SEEDS OF CONFIDENCE IN LANGUAGE TEACHING

*********

ECIS, Lisbon 2011

Jane Arnold

arnold@us.es University of Seville

SELF-CONCEPT:

our perception of ourself, what we see when we look “inside”

Both greatly

SELF-ESTEEM:

our affective evaluation of this self-concept, our feelings about it

influence learning.

Five components of self-esteem

Security (I know I am safe)

Identity (I know who I am)

Belonging (I know others accept me)

Purpose (I know what I want to achieve)

Competence (I know I am capable)

(model of Robert Reasoner)

I’m O.K.

THE SENSE OF SECURITY

The sense of security

leads to confidence based on

physical security and emotional security

Students with a sense of security

feel more comfortable

take more risks

can concentrate their energy on the task

participate more

Teachers who promote the sense of security

Define procedures and routines (learners know what is expected of them)

Involve learners in defining rules and norms

Enforce rules in a way that supports learners’ self-respect

Promote individual responsability

Mistakes are the portals of

discovery. (James Joyce)

The only people, scientific or other, who never make mistakes are those who do nothing.

(Thomas Henry Huxley)

If I had my life to live over... I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.

(Nadine Stair)

The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.

(John Powell)

Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.

(Mahatma Gandhi)

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable,but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

(George Bernard Shaw)

Mistakes, obviously, show us what needs improving. Without mistakes, how would we know what we had to work on?

(Peter McWilliams)

A mistake is a gift for the class.

Caleb Gateggno

A mistake is a gift for the class.

Caleb Gateggno

SENSE OF IDENTITY

Don Quixote to Sancho Panza

“You must keep in view what you are,

striving to know yourself, the most

difficult thing to know that the mind

can imagine”.

The sense of identity

refers to the knowledge I have of myself.

It is knowing who I am and what I can become.

It includes a realistic vision of my strengths and my areas to develop.

TEACHERS WHO PROMOTE THE SENSE OF IDENTITY

Celebrate the uniqueness of individuals.

Promote the development of a positive self-concept.

Show acceptance of students and interest in them as people.

Help students recognize their strengths and their points to be developed.

THE SENSE OF BELONGING

The sense of belonging

exists when we feel accepted in a

group.

Our brain is social – we need to connect with others in an atmosphere of respect to learn most effectively.

TEACHERS WHO PROMOTE THE SENSE OF BELONGING

Create a climate of acceptance.

Reduce the number of isolated students

Promote a feeling of pride in the group

Support interpersonal relationships in the class

THE SENSE OF PURPOSE

The sense of purpose

The development of a sense of purpose

can give meaning to your efforts

“People with goals are successful because

they know where they are going.”

(Earl Nightingale)

Students with a sense of purpose

Set realistic goals. Have iniciative. Are responsible for their actions and recognize the consequences. Look for alternatives when they find problems in reaching their goal.

TEACHERS WHO PROMOTE THE SENSE OF PURPOSE

Trasmit positive expectations

Show confidence in the abilities of their students

Strengthen students’ values

Help them to set realistic and reachable objectives

The ideal self – the attributes that I wouldlike to

have ***********

Zoltán Dörnyei:

I consider the concept of the ideal self

to be the strongest and most versatile

mechanism of motivation. The image

of our ideal self can help us to

formulate goals for our future and to

reach them.

SEEDS OF CONFIDENCE

de Andrés and Arnold. ( Helbling Languages)

“Keep your eyes on your goal” Questions to help you keep your eyes on your goal:

1) What do you really want to achieve?

2) Why do you want it?

3) What are you doing to get there?

4) Is what you are doing/thinking/ helping you?

5) If not, what would you need to change? (Beliefs,

actions, words, etc)

6) What is your major challenge?

7) What extra help do you need? (resources,

strategies, etc)

THE SENSE OF COMPETENCE

The sense of personal competence

is knowing that: we can reach our goals we can be successful

requires the ability to: identify options available to us apply strategies for problem-solving make good decisions and use our resources well

Students with a sense of personal competence

Take more risks. Use their mistakes to learn. Express their ideas freely. Recognize their achievements and use positive self talk

TEACHERS WHO PROMOTE THE SENSE OF COMPETENCE

Offer options or alternatives

Provide incentives and support

Give feedback

Celebrate achievements