Learning to Learn Cooperatively by Anne Hammond Byrd

Working in groups is a very good way to develop a lot of things in our students.
Responsiblity, cooperation, ability to create strategies in groups, but if we really want this to become true
we have to teach them how work cooperatively.
Cooperative learning is time consuming but when working together with other students, learners will increase their communication ability and proficiency in the language. More than learning the language itself it's very important to have fun in the class, so it's vital that not only prepare classes that are meaningful but also take into consideration that this knowledge is socially constructed.

Learner Autonomy: Bird-in-the-hand or Bird-in-the-bush? by Samuel P-H Sheu

In life it's not easy to become autonomous because this means becoming independent and responsible.

We as parents, teachers, educators tend to protect or prevent our kids, or the ones we love from suffering.

Love is the key that we have to bear in mind when educating our children or students, and it means, teach them how to become independent or autonous.

Learning always takes place when people are free to take risks and experiment things by their own, yet it can lead them to success or failure sometimes. But failing is also part of the learning process.

It is always said that we have to teach our students to be independent and I have always thougt about how I could help my students become autonomous. Well, after reading Samuel P-H Sheu's article, Learner Autonomy: Bird-in-the-hand or Bird-in-the-bush?, I could confirm what I had in mind.

I learned how to be autonomous in university. There, I was free to make my choices and use my creativity, so innovation was the key. I felt I was part of the learning process and I was the owner of my destiny. It was up to me to take the decisions that would affect my future.

Professors always guided me in my studies and as a consequence I learned how to study.

Well, but now thinking about my students, how can I make them autonomous?

I know that we can take small actions to let autonomy take place in class, like let students read the instructions of the exercises by themselves, or self-correction or peer-correction.

I do believe that students will become autonomous by what teachers do in class, so do not be afraid of challenging and giving students tasks that will instigate their ability to think and/or process the information by their own. It is also vital that we give them options to make choices.

Beign autonomous not only means being an independent learner but also growing in life.

Ten Characteristics of a Good Teacher by Patricia Miller

When we think about good teachers we always take into consideration what this teacher did that made him so special.

Although we have our preferences and we may like someone more than another, here are some guidelines that can help us teachers be unforgettable.

I do really believe that if I want to become a good teacher I need to be on my students' shoes, and I need to feel the lesson the way they do.

In a general way, students need to have contagious and enthusiastic teachers. It’s important that they feel that the teacher's motivation contaminates and leads them to a very positive feeling of achieving something.

Being creative and giving students challenged tasks will provide them with opportunities to experiment new activities and also to work on more elaborated.

 A good teacher is someone really fair who treats all his students the same way and who also shows interest in the student as a person.

Despite having a very good knowledge of the language and very good classroom management, good teachers also have affective characteristics like enthusiasm, encouragement, humor, interest in the student, availability and mental health, which will make the difference not only when teaching but for the whole life as a human being.

Ten Characteristics of a Good Teacher by Patricia Miller

When we think about good teachers we always take into consideration what this teacher did that made him so special.

Although we have our preferences and we may like someone more than another, educators should treat everybody equally.

I do really believe that if I want to become a good teacher I need to be on my students' shoes, and I need to feel the lesson the way they do.

In a general way, students need to have contagious and enthusiastic teachers. It’s important that they feel the teacher's motivation contaminating and leading them to a very positive feeling of achievement.

Being creative and giving students challenged tasks will provide them with opportunities to experiment new activities and also to work on more elaborated.

 A good teacher is someone really fair who treats all his students the same way and who also shows interest in the student as a person.

Despite having a very good knowledge of the language and very good classroom management, good teachers also have affective characteristics like enthusiasm, encouragement, humor, interest in the student, availability and mental health, which will make the difference not only when teaching but for the whole life as a human being.

"A man who won't die for something is not fit to live."

MARTIN LUTHER KING

Confidence Tricks

I couldn’t agree more when Malcolm Griffiths said that confidence is a very important element that can lead any Professional, including teachers to a very successful career.

Not only feeling motivated, but also confident, teachers should find in confidence the key to their classes.

Confident teachers believe in their teaching ability, knowledge of the language and also contribute to the atmosphere of the classroom with creativity and learners will have a lot of confidence to produce on their own ability.

Some factors can help students be more confident, so that they become more independent learners.

If students know that they can succeed and enjoy the lessons, they will take a big step in a very successful learning process.

And if learners also like and trust the teacher, and if they have the opportunity to experience new activities, they will even feel more motivated to learn and pleasure will take place.

So confident teachers are as important as motivated learners, and the lack of confidence can ruin our classes.

Alan Nunes