Over the past eight years I have been training language teachers worldwide to become Neurolanguage Coaches®, bringing neuroscience or knowledge about the brain as well as coaching into the language learning process. I often get teachers who are very skeptical about this and in fact one asked me “well, what is the reason for talking about the brain, we never did it before?” and my answer was “surely, isn’t it time that we did?

«Βλέπω τους μαθητές μου να χάνουν το χαμόγελό τους και δεν ξέρω τι να κάνω. Πώς να τους στηρίξω όταν κι εγώ νιώθω όλο και πιο απομονωμένη, αγχωμένη, εξουθενωμένη καθώς ο καιρός περνά?»

Αυτά ήταν τα λόγια της Όλυ (το όνομα έχει αλλαχτεί), εκπαιδευτικού Αγγλικής γλώσσας, στην κουβέντα μας πριν την πρώτη συνεδρία της εκπαίδευσης NeuroLearningPower, που παρακολουθεί αυτό τον καιρό.

Answer: This is something we are asked quite often. Many colleagues would like to celebrate Christmas with their young learners, but they would like to do more than just teach them a carol or two. The activity we describe below can be used with learners from Junior A - C, and, if the main theme is changed, with higher level learners (B1+). 

"Decorating Our Christmas Tree"

Materials:

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Certainly, your relationship with your learners is crucial for the smooth functioning of the language learning experience.  Part of this relationship requires a good balance between familiarity and formality. 

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ANSWER: We would suggest then an activity which deals with the themes of kindness or friendship  Either theme will help our learners think about themselves and their commitment to the people around them. Also, either would be appropriate as a Valentine’s Day activity.

TITLE: “What is Kindness?"

LEVEL:  Early Adolescents+

ANSWER: A flexible, integrated skills activity, “Let’s exchange stories”, in which groups of language learners build a story inspired by visuals, creates an opportunity for groups of learners to relate stories to each other providing them with plenty of practice in observing, notetaking, listening, speaking and cooperation.