It helps to be happy in this work. No. We have to be happy to do this work. We are communicating with children all day! What happens if we communicate anything but happiness to them? I am sure that most of them already experience negativity from others in their days. Just taking a guess on that.
So we can be part of the solution or part of the problem. I’d rather be part of the solution. So do things to make yourself happy. It’s a pre-requisite to being a language teacher in this new century. The switch to CI started by TPRS and growing now into more refined ways to teach using CI REQUIRES happy teachers. I really believe that.
I used to be a young grump when I taught AP French language and literature which, once we get rid of the old white man power structure which is tottering on the edge as we speak, to be replaced with something new led hopefully generally by a proper blend of (a) people of color and (b) the LGBTQ community, and (c) women, including female admins who “get” CI, (the new America, FINALLY!)
So what’s it going to be? More of the same? And shouldn’t we add to the list of those three new leadership roles in our country a fourth: (d) happy teachers because the kids finally enjoy the language because they aren’t being force-fed grammar or circling or targeting or class novels?
Related: (e) pharrell williams – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbZSe6N_BXs