The
power of positive reinforcement in teaching and learning
2013.08.03.
You
surely have already had a situation when you „predicted” something long before
it actually happened and cried out „speak of the devil”… However, these
predictions or
events do not necessarily have to be negative, we can influence them in a
positive way if we learn how to conceive our wishes well. And of course, we can
benefit from these positive effects either when we learn Maths, languages etc.
or take an exam.
If you want to feel more self-confident or make your
wishes come true, you have to repeat the positive affirmations as often as you
can. For exapmle, feeling nervous about math is very common. When starting to
teach math to my students, I very often face the same statements from the
parents: „I was always really bad at math. I just don’t get it and never will.”
„I don’t have mathematical thinking either.” „It is my inheritance for my
children.” These hyperboles sound very emphatetic as parents turn to their
children with understanding, but at the same time they also confirm the
negative feelings for math in their children’s unconscious mind. If mom or dad
says that he „just survived” math lessons and tests, kids feel that they are
unable to achieve more. However, in most cases I find that the pupils have
quite good math capabilities and the issue is that the school
teacher just did not give enough explanation or did not approached the
subject-matter in a way which is different from the pupil’s mentality and
perception. After our sessions I often hear from my pupils happily: „Oh, I see now…”, „Is it really so
simple?” They succeed in solving tasks and problems alone at home and then
their brain blocks while taking math tests at school… the paper may have a
worse result than expected. In fact, the stress brings up the negative
emotional reinforcement „I am bad at math, I can’t get it” etc. thus makes the
student incapable to perform and bring 100%.
This kind of math anxiety or failure, caused by the
lack of self-confidence, can be overcome by taking my advice: Before tests
and learning you need to use affirmations like „I’m good at math.” „I
understand math.” „I’m going to write an excellent test.” „I’ll be the best in
the math class.”
Positive reinforcement is a technique which can be used by parents,
teachers or coaches responsible for students to modify their behavior and
achievements in a positive way. By encouraging and praising the child, only
positive emotions will associate with learning, practising or training. So my
principle is to smile, encourage, compliment and thank for each better result
of the student. Punishment or humiliation has only a negative effect on
self-esteem. Emotional humiliation is the worst that students can experience,
it gives them the feeling as if they did everything wrong… hence they
underachieve.
How does positive
reinforcement work?
With the help of positive self-programming, you
will be able to modify your negative routine. The most compelling benefits of
this method are: it strengthens your own character, transforms your bad old
habits and you can create anything for yourself. Regular repetitions can help you
achieve your goals.
If you begin consciously paying attention to your
thoughts and words, using them for creating and repeat affirmations on a daily
basis, you can experience what power lies within. The same fundamental
technique can be found in Silva Method, in mantras or in prayers as well. Faith
in our own words, meditative concentration and the power of our hopes lead us
to our goals.
Are you dreaming of being the best in the class or
passing a language exam in 6 months? Everything is possible if you believe in
it. However, first set your goal(s) clearly. Then say it to yourself every day:
„I will be the best, I am the best in the class, I do my best day by day and I
will succeed.”
Any positive statement can be a confirmation for
yourself. It will have an effect on your subsconcious mind and generate the
positive changes. The most important is that you choose a word or a sentence
which makes you feel totally good and its meaning gives you inner peace and
hapiness every time you are thinking of it. These feelings contribute to the
self-healing processes.
1. Be present.
2. Express only one positive conclusion.
3. Be brief and specific.
4. Repeat them regularly.
These examples can improve your learning achievements:
I am receptive.
My memory is excellent.
My logic is very good.
I learn quickly.
I have stamina.
I am successful.
USE
YOUR RIGHT BRAIN MORE WHEN LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGES
2013.06.20.
Many of us are not aware that their concentration or motivation
problems in learning can be caused by the weak integration of the two sides of
our brain.
The human brain is composed of hemispheres: the left and the
right. Although they are functioning together as one unit, we must strengthen
the interaction between the two sides. The lack of good integration can result
reading problems, auditory processing disorders, language delay or
inefficiencies in mental processes like fanatsy and writing. Learning problems
can be greatly aided by improved integration between the two sides.
The right brain is creative, emotional, art and picture
oriented, intuitive, problem solving. It includes music, sense of humour,
imagination rules, as does beliefs, using symbols as well as recognising people
and patterns. It is never logical, rational, sequential or detail oriented. The
left brain has all these features and that is the reason why it is used
for math or other analytical and fact oriented activities. It also can help you
memorize, read, write, count, speak and argue.
Unfortunately right brain has been neglected nowadays.
But why?- you might ask.
The neural pathways in a baby’s brain is approximately
threefold of that of an adult. Most parents and caretakers in modern society
can’t find enough time to tell tales or read to the children. Thus, our little
ones cannot use their imagination to create pictures and add another ending to
a story they listened to. Also, creative thinking is strongly affected and
partly eliminated by television. In front of such a gadget, children do not
need to use their imagination because pictures more colorful and more perfect
are already presented on a golden plate.
Sadly, most schools, universities and workplaces (in Hungary)
tend to favor left brain tasks only: less verbal repetitions, less reading
required and even less team work. Singing and drawing lessons are not
interesting any more (what would poor Kodaly think) since songs or concerts can
be listened to and picutres can be created by other cool gadgets like tablets,
smartphones or desktops as well. Chatting online is more convenient than
meeting up in person. All these facts contribute to the decline of right brain
skills. There is no chanche to develop team spirit, spelling, word power or
lecturing skills of the adults of the future.
Apperantly to learn and to speak a foreign language we need to
use both sides of our brain. Thanks to the left one we are logical, we can
learn the grammar rules, read and write the foreign words. However, this left
hemisphere receives sensory input from the right side that’s why we need to
forward information to the right brain (to create pictures) in order to be able
to memorize rules and words and use them later when we speak.
The more languages you learn, the easier it gets?!
Most of us learn languages to express ourselves under foreign circumstances. Each language has its own tone, hence the same word can reflect
different emotions. I have completely different feelings when I say the same
sentence in English ”I would like to have an ice-coffee with cheese cake” or in
German „ich möchte einen Eiskaffee und ein Stück Käsekuchen” or in Hungarian
„egy jegeskávét kérek sajttortával”. My inner pictures varies every time, so I
must use the right side of my brain. It can only work well if I train my right
side properly.
In my almost 8 years of teaching experience I have been
observing that students who use their intuition whilst pronunciate, understand
and translate texts, can learn faster and more efficiently. Some students don’t
have the courage to try their wings and need the teacher’s help and creativity.
Based on my own conclusion I always insist on giving minimal assistance during
comprehending and speaking tasks. My students are lead to use (and develop)
their own skill sets.
The mechanism is effective vice versa: the more we studied (e.g.
English), the better we know the language and its limits, and our emotional
word and intuition will expand. When you are on a certain level, it is strongly
advised to visit the natives in their country, this way gaining more
experience, impressions and deepen your knowledge.
So the speed and the efficiency of our language learning depends
on learnable skills and not on our genetics. It is up to you to learn faster.
Be ready to train both sides of your brain.
Which part of your brain is dominant?
Check these links:
Do you see the dancer turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/
Or you can test your brain and practise English as well ;)
http://www.wherecreativitygoestoschool.com/
Creative thinking, seeing the bigger picture, intuition and the sound of the language are the most important factors ruled by the right brain when you
learn a foreign language beside logical skills. So if you have a strong left
brain orientation, it is worth doing some right brain developing exercises
before and during the learning session to be (more) successful and
efficient.
- simple memory exercises
- imagination developing exercises
- simple drawing exercises
- right brain drawing class
- short human kinetics exercises
- anti-stress techniques
- listening to classical music
- self-knowledge studies
(e.g. astrology, Symbolon –cards- reading etc.)
- certain yoga exercises
I teach including both left (special grammar exercises) and
right brain (creative composition tasks) developing skills so that my student
can pick up the language fast and easily. Any of the above mentioned exercise
can be applied during our lessons. It will be personlized to the needs of my
students, after I get them know a bit better.
Dear Students or future Students, let’s give it a try :-)
Ági
Resources:
http://www.learningbreakthrough.com
http://www.brainleadersandlearners.com
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