Lesson #37: Be vulnerable and take risks

Don’t look over. Don’t look over. Don’t look over.  

During my last week in South Africa, I went with a group of students on the Garden Route. We were with each other 24/7: kayaking, hiking, and dancing. We were fearless. It made me realize that if they could do half the things we did on that trip, why do some students have a fear of making mistakes in the classroom? 

Harvard conducted a study that found the important time to develop a second language is before 18. Yet Language Institutions, like Education First, work with students between the ages of 18 to 80. Since this is a multi-billion-dollar industry, it is easy to see that they have the clientele who are willing to take the first step in putting themselves out of their comfort zone.  

In my experience, the best students and teachers are the ones who are vulnerable. 

I can do this.  

Companies such as Berlitz, Education First, and International House pay enormous amounts of money to ensure their books and curriculum includes themes focusing on four tasks: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.  

Alright, let’s put on the harness. 

These are necessary for any assessment but for the educator, it identifies a student’s weaknesses and strengths. How do we strengthen a weakness? Through mistakes. 

Failings creates spotlights. Understandably, this can make any student uncomfortable or embarrassed. No one likes to appear ignorant, especially in front of a room full of peers.  

Damn, they have to write my weight on my hand... Alright, go on. 

The instructor needs to provide a safe environment or no one will be willing to expose their mistakes. What can a teacher do? Be vulnerable.

We all know what it is like to learn something new and fail. Share your vulnerability because it makes you relatable. I’ve shared a hundred embarrassing stories about myself, a hundred stories about times I’ve failed, and another hundred stories about my own experiences as a student. This removes the spotlight off the student and puts it on the teacher. 

Then you go right into the work together. Every student and teacher benefits when working together. Remember what we learned when getting our certifications:   

First, we write it...  

*signs name on waiver*  

Then we say it three times... 

I’m okay. I’m okay. I’m okay.  

Next, we define it... 

I AM going to jump. 

...then we practice.  

1, 2, 3 Bungee.  

(400 words)