How has NLP influenced me as a teacher and learner?
After taking the NLP practitioner training in 2008, I started to gradually integrate NLP-based activities in my teaching.
I have found the following books, ‘Handing Over’ and ‘In your Hands’ by Jane Revell and Susan Norman useful and friendly to use. I like using the ‘guided mountain fantasy’ with exam classes and business students.
Fun
I have found the psychomotor activities good fun, quick energizers and great for building rapport, particularly with younger learners.
I have also found the many stories in NLP a great learning and teaching tool.
Storytelling
Storytelling and the use of metaphor are key elements of NLP, and I have since then incorporated storytelling in my lessons. And the overall response from students has been positive and rewarding.
I knew stories would work well with younger students from past experience. And was pleasantly surprised to find that adult learners enjoyed storytelling too. It is great to listen to adults actively engaged sharing their favourite stories or tales, and telling the class what these stories mean to them.
Metaphor
I have found Nick Owen’s book, ‘The Magic of Metaphor’ an invaluable resource when wanting to find stories that link with almost any topic or message I want to convey in a particular lesson.
I am grateful to have come across Mario Rinvolucri’s and Judith Baker’s ‘Unlocking Self-Expression through NLP’ to which I frequently refer to. This book has become one of my favourite TEFL resources that has worked well for me and my learners on many occasions, and which I highly recommend!
Today, I perceive NLP as a natural follow-up on my interest in Multiple Intelligences, and in wanting to provide as much as possible a holistic multi-sensory learning environment to facilitate and make the learning process a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
VAKOG (visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, olfactory, and gustatory), and the respect this principle has for individuals’ preferred learning styles and the learners themselves, appeal to my own experience of learning and teaching.
As a teacher I hope that if there is one thing I can clearly transmit to my students is that they take responsibility for their learning and thinking, and that they use whatever they learn in ways that will make their life matter and meaningful in an accountable manner.
A BIG thank you to all who generously and responsibly share their experience on how to implement NLP-based activities to promote more effective and rewarding learning of English among learners and teachers too!
