“Emotion”
Fostering a Positive Learning Environment
Hello All,
I often get asked how to foster a positive learning environment. I wanted to share some of my personal insights in hopes that it might help some of you grow your own schools, teach lessons or even understand something in a different light.
Emotion is a big part of fostering a positive learning environment. There are a lot of different types of emotion. Just like spices used in cooking, the right type and amount is equally as important. It is a chemical reaction.
When students come to class their emotions can be scattered. A good warm-up and physical training can help steady, rise, or lower emotions depending on were the group is at.
If a class starts with a good emotional edge but loses it, a good instructor can say a few words or give a demonstration that can correct the class and get them back on course. This way the lesson has it desired impact.
You can also encounter circumstances where the majority of students have positive emotion but a few do not, even after a good warm-up. In this case, the best approach is to have a conversation with the student(s). I have found that it is usually related to a bad day and just quickly acknowledging it will free the student from the emotional burden of carrying it around. And depending on the student, a quick back stepping massage or a shoulder stretch can release emotional tension.
The key to creating a positive environment is to really feel it. Sometimes I’ll turn my back to the class as I’m teaching or close my eyes for a second and listen. The sound has energy and that energy gives me emotion. If it feels right I just leave students alone to continue training and not interrupt.
Always remember….
You can’t always control your environment, but trying to foster a positive learning environment is within your control. It’s a teacher’s responsibility to make sure that a positive environment exists. The alternative is dangerous and carelessness. I would encourage you to take a look at books on the topic. You will not regret it.
emmanuel manolakakis
Time to move on (to a new blog).
14 years ago
Emotion is an interesting one when you're training. Being an international student it's especially hard because you're separated from family and friends yet still have to deal with the problems that eventuate back home. It's doubly hard when you can't sort things out face to face, so when you come to train quite often frustrations can come out and your training partner can be on the receiving end of that.
ReplyDeleteA good teacher recognises this situation quickly and settles the student with a few well placed words of advice or encouragement. Sometimes even a healthy beating can work also :-)
Training at Fightclub with it's positive learning environment has helped me through a few rough days on my journey so far. I look forward to many more.