elt&the science of happiness tesol2011
DESCRIPTION
Thanks to all of you who came to my TESOL session. You can get handouts and lots of downloads of Positive Psychology activities for teaching ESL/EFL at: http://ELTandHappiness.terapad.comFeel free to use any of this stuff (the PowerPoint or the downloads) with your students.TRANSCRIPT
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ELT & the science of
Marc [email protected]
TESOL, March 2011
Please take a Handout & a cookie. Don’t eat it yet.
(the cookie)
S
Positive psychology
in the language classroom
ELT & the science of
Educationalpsychology
http://www.centreforconfidence.co.uk/pp/overview.php?p=c2lkPTImdGlkPTAmaWQ9NA==http://www.theage.com.au/ Don’t worry, be happy. May 8, 2006
Happy students
Learn more
Work longer
More enthusiasm
This is not just a cookie.
This is a metaphor.
This represents…
…your happiness..
This cookie represents 100%
.of your “subjective positive affect”
Set point
50%
Set Point:Predisposition
Set Point:Predisposition
Set point
50%
Set point
50%
Circumstances
10%
Circumstancesoccupation
incomewhere you live
Marital status
personal history
genderage
where you grew upSickenss/health
family history
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Lifestyles & happiness
1940- USA• Homes with
no running water/indoor toilets: 1/3
• HS graduates: 25%
Now - USA• Homes 2x size • 2 rooms/person• HS graduates: 71%• Real personal
income - >50% more
• .
7.2Happiness level:(1-10 scale)
7.5
Circumstances• occupation
incomewhere you live
Marital status
Personal history
genderage
where you grew upSickenss/health
Family history
home
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune
Only
Set point
50%
Circumstances
10%
Intentional Activity
40%
Other stuff
you do
Intentional Activity
•40% vs. 10 %
• What we do is 4 times more (400% more!) important than our circumstances.
Intentional Activity = 40%
In teaching, the difference between
99%
A
59%
F
S
What is Positive Psychology?
S
Traditional psychology
Mental illness
S Positive psychology
Mental illnessMental health
I think your going tobe very happy here.
Why part of ELT?Doesn’t have to be.
Not like vocabulary / grammar/ functions/
reading/ speaking/ etc.
Any teaching includeseducational psychology
Why part of ELT?
http://www.centreforconfidence.co.uk/pp/overview.php?p=c2lkPTImdGlkPTAmaWQ9NA==http://www.theage.com.au/ Don’t worry, be happy. May 8, 2006
Happy students
Learn more
Work longer
More enthusiasm
Why part of ELT?
The “education
pressure cooker”
Why part of ELT?
Engaging activities
Why part of ELT?We don’t just teach English.
Humanistic Language Teaching
We teach people.
Why part of ELT?Not magic answer
& the keys to
English
Why part of ELT?
The more tools we have, the better our work.
Set of tools
What positive psychology is
not.
The ideals which have…filled me with the joy of living are goodness, beauty, & truth.
goodness, beauty, & truth.
To make a goal of…happiness has never appealed to me; a system of ethics built on this basis would be sufficient only for a herd of cattle.
The “traditional goals”(lots of money, big house, new car, etc.) can lead to…
the hedonic
treadmill
• Insert treadmill video
If video doesn’t work in SlideShare, try:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PbmpMoU2tk
the hedonic
treadmill
Positive psychology is about finding out what happy, mentally healthy people do.
How to weget the
information toour students?
Scientists know.
Dictation
If you use dictation,
does that make you a dictator?
Dictation
• What’s your sentence?
• Write it.
http://ELTandhappiness.terapad.com
Remembergood things
Say, “thank you.”
Do kind things
Friends & family
Forgive
Stay healthy
Notice good things
Deal with problems
Topics
Sonja Lyubomirsky, UC Riverside
GrammarFunctions
To behappy
http://ELTandhappiness.terapad.com
Remembergood things
My top five
What are the five best things in your life last year?
My top five
Work with a partner. Choose one. Talk about it.
Partner, try “active listening”(shadowing).
Cartoon courtesy Tim Murphey, Language Hungry, Helbling Languages Publishing. Used by permission of author.
ShadowingShadowing
My top five
Work with a partner. Choose one. Talk about it.
Partner, try “active listening”(shadowing).
Then ask a question:Who? Why? When?
Where?How?
When?
Why not every week?
Remember good things in your life.
We often start class with,
What did you do over
the weekend that was really good?
? How about
Journal
1.____________________________________ ____________________________________ ____________________________________
Happiness
.
Happiness JournalIdeas:•something nice someone said or did • a good time you had • a pet •nice weather •Something you did that made you feel good •A cold drink on a hot day • being healthy •someone you love (parents, friends)
Maya’s Journal (3rd year)Happiness Journal• I played with my pretty dog.• It was a sunny day with beautiful blue sky.• I got a “Charlie & the chocolate factory” book in English that I had long wanted.• I got up early, so I walked my dog.
It was so pleasant and enjoyable for me. • I dreamed a happy story when I slept.• I saw a rainbow today. • When I cooked dinner, my family was
pleased.
Happiness Journal
Maya’s Journal (3rd year)
Happiness Journal• I played with my pretty dog.• It was a sunny day with beautiful blue sky.• I got a “Charlie & the chocolate factory” book in English that I had long wanted.• I got up early, so I walked my dog.
It was so pleasant and enjoyable for me. • I dreamed a happy story when I slept.• I saw a rainbow today. • When I cooked dinner, my family was
pleased.
Happiness Journal
Think about good things in your life -- the science:
Happy people and unhappy people actually have about the same number of positive and negative experiences. Positive people notice the good ones. Negative folks notice the bad ones.
Parducci 1995 in Nevin
“Count your blessings”
she was right.
When your mom said,
Do kind things
A Chinese proverb:
If you want to be happy
for an hour –-
Take a nap
A Chinese proverb:
If you want to be happy
for a day –-
Go fishing
A Chinese proverb:
If you want to be happy
for a month –-
Getmarried
A Chinese proverb:
If you want to be happy
for an year –-
Inherit a fortune
A Chinese proverb:
If you want to be happy
for a lifetime –-
for a lifetime –-
Help someone else
Compliments
You’ve got a beautiful smile. That’s a really nice scarf.You’re really nice.Cool jacket!You’re always on time. You’re so smart.You are really creative.
Compliments
Work in groups of 4-5. Think of one true compliment for each person.
Compliment each partner. Partner, just say, “Thank you.
Compliments
You’ve got a beautiful smile. That’s a really nice scarf.You’re really nice.Cool jacket!You’re always on time. You’re so smart.You are really creative.
Compliments
When you finish, remember each compliment.
She said I have a nice smile.
He said I am creative.
Every time you remember a compliment,
smile.
Do kind things -the science
• Life satisfactions (being happy with life) is about 24% higher in people who do kind things.Williams, Haber, Weaver & Freeman, 1998
• People who volunteer are, on average, twice as likely to feel happy as non-volunteers. Crist-Houran, 1996 both in Niven
Kindness gives birth to kindness.
-Greek proverb
Randomacts
of kindness
Random acts of kindness These are nice things that are easy to do.
Think of some more. • Say “thank you” to someone at school.
(ideas: the cleaning people, the office staff, etc.)• Give up your bus/train seat to an old person or
someone with a baby. • Smile at someone who is not smiling.• Pick up a bicycle that fell over.• Pick up some garbage outside. Throw it away.
(It is kind to the earth)
Randomacts of
kindness
Randomacts of
kindness
@
Whatchagonna do?
Say, “thank you.”
Someone special
Think of someone special in your life.
A special teacherSomeone whohelped you
A family member
Someone special
Why are they special? What did they do?Why do you want to
say thank you? Tell your partner.
How could you thank them?Will you?
Gratitude letter
I want to thank you…
Mom or dadA special teacherA coachA special friend
Who would you write to? Why?
Thank people - the science
People who show gratitude (say “thanks”) • deal with stress better.• have more positive interactions with others. • have more energy • have fewer physical problems • healthier hearts Midcolumbia Medical Center
Friends & family
My family
My family
Work in groups of 4-5. Tell about your family.Use a toothpick for each person.
My family
This is my . His/Her name is .He/She’s a .He/She’s special because .
Partners, what do you remember about each person?
Take time for friends & family - the science
“Share yourself.” People who are “socially open” (active with friends) rate themselves 24% happier than people who are not.
Finch, Barrera, Okun, Bryant, Pool, and Snow-Turek 1997 Niven
Forgive
Not to forgive is likedrinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.
- Nelson Mandela
Forgive
Think of people who have hurt you. Who DIDN’T you forgive yet? Put one arm
straight out. Hold something
heavy.
Read this:• Someone did something bad to you.
• Forgiveness does NOT mean it was OK.
• Forgiveness does NOT mean that person can do it again.
• Forgiveness is important forthings that must NOT be doneagain.
• When you do not forgive, who is hurt?
• The person who did the bad thing usually doesn’t know.
–Or doesn’t remember.
–Or doesn’t care.
• The anger is in your heart.
• You carry the weight.
• It does not help to know why the person did the bad thing.
- Usually that person doesn’t know.
• You carry the weight.
• You have the power to
let it go.
Forgive
Heavy, isn’t it? You have the power to put it down.Metaphor can teachthings we just can’tteach directly.
Forgive - the science
Studies of university students thinking about “hurtful memories” found those who forgive others have:
- less stress- healthier body functions (heart
rate, blood pressure, EMG (electromyogram -- tests
nerve/muscle function))
Forgiving others also seems connected to less:
• anger • depression • negative thoughts • alcohol/drug
abusehttps://www.amsa.org/healingthehealer/forgiveness.cfm
American Medical Association Student Association
When you forgive, you don’t change the past.
You change the future.
-Bernard Meltzer
Stay healthy
Eat right.
Exercise regularly.
Die anyway.
- Author unknown & probably dead.
Most of us know what to do to be healthy.
We need to actually do it!
Smiling – some science• makes us attractive• changes our mood• is contagious• reduces stress• boosts immune system• lowers blood pressure
Smiling – some science
• releases endorphins & serotonin• makes you look younger• makes you seem successful• helps you stay positive
http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongbeauty/tp/smiling.htm
by which I mean “a little weird”.
great!wonderful!brilliant!a super
student.fantastic.
This activity is experimental
Pencil image © polis poliviou Creative Commons
Smile writing
is (name)
Take care of your health-the science
• Regular exercise like walking = increases happiness 12%.It also leads to better self image.
• People who eat a lot of fruit have 11% more feeling of being able to do things and being satisfied Healtey and Thombs 1997 (Niven)
• Smoking takes about 3-6 years off your life. Unhappiness takes about 9 years off.
Smoking: BBC 2006, Milwaukee Nun Studies -Seligman, 2002 Emmons (2007) Thanks!
Notice good things
Notice good things when they happen.
The basketball game
Watch the video.How many passes doesthe team in WHITE make?
If videos doesn’t work in SlideShare, try:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4
Take the time to
smell the roses
Notice nice things when they happen
Notice life’s joys
Eat a cookie –
with mindndfulness
Notice good things when they happen.
Work with a partner. You will have one minute.
How many good things can you say about today/ right now?
Notice good things when they happen.
- the science• The actual number of good and bad
events have little to do with happiness. What counts is the beliefs about what has been experience. Chen 1996 (in Niven)
• People who like what they have are twice as likely to be happy with what they have. (compared with folks who have more). Cole, Kosenko, and Meadow, 1995 (Niven)
simplify
How I spentmy summervacation
Vipassana (mindfulness) meditation
Humanrobots
Ideas?
Deal with problems
Bad things happen to everyone
Find ways to deal with problems/ stress / sadness
Think of a problem you had in the past. How did you get past it?
Tell a partner.
Moving onEveryone has problems. Happy people know they will pass.
Find ways to deal with problems/ stress / sadness
• Bad things happen to everyone• Faith / Spirituality• Social connections (friends)• Other beliefs/proverbs:
“This too will pass.”“That which doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf” =Jon Kabat-Zinn
When life gives you lemons…
…make lemon butter sautéed chicken breasts
with herbs & baby asparagus
Proverbs & aphorisms
• point out useful ways of looking at things
• positive self-talk• create self-fulfilling prophesies
- Lyubomirsky 2007
-The Buddha
What we think, we become.
Memory test
There were 8 “happiness” ideas.
Work with a partner. How many can you remember?
Sonja Lyubomirsky, UC Riverside
To behappy
Happiness Haiku
Our feelings reflect
the things we do every day.
Choose to be happy.
Our feelings reflect
the things we do every day.
Choose to be happy.
• • • • •
• • • • • • •
• • • • •
Happiness haiku
Happiness haiku
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ELT & the science of
Q & maybe A
S
2 reactions:
Great!Great!
Great, but…Great, but…
A strategy: Steal time
10 minutes for a…
– warm-up– cool-down task– an energy builder– a fluency task
http://ELTandhappiness.terapad.com
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ELT & the science of
Q & maybe A
Thank you..
Randomacts of
kindness
Which will you do today? Which do you promise
yourself you will do?
Randomacts of
kindnessTonight, think about you did today.
Feels good, doesn’t it?What will you do tomorrow?How will you feel when you do one extra “act of kindness” every day?
Laughter and smiles - the science
• We reflect faces, smiles or
frowns. Gunther Sicki, 2004
Lundqvist and Dimberg 2005 p. 135
• One minute of heavy laughter = same health benefits of 1 hour workout • In a study of heart attack victims, 43% of the
control group had another heart attack within one year.
Only 8.3% of experimental group did.
Lee Berk, 1996
The intervention: 30 min. of humor video/day.
The old saying,
“Laughter is the best medicine”
is true when it comes to protecting your heart.”
- University of Maryland Medical Center
http://www.umm.edu/news/releases/laughter.html
Laughter
Laughter yoga
Fake it‘til you make it
eye contact
clap
Ho. Ho. Ha! Ha! Ha!
Laughter practice
Beth Agnewwww.laughpractice.blogspot.com
Laughter practice
A Chinese proverb:
If you want to be happy
For an hour –-
go fishingget married
inherit a fortunehelp someone else
take a nap
For a day --
For a month --
For a year --
For a lifetime --
• If we really want to love, • We must learn how to forgive.
• - Mother Theresa
If we really want to love, we must learn how to
forgive.- Mother Teresa
Thanks to the organizers for for inviting me and to
Longman/Pearson Education for making
my participation possible.
This presentation © 2010 by Marc Helgesen.Textbook art from English Firsthand and Longman Logo © Pearson Education - Longman. Used with permission.Spot art © Clipart.com. Used with permission.
Domino’s pizza ad available at youtube.com. Search: Dominos pizza garlic
And thanks to you for coming.
simplify