Speak from your Heart not from your Head

The sky for the girl that wanted pictures of the sky.

On the second day of my certification class I ask my students to bring in 3 things that represent themselves. Most people bring things that represent their family or hobbies. I have had a few people bring things that were not so run of the mill. Many years ago when I taught in Santa Cruz I had a student that brought in a surf board. He was from Oregon and was a surf enthusiast so he took the class in Santa Cruz so he could surf during the week and take my class on the weekend. I heard from him last week and he is now in Hawaii. He wants me to help him get an ESL teaching job now.

Mark Twain spent much time in Gold Country

Last year I had a student that liked him uncle very much and his uncle had passed away recently. He brought some of his uncles ashes in a small vial. Since then I ask my students not to bring any ashes and then explain to them what I mean. A few other strange things have been brought for this activity, but most are not as extreme. Most people bring pictures of their large items they have for their hobbies. If they love a person in their life they bring a picture or something that person gave them.

Ore car

This exercise helps my students get closer and builds the class tighter as a group so they feel comfortable taking risks with each other. After we do this exercise I explain to my students that this is a great exercise for ESL students. I emphasize that we need to get ESL students to talk about things that are important to them so they can speak with passion. We want them to talk about things that they want to tell people about so they talk from that passion and not think about every sentence and the correct grammar and the correct vocabulary and the correct pronunciation and the correct fluency. I want them to just talk, not worry about every word they say.

Corner drug store

  I want my ESL students to speak about things they care about and not worry about the sentences they use. If they have passion about what they talk about then they will talk about it and not worry about the small things that stress them out. So often ESL students struggle with every sentence they end of not saying anything. I can work on problems once I can identify them, but I can't help if the student  won't talk at all. That is why I tell my students to talk from their heart instead of their head!

Saloon!!