Writing is always connected with the idea of pleasure to me. When I am writing, I lose all sense of time and space, and look deep inside myself to find words that will compose my texts. I remember making up stories since I was a small child, even before I could actually write words; I would scribble drawings on paper to reveal my stories. Those moments always brought me so much fun, as much as they do today.
Although it is always a pleasure, I find myself writing for two occasions: first, when I have deadlines, and I am forced to produce a piece of writing I was asked for, and second, when I have an idea that keeps pulsating in my mind, and stops me from doing anything else. There are some environments in which I certainly feel more comfortable to express my creativity, such as a garden or my own bedroom. These are spaces where I feel safe to write, always in silence and completely alone. People and exterior noises distract me. I also feel they are invading and changing the course of my writing. Listening to some music before this process though, might motivate me. However, when an idea starts, I may stop wherever I am in order to write. Once, I was leaving work late at night, when a whole story formed in my mind. Without hesitating, I got into my car in the car park, locked the doors, opened my laptop and wrote one of my favorite stories so far. These are unusual moments and when they set in, I respect them and simply write. I write the final draft in my laptop, preferably during the day, and completely alone, but I always keep a little notebook and a pencil with me wherever I go. When I have an idea, or something inspires me, I open that little notebook of the moment and write. Ideas come from the world around me. There are certain places where I may feel more inspired, but I believe everything has its own magic that is just waiting to be discovered and recorded. Sometimes, however, I wake up in the middle of the night and write. The ideas may come from my previous day, or even from my dreams. More often, they come from something I read. Reading is a powerful source of new ideas to me, especially my own writing. Reading and re-reading something I wrote before, will ignite my creativity to write more and more. If I get a block, I stop writing and switch to something different, preferably in a completely different environment. Physical activities, such as running, one of my passions, will help me overcome any difficulties I had previously, and find my own motivation again. I write the first draft on loose papers with a pencil. I like the idea of playing with words in the space of a white sheet of paper, sometimes drawing or writing the words in different places and shapes and forms. Then, I always put the papers aside for one or two days. When I come back to them, fresh perspectives and new ideas force me to change my writing. If I set it aside a second time, I will change it again. I feel that every time the papers and I are apart geographically, I'll be able to return and tackle new perspectives that I hadn’t covered before. That is why I write the final draft on my laptop and only show it to one or two people I trust. I experience the pleasure of seeing how my ideas provoked comments and then give me new directions to follow. And even though I may not be able to change a text anymore, these new directions will lead me to more pleasant moments of writing. And beginning a whole new story again – more and more pleasure! This post has been originally published on The Asian Teacher-Writer Group website, 2014: http://flexiblelearning.auckland.ac.nz/cw/index.html Republished here with permission from The Asian Teacher-Writer Group.
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When you attempt to picture a 'writer', what do you see? A solitary person, with paper all around, typing his/her next great novel?
To me, writing is so much more than that. Writing is a tool for thinking, expression, and encouraging creativity. In this way, all of us are writers. But maybe we do not make writing a regular habit and enjoy all its benefits. Many people have already stated the benefits of regular writing. Here I will share some of them: 1. Writing makes you happier There has been many books and articles on the benefits and therapeutic of 'expressive writing', that is, putting what you think and feel to paper. For example, writing out your goals in life may increase your motivation; blogging may improve your mood, well- being, and reduce stress levels. All these benefits have been reported by those who engage in it regularly. 2. Writing helps handle hard times There are many studies that show that writing about trauma is a powerful way to come to terms with what happened and to accept the outcome. However, timing is essential for expressive writing. Forcing the process to happen may only worsen things and make people even more depressed. But if it is an activity engaged in naturally, the benefits might be amazing for many traumas. 3. Writing keeps you 'in shape' as you age Writing is a thinking exercise, and just like physical exercise, it can help you keep in shape as you age. It keeps you thinking regularly and helps keep the mental rust from forming. 4. Writing leads to better thinking and better communication When you write on a regular basis, you do not have difficulty in using words to describe feelings, share experiences, and communicate with others. Also, the 'tip of the tongue' feeling, or being unable to remember words when speaking will disappear when you write regularly. It will help you communicate highly complete ideas more effectively. 5. Writing leads to better learning There is a certain discipline required to create interesting written work that demands the person be receptive and focused on finding new sources of information, inspiration, and insight. This will lead to a better learning of your subject matter. Writing also encourages personal development. You may begin to build on ideas, which will lead to a further exploration of your interests and a better understanding of what you are writing about. 6. Writing helps you think clearly When you try to mentally juggle too many thoughts at the same time, you do not think clearly and that leads to distraction. Writing allows abstract information to cross over into the tangible world, and helps you think more clearly. 7. Writing leads to gratitude Writing down the good things in your life once a week makes you feel more positive and motivated about your current situation in your future. It happens because it forces you to really look at why those things make you happy. 8. Writing helps you relax Consider keeping a notepad beside your bed, and allot 15-20 minutes every night to writing down your thoughts about the day. If there are things that are stressing you out, getting them down on paper to acknowledge them may help to alleviate the anxiety so you can get some rest. So, what are you planning to write today? If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read more fairy tales. (Albert Einstein) They are many reasons why we should read our children fairy tales, but experts seem unable to agree whether we should start reading fairy tales to children at a very young age or not. This discussion becomes more difficult when we think of teaching fairy tales in a language class. In my opinion, we should start as early as possible. Of course, the choice of the tale, the objectives, the language, and the activities should be graded for each age group. Today, I will share some reasons why we should use fairy tales in a foreign language classroom (two parts) and in my next posts, I will share some activities. 1. Fairy tales help show children how to manage problems Sometimes we struggle to teach children how they should deal with problems they may face when learning a language. Making use of fairy tales might a powerful tool to teach them how to deal with these problems. 2. Fairy tales help children build emotional resilience Not everything is perfect in learning a foreign language in the classroom, as it is not in real life. If we build an environment to show children that good and bad things happen, and that these problems are part of the learning process, they will develop a positive attitude towards learning in general, and will become stronger emotionally. 3. Fairy tales help teach critical thinking skills We, as teachers, can use either good or bad fairy tales and expose children to guided conversation about these aspects. They will help children develop critical thinkings skills. 4. Fairy tales help develop children's imagination I have always believed that fantasy, fun, and imagination help develop creativity. Fairy tales help children use them all and become more creative than they actually are. 5. Fairy tales help teach lessons All teachers who teach children know we teach more than a language.Fairy tales might help us deal with some delicate lessons and morals that arise in the classes. 6. Fairy tales help children's development Fairy tales may be similar to children's development, as they have many layers of meaning. If you use the same fairy tale at different ages with the same students, they will grasp the different meaning. This may be similar to learning a new language - the struggles against difficult times is unavoidable, but if they face the hardships and overcome obstacles, they will meet victory in the end, and be prepared to move to another level of development. 7. Fairy tales help teach cultural literacy When you read fairy tales to children, it helps them develop their imagination, as they may include different cultures and ways of doing things. They also teach children about cultural differences in the world outside their own, which is essential when learning a foreign language. They will develop a curiosity to learn about new things, places, people. 8. Fairy tales help teach stories Fairy tales teach children how to understand the meaning and power behind storytelling. Hearing a fairy tale over and over again will help children develop their own storytelling skills, for instance, tell a story in the correct order, pay attention to details, characters etc, either in the mother or foreign language. 9. Fairy tales help teach children move beyond their comfort zones Some fairy tales can inspire children to be open to explore danger and confront it - both real and imaginary danger - which is very important when they are learning a foreign language. Also, they can help children understand individuality, but also the importance of supporting one another. Collaboration is a powerful skill, not only in learning a language, but also in their future work environment. 10. They are great fun! If your objective is to use fairy tales to teach language, lessons, moral, culture, etc, you cannot also deny that it is great fun to sit with children around and simply read fairy tales. Their excitement and smiles when you come with a book to read, and the fun you will all have when you disappear in another world inside the fairy tales will be memorable. So, have fun and enjoy your fairy tale! I have been talking to many people recently, and realised that most one them have never read any classic books, either in their mother tongue or in a foreign language. I would say that the benefits of reading in your own language, or when you are studying a second language are the same. I always refer to some of them when talking to my students.
So, why should you read the classics? 1. It increases your vocabulary When reading the classics, you see many words that are not part of your daily life. When you learn new words, you increase your range of vocabulary. This allows you to express yourself in a better way, be able to communicate accurately and create a perception of an intelligent world. 2. It helps you write better Reading the classics is a good way to improve your writing. When reading you end up learning the grammar and style of the author, and that contributes to the development of your own writing. 3. It helps you speak better Reading books that were written by great writers teaches you how to express yourself with clarity and style. It helps you improve the mastery of the language, you become more persuasive, and you have an advantage over less articulate people. 4. It helps you have new ideas Observing the same ideas that other people have generates a repetitive thinking. When reading the classics, you are able to be more inspired and have the opportunity to improve your own creativity. 5. It helps you have an historical perspective A person who just reads newspapers and magazines can only rely on their own time. When reading the classics you broaden your historical perspective and develop a critical sense. The classics are also important to stimulate your mind by knowing the thoughts and experiences of other people from other time. 6. Educational entertainment Reading the classics is a fun pastime. You can find many facts about the history and the vocabulary of the time that the book was written. Another good activity is to look for more modern versions of the classics, and compare the times, historical facts, vocabulary, etc to increase the fun. 7. Sophistication If you like to stand out in conversations among friends, to have knowledge of the classics is essential. You will deepen your ideas and develop a critical sense. 8. More efficient reading Reading several books increases the speed you read. It is also a challenge to read books from different times and themes. If you read several different books, the reading speed will get faster and faster each time. 9. Critical sense If you are a writer or blogger, to ignore the classics is a big mistake. Regardless of the topic you address in your writing, you need to be persuasive and develop your critical sense. The best way to learn is from the masters. Spend some time with the classics and take advantage from them. 10. Culture Reading is an invaluable act of personal and professional development. Reading the classics is a way to access information, and with them, seek changes in the world. Also, universal culture is extremely important to write good texts and be critical. So, what are you waiting for? What is the next book you are going to read? Children are driven by curiosity and playfulness. When they are playing, they can explore and make things happen, and share with others - not afraid of failure, they are experimenting, inventing and failing, and somehow succeeding.
The playfulness approach allows children to learn and be creative. However, in order for play to happen, children need free time, unstructured time, when they have permission to take risks, make mistakes, and explore new pathways. An environment with pre-defined activities in a defined time does not allow playfulness, creative thinking and active engagement. It does not offer support for creativity and experimentation. Like adults, children need free time. If your children are over scheduled and do not have time to play, they often feel overwhelmed and pressured, and that can lead to a number of problems, including behavioral issues and emotional challenges. Children also need time to relax and do nothing - sometimes, these are the moments when they have the best ideas. Science journalist Jonah Lehrer, referencing a landmark neuroscience study on brain activity during innovation and creativity, said: 'The relaxation phase is crucial. That’s why so many insights happen during warm showers. One of the surprising lessons of this research is that trying to force an insight can actually prevent the insight.' So, what are you doing this weekend? Are you allowing your children (and yourself) some free time? I have heard and read many 'experts' in creativity talking about the stifling effects of education on creativity. Most of them refer to websites such as TED and talks with titles like 'Ken Robinson says school kills creativity.'
Besides that, many teachers do say that they not instill a sense of 'thinking outside the box' among their students; that it is an extremely difficult task to inspire students to be creative; that it is almost impossible to 'go against the system', and so on and so forth. However, quite a lot is known about how teachers can promote creativity, and I certainly thought about them today, as I saw all teachers at the language institute I work for promoting them. What I saw today was teachers relying principally on positive enforcement and encouragement to motivate students, rather than punishment. I saw teachers modelling creativity, questioning assumptions, allowing time for creative thinking, rewarding creative ideas and products, and allowing mistakes ('How to Develop Student Creativity', Robert Sternberg). I know and I can see that teachers do encourage creativity, although certainly not all. However, if one of your goals for your education or the education of your children is to develop creativity, the best thing to do is to select the teachers accordingly. They are - and have always been - the ones who can inspire students to be creative and change education for the better.
The benefits of using chants and songs with children are numerous, among them:
Today I saw the power of using chants as a learning tool outside the classroom. I spent the day at my brother's house, and there was a little girl, Heloisa, who is two years old, and who was too shy to get close to me. I tried all I could without any success. So, I just sat next to her and my niece, Valentina, who is seven, and watched them drawing and playing. Then, I listened to a background song, and saw that the girls were moving their bodies even without paying attention to the song. I suddenly said,' why don't we sing a song together?' My niece suggested 'Head and Shoulders, Knees and Toes' and we all chant it in Portuguese, the little girls and me. Heloisa smiled, enjoyed what we were doing, and started to talk to me. But what really brought her close was when my niece asked me to chant it in English. Valentina knew the chant and what it meant. Heloisa, who is only two, did not. However, she asked me to repeat the chant again and again, until she could pronounce the words correctly and knew their meaning. And when her mother picked her up by the end of the day, Heloisa could chant it alone to her and show the body parts. I have always believed that real learning happens when you are having fun, when you are enjoying yourself, in or outside the classroom. When you use chants and songs, it will double the fun. Children love them. Always keep a song in your heart (and a poem) in your pocket. You will be glad you did! Children are inherently creative. However, as they grow old, they lose their willingness to try new things due to a series of factors, being among them: fear of failure, opinions of others become important, they want to know the 'right answer'. At the same time, teachers make use of the so-called 'creativity killers' in the classrooms, such as:
Instead of stifling children's creativity, teachers should nourish and develop them. Here are some suggestions that can promote creativity in the language class:
What else could you add to this list? Creativity had been seen as a mystical process, the province of geniuses, artists and eccentrics. Nowadays, creativity is recognised as a practical skill, one that can be taught and which everyone can achieve. From my point of view, it is a skill that cannot be taught. What teachers can do is create conditions to help students find and develop their own creativity. But what is creativity? It is certainly something not easy to define. But maybe we can consider it as a way of thinking in which we look at familiar things with a fresh eye, and use our imagination combined with our knowledge to explore new possibilities rather than established rules. The importance of creativity I believe that creativity is very important at an individual level and essential in language learning. Creativity helps improve self-esteem, motivation, and achievement of learners. Students who are encouraged to think creatively and use it in the classroom:
Also, teachers who encourage students to be creative in the language classroom help them overcome fears, express themselves better, initiate plans and actions, and a desire for lifelong learning. 2. What is the most important factor when choosing an English course? Last week, I went to a company to do an oral placement test with five engineers. This week, I came back to the same company, but this time I faced four professionals from the Human Resources department, including their head of department. Instead of actually doing the placement test with each one of them individually, I was placed on one side of a table, and the four of them on the other side. It was when I realized I was not going to carry out a test, but instead was going to be tested. They bombarded me with so many questions about me, my experience, the course and methodologies. However, when they asked me their final question, I inverted the game. 'What is the most important factor when choosing an English Language course?' Without hesitating, I asked them to think about their favorite class when they were a child or a teenager. And then, their least favorite. Why did they love or hate those classes? Their answers were the same: the teacher. Professional teachers are committed to and responsible for bringing about the best learning they can in their classes. They motivate their students, do things for fun and love , but with training, commitment and responsibility. They try out new things if they are confident that they will benefit their students, and then step out of the way to make real learning happen . In this way, students become responsible for their learning and are the real stars of the class. Students unconsciously know that professional teachers are the most important aspect when choosing a course. But why haven't they consciously realised it? Perhaps because 'there are too many laypersons in positions of authority, taking or causing ill-informed decisions on the management of the learning of English in schools or on the teacher training' (Penny Ur). But are things changing ? I do believe so. There has been significant progress toward professionalism. Increasingly, teachers take pride in their work, invest time and effort in it, lecture, write, participate in conferences, connect with other teachers, share and learn. And most importantly, students are looking for and valuing these professional English teachers. They know the answer. They are now opening their eyes to what really matters: real learning...with a little help from professional teachers. Reference: Ur, P. (2012). A Course in English Language Teaching. Cambridge University Press. |