The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker (4)
I was really skeptical about the way some things were handled during the course but, in the end, I must say I benefited from it. Although there are still two days left I don’t think the list of my teaching hints will change dramatically. They may be truisms for you but this is what I found really useful.
Don’t be caterer but challenger.
Restriction is a powerful tool.
If you are bored with old things, turn them inside out or take them to extreme.
Literature generates creativity.
CLIL and TBT could be blended into projects.
Get moving images back to life through news and ads.
Silence, please.
I’m putting a virtual asterisk next the the last line above:
1. We must subordinate teaching to learning.
2. We must strive to free the students from the tyranny of the correct answer.
3. An eror is a gift to the class.
4. Every student knows more than the teacher thinks they know and more than the students think they know.
5. Do not do for the students what the students may more usefully do for themselves.
6. A little (language) is a lot.
7. Find the baby in ourselves.
8. The teacher should work on the student and the student should work on the language.
9. Only awareness is educable.
10. Do not go to the library, go to yourself.
Caleb Gattegno, the founder of the Silent Way
My favourites: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.