A picture is worth a thousand words…..

There are so many things we have to concentrate in lessons that our own performance,  and what we can do to improve it, often falls by the way side.

Very often we’re not even aware of some of the things that we are doing that could potentially be improved.

( And of course if we wish our students to improve then we have to be continually improving ourselves.)

When you look at any of the superstar teachers they very often got that way because of one simple thing.

And this one simple thing is a mentor with experience to look at the class and show the teacher all the small little changes that can make a huge difference but that the teacher probably isn’t even aware of.

For example look at the picture above.     How is the “teacher”‘s posture and body language (I think we can tell she’s not a teacher, yeah?)   Where is she looking?  What are the kids doing?  Where are they looking? What is their body language like?

This is just from one photo.

And one video can tell even more.

You can improve all of the most common areas once you are aware of them.

In fact when I’m doing teacher training it very often takes only 3 sessions.   And more often than not the 3rd session isn’t even needed!

1. In the first session we observe your teaching, picking up on all the things you are doing (or not doing!)
2. We have a feedback session ( either “soft and gentle” or “tell it like it is” depending on your own comfort and confidence level 🙂 )
3. Then you try and implement these in the second session.   Very often this is “nearly there” as changing ingrained habits can of course be very challenging!
4. We have another feedback session.
5. You do your third teaching session and invariably your teaching, confidence and results will have dramatically, even exponentially, improved!   Even if you haven’t nailed the techniques yet,  just being aware of them pays huge dividends.

Pre Covid I used to do these in person,  traveling around the world for 3 or 5 day training sessions in Tanzania or India or Japan or the EU or Thailand.

I also used to do it as part of the 6 week, $2000, online Teacher Training Academy.

But this year, apart from all the transport restrictions,  my schedule hasn’t got enough room to do the full course.  ( I’ve got so many other projects on the go!)

And I don’t think anyone else has 3 or 5 days to spend training either 🙂

So how about being able to do this in 30 minutes?  Or less? 

The best time to do this is right at the beginning of the school year when everyone is fresh and ready to try new things.

So in September this is what we are going to do …..

1. You get to upload a short (5 to 10 minute) video to the VIP Facebook group of the part of your teaching where you’d like the most help.
2. I’ll give you feedback on it.  ( Either “soft and gentle” or “tell it like it is”)
3. You’ll upload another video and repeat.

After just 2 or 3 times I can promise you will see a HUGE improvement in both your teaching and in your students learning.

There will be so many things that you weren’t even aware of that can be fixed really simply.

My aim is to improve the education for every child on the planet.    However this year I’ll only have chance to run this from September 1st to September 30th ( but do feel free to get any videos ready that you’d like feedback on beforehand. )

I can promise you this will be a game changer for your teaching.

It is invaluable.

Especially when we can’t get to live trainings or events this year.

And it is just one more additional service to let you get the most out of your Teacher’s Set purchase! 

OK, start brain storming which parts of your lessons you’d like to improve (Warm ups? Vocab? Grammar? Games? Reading? Discipline? Something else? ) , record your lessons and get ready to upload in September!

Be genki,

Richard

P.S.  Of course it’s better if it is, but the video doesn’t *have* to be, of you teaching Genki English.  In fact I do this for teachers of all subjects.  But of course if you’re not using Genki English then make sure the materials you are using are *exceptional*.   The feedback is always most beneficial when it is about how you teach rather than me saying “get better materials!” 🙂     You have to be a VIP Member to upload the videos in the group i.e. you already have all the Genki English materials so it’s usually easiest to use these for the lessons they cover.

P.P.S.   I might also get chance to review a few videos privately but it is always much better in the group.   That way you can see what is working for other teachers and I don’t have to keep repeating the same feedback over and over.   The group is where the magic happens!

P.P.P.S.    How can do this for everyone?   Because I know that you’re a doer and sadly most teachers are not!   Many teachers won’t see this as the huge opportunity it is, they’ll see feedback as something to be scared of and back away.   It’s sad but true.   But this is one thing with the pandemic, it is ruthless, you’re now competing with every other English teacher on the planet so the ones who do will thrive and the ones who don’t, won’t.  And that means the kids are getting better and better lessons as the great teachers, that’s you,  are getting better and better at helping them!   Take the chance,  you’re going to love it!