PROFESSIONALISM AND SERENDIPITY FOR EFL TEACHERS T h omas Baker , profesorbaker @ yahoo . com Colegio del Verbo Divino Santiago, Chile TESOL CHILE CONFERENCE UNIVERSIDAD de CONCEPCIÓN OCTOBER 28, 2005

How can we get maximum benefits from professional development?

Serendipity : A fortunate discovery made by luck. Many scientific discoveries were made serendipitously: antibiotics, gravity, X-rays, etc. However, professional development must be an intentional act if we are to achieve maximum benefits for our efforts.

Many scientific discoveries were made serendipitously: antibiotics, gravity, X-rays, etc.

However, professional development must be an intentional act if we are to achieve maximum benefits for our efforts.

Mental Preparation: Getting ready to learn Preparation is the most important thing we do in order to learn. The mind is in a learning state . Deliberately created before you learn. Preparation can dramatically increase your capacity to learn.

Preparation is the most important thing we do in order to learn.

The mind is in a learning state .

Deliberately created before you learn.

Preparation can dramatically increase your capacity to learn.

AIM This presentation aims to share with you powerful and proven ways of preparing for learning that are fast, easy, effective and fun.

This presentation aims to share with you powerful and proven ways of preparing for learning that are fast, easy, effective and fun.

Preparing For Learning: OVERVIEW Five keys to rapid learning Attitude and learning A resourceful state of mind: 7 steps Setting clear, well-defined goals Positive affirmations Relaxation Planning your time Motivation maintenance

Five keys to rapid learning

Attitude and learning

A resourceful state of mind: 7 steps

Setting clear, well-defined goals

Positive affirmations

Relaxation

Planning your time

Motivation maintenance

Five Keys to Rapid Learning 1. Desire 2. Motivation 3. Relevance 4. Anticipation 5. Positive Expectation

1. Desire

2. Motivation

3. Relevance

4. Anticipation

5. Positive Expectation

THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS How does this fit in with your previous knowledge? Does this make sense? Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

How does this fit in with your previous knowledge?

Does this make sense?

Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

Attitude & Learning: The Pygmalion Effect

Attitude & Learning: The Placebo Effect

The Law of Expectations: A self-fulfilling prophecy Whatever you Expect with Confidence (positive or negative) becomes your Reality . Expect to Succeed , and you Will Succeed. Expect to Fail , and you Will Fail.

Whatever you Expect with Confidence (positive or negative) becomes your Reality .

Expect to Succeed , and you Will Succeed.

Expect to Fail , and you Will Fail.

Ivan Pavlov and Serendipity: 1904 Nobel Prize Winner Russian physiologist studying the human digestive system . Focus: What helps to break down food? Saliva was studied. Developed method to measure saliva production.

Russian physiologist studying the human digestive system .

Focus: What helps to break down food?

Saliva was studied.

Developed method to measure saliva production.

Salivary Conditioning Apparatus

THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS How does this fit in with your previous knowledge? Does this make sense? Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

How does this fit in with your previous knowledge?

Does this make sense?

Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

A Resourceful State of Mind 1. Recall success 2. Intensify 3. Cue Word 4. Breathe deeply 5. Fist 6. Intensify 7. Open eyes/fist

1. Recall success

2. Intensify

3. Cue Word

4. Breathe deeply

5. Fist

6. Intensify

7. Open eyes/fist

SONG : RESOURCEFUL MIND R ecall, I ntensify, C ue, BREATHE ! F rom I nside O f you... (REPEAT 2 times)

R ecall, I ntensify, C ue,

BREATHE !

F rom I nside O f you...

(REPEAT 2 times)

Clear, Well-Defined Goals Written - What do I want? What prevents me? Visible Shared Visualised Action Plan Deadlines Reviewed often

Written -

What do I want?

What prevents me?

Visible

Shared

Visualised

Action Plan

Deadlines

Reviewed often

THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS How does this fit in with your previous knowledge? Does this make sense? Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

How does this fit in with your previous knowledge?

Does this make sense?

Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

POSITIVE AFFIRMATION Positive self-esteem Positive self image Personal Present tense Repeat often

Positive self-esteem

Positive self image

Personal

Present tense

Repeat often

THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS How does this fit in with your previous knowledge? Does this make sense? Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

How does this fit in with your previous knowledge?

Does this make sense?

Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

RELAXATION Change position Maximize Oxygen Rotate neck Say your affirmation(s) Create a relaxing environment a. Art / posters b. Music

Change position

Maximize Oxygen

Rotate neck

Say your affirmation(s)

Create a relaxing environment

a. Art / posters

b. Music

THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS How does this fit in with your previous knowledge? Does this make sense? Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

How does this fit in with your previous knowledge?

Does this make sense?

Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

Plan Your Time Use “down time”. 15 / 1 / 90 Set deadlines. Share your time goals. Use a time planner.

Use “down time”.

15 / 1 / 90

Set deadlines.

Share your time goals.

Use a time planner.

The Value of Time: 1 year/1 month/1 week/ 1 hour/1 second/1 millisecond Ask a student who failed a grade… Ask a mother of a premature baby… Ask the editor of a weekly newspaper… Ask 2 lovers who are waiting to meet… Ask a person who just avoided an accident.. Ask an Olympic champion…

Ask a student who failed a grade…

Ask a mother of a premature baby…

Ask the editor of a weekly newspaper…

Ask 2 lovers who are waiting to meet…

Ask a person who just avoided an accident..

Ask an Olympic champion…

THOUGHTS AND QUESTIONS How does this fit in with your previous knowledge? Does this make sense? Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

How does this fit in with your previous knowledge?

Does this make sense?

Does this challenge or fit in with your experience to date?

Motivation Maintenance Associate with Positive People. Catch yourself doing things right. Reward yourself. Believe in your Vision . Positive Knowing - You Know You Are A Success !

Associate with Positive People.

Catch yourself doing things right.

Reward yourself.

Believe in your Vision .

Positive Knowing - You Know You Are A Success !

Learning ” Personally, I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught”. Winston Churchill

Learning “ Where my reason, imagination or interest were not engaged , I would not or I could not , learn ”. My Early Life (1988 reprint), pages 12-13. Winston Churchill – Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature - 1953

“ Where my reason, imagination or interest were not engaged , I would not or I could not , learn ”.

My Early Life (1988 reprint), pages 12-13.

Winston Churchill – Winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature - 1953

Learning “ The joy of learning is as indispensable in study as breathing is in running”… Simone Weil (teacher)

“ The joy of learning is as indispensable in study

as breathing is in running”…

Simone Weil (teacher)

Learning “ A mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled”. Plutarch “ All learning is in the learner, and not in the teacher”. Plato

“ A mind is a fire to be kindled, not a vessel to be filled”. Plutarch

“ All learning is in the learner, and not in the teacher”. Plato

SUCCESS: Napoleon Hill “ Whatever your mind, can conceive , and believe , it can achieve ”.

“ Whatever your mind,

can conceive ,

and believe ,

it can achieve ”.

SERENDIPITY: The Final Word “Chance favours the prepared mind”. Louis Pasteur

Learning is a cruise when you prepare for learning. Enjoy Your Learning Cruise!

REFERENCES Rose, C. (1985) Accelerated Learning, Topaz Publishing, Great Britain Churchill, W. (1988) My Early Life, Scribners, Great Britain Knowles, E. (2004) The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, Oxford University Press, Great Britain Hill, N. (2000) Think and Grow Rich, Ralston University Press, Meriden, Connecticut, USA

Rose, C. (1985) Accelerated Learning, Topaz Publishing, Great Britain

Churchill, W. (1988) My Early Life, Scribners, Great Britain

Knowles, E. (2004) The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations, Oxford University Press, Great Britain

Hill, N. (2000) Think and Grow Rich, Ralston University Press, Meriden, Connecticut, USA