIENDS WHO SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY? OUTSIDE CLASS? ENGLISH NOW TRAVEL? FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO SPEAK ENGLISH FLUENTLY? Tutoring

15. LEVEL? EXAMS? FUTURE ENGLISH THINGS YOU’D LIKE TO DO HOW MUCH TIME? ROLE MODELS?

16. Learning another language is… A journey?

17. Learning another language is… A holiday?

18. Learning another language is… A struggle?

19. Learning another language is… A race?

20. Learning another language is… WHY?

21. Learning to work together… Spider web

22. Toot your Horn In Groups: • I likemyselfbecause… • I´manexpert at: • I feelgoodabout… • My friendswouldtellyou I have a great… • My favourite place is… • I´mlovedby…

23. Self Esteem Quiz Respond all the questions with: “Always” “Sometimes” “Never” Usually do it standing up with a part of the room representing each option.

24. How I feel about myself depends on what others think of me. • When I am criticized I berate myself for being stupid. • I easily ask for and accept help from others… • I easily accept compliments

25. I am anxious to admit that I don´t know or understand something • I am uncomfortable expressing my opinion… • In a restaurant, when I receive food that doesn´t match my order, I say nothing and eat it anyway…

26. A sense of BELONGING

27. A sense of SECURITY

28. A sense of PURPOSE

29. A sense of COMPETENCE

30. A sense of IDENTITY