Just some of the amazing teachers from this weekend’s workshop!

Thank you all for such an amazing workshop.   Between all the new teachers trying everything with an open mind, and the 2nd and 3rd time teachers learning so much more in the review sessions, it was quite fantastic.

Here’s a little of what we did:

• The first hour was a basic Genki English review with Disco Warm Up, my self introduction
• L+1 and how much English to use in class.
• Then the What’s your name? song, but in German!
• And the stopwatch circle game.
• Plus Genki English Rule No.1 “I can do it!” plus Rule No. 2 Losing means “Try Again!”

After the morning break of cake and coffee we did the first Mastermind Session.

6 Minutes x 6 People on your greatest challenge in teaching, with the Genki Gram messages.  Always positive answers, always constructive.

Getting pretty intense in the first group mastermind session!

Things to keep in mind

• All “But”s becomes “And”
• Be careful of English Teacher’s Disease:  Talk less – it’s not English showing off time 🙂
• Keep an open mind,  if you get a suggestion, acknowledge it and absorb it.
• Always look for solutions,  leave the “my situation is terrible like that too!” for the wine with your friends.
• Check the level of the person you are speaking to.  Reduce your level of English if needed.  “You only truly understand something when you can explain it in the words of a five year old.”
• “How do I …”, “If maybe you could help me”  and “I need your advice”  are great phrases
• Be genuine with your “Thank you”s
• Be friendly with everyone.
• It’s not a fight, me vs. you,  it’s everyone on the same team.
• Be inclusive – make sure everyone in the group is listening in when you talk.
• It’s OK to jump in if someone says something crazy!  ( e.g. “My kids are laughing all lesson, how can I stop them?”)
• Talk more slowly.  Talk more clearly.
• Doesn’t it feel that emotions, rather than facts, can help people understand.
• There was a teacher who tried to teach his class.  “Listen to me, listen to me” he kept saying.  And the students just ignored him.   Then one day he decided to use a story to make his point.  And just look what happened …
• “Impossible” doesn’t exist.
• + You realize that everyone has problems and the you are really quite an awesome teacher.
• And we finished with the Crazy Waiters game ( coming to the blog soon!)

Then lunch break…..

“How are you monster” Lesia has a better t-shirt than I do!

• Rock, Paper, Scissors and Do you have any pets? + Cockroach (Hamster!) Game.
• Genki Phonics  – Get the soundboard app to check your sounds, and the Homework App for your students.
• Getting ready for tomorrow we quickly did Under the Sea + Sticky Fingers
• And How are you?  + Monster game
• Gingerbread Man + advanced version where you make up your own conversations.

On the second day we had the awesome kids’ session – thank you all for moving out of your comfort zone and doing something that was very hard!

We might have been a bit loud for one little boy!

• • We quickly did Disco Warm Up,   Under the Sea + Sticky Fingers
  • And How are you?  + Monster game
  • Gingerbread Man + Superhero 
• Then another Mastermind on the “Five Ws” – this is top secret content that only you and the upcoming Teacher Training Academy teachers will get 🙂
• And finally an awesome collection of new songs, games and ideas, including Rocket Launch, “Egg” and many, many more.

Rockets, eggs & more – thank you for being so awesome!

You were all so amazing.  I loved how you were showing me your schools, and how Genki English has changed your lives.  It really felt that I was coming “home” to such an amazing community of teachers.

Keep up all the great work,  tell your friends about the future workshops and hopefully I’ll be back in Kiev in 2018 or 2019!

Be genki,

Richard