Interesting post on the BBC today about how…
“Waving your arms, wriggling your fingers and striding around a room can help you learn faster.“
For a long time we’ve known how well it works with phonics, language learning, things like telling the time and high powered business communicators (think CEOs, Presidents etc. who are always very deliberate with their body language), but it’s great to know it helps with other types of learning too.
Maybe other teachers might start joining us! 🙂
Do let us know your thoughts in the comments!
P.S. Do check out the Tanzanian teachers below doing the gestures for Genki Phonics. ( I do have to update the main video on that page to emphasise the gestures more!)
Earn More From Your Passion For Teaching English!
It’s definitely a great way to get the students more concentrated as well, yet, I find it very difficult to get the older kids engaged in the gestures. Is there a Ninja Tip for it ?
Yep, a bit of reverse psychology!
http://genkienglish.net/teaching/help-my-junior-high-kids-are-dead/
Sign language or simple hand gestures can be just as effective. Sometimes I do the gestures and have students say what I gesture. I vary the speed which really gets them to pay attention. It works much better that saying and repeating orally.
Now I have more reason to jump around waving my arms in Genki English Song time! YEAH!!!!
Another advantage is that it gets the students’ attention more easily and usually makes them smile! 🙂 Plus, it gets oxygen circulating, which is bound to improve learning (and increase endorphins for a happier learning experience). I can’t see how it can be detrimental, really.