A member of our group recently presented a workshop on our work to a group of traditional teachers. In the email below, she shares her thoughts with me on how she successfully reached across the gap to get them all excited about teaching using comprehensible input. I think this is the way we should do it, and now I regret being so unequivocal in my own presenting over the years. In reading her description of how she did it, I am struck with how vulnerable traditional teachers are – they were taught that way and so they teach that way, and they can change can if we are softer and keep some of the following points in mind:
Ben –
The department chair from the school sent me the in-service feedback last night. She said everyone loved it, even the old grammar battle axes, because I expressly do not evangelize or talk about how much traditional methods harm students. I tell my story in a simple and direct way: I used to teach from a textbook, I loved it, everyone loved it, people were learning. Then I found something that feels more right to me and works better for more students. I repeatedly say, “Even if you can’t jump in with both feet, you might think about doing x, y, or z.” I also tell people that even if they can’t make themselves do any part of it, the method will haunt them, and they will never think about their teaching in quite the same way again.
So my strength as a presenter is my ability to affirm everyone and disarm doubters by acknowledging my success as a traditional teacher and encouraging people to step into this at their comfort level. I feel like yesterday I found my niche: it’s not preaching to the choir, it’s not beating people over the head with the bible, it’s sitting down in my jeans and t-shirt in the gutter with the sinners, and making friends with them. The department chair yesterday was so surprised that the Grande Dame of their dept. was so receptive to me and was talking about doing movie talk with her kids the very next day. She did not expect that.
So you get the picture. Although of course you know for them in the classroom it may be a different story. But their receptivity to change was a bit surprising. I think it’s because of the sof sell approach I used.