I believe my true journey of learning began not in the academic halls of my Mechanical Engineering degree or in the numerous courses and workshops I've attended, but rather on the mat, practicing Aikido.
In Aikido, the right attitude and ethics guide the learning process, making each student responsible for their own progress. Every setback becomes an opportunity for self-discovery and improvement.
Practicing Aikido has undoubtedly been a life-changing experience for me, check this Ted talk here
After years of teaching Arabic, I have developed a mindset for teaching, strongly influenced by my Aikido practice. Here, I would like to share with you three ideas I always keep in mind when teaching.
Harmony
Harmony is strategic, purposeful teaching. It involves aligning class materials with the overarching goals of each level while simultaneously monitoring both micro and macro progress. For example, in language teaching, the vocabulary learned in sentence-building exercises is reinforced in text comprehension and listening activities.
The words introduced today connect to those learned previously, emphasizing core vocabulary for each level rather than continuous expansion.
Strategic Progression: Each element connects naturally to the next, creating a seamless learning path
Contextual Integration: New knowledge builds upon and reinforces existing understanding
Core Focus: Mastery of fundamental patterns before advancing to complex structures
Repetition and testing:
Spaced repetition has proven to be the most effective method for transferring information from short-term to long-term memory. This is achieved through regular knowledge testing.
What to repeat is as crucial as the repetition itself. In language learning, it's more effective to repeat full sentences in the form of tests. Consistent testing should be based on:
Mindful Repetition: Practice with awareness and understanding, not mechanical drilling.
Pattern Recognition: Understanding the underlying principles behind language structures.
Active Application: Regular testing and practical use of knowledge.
Spiral Learning: Returning to concepts with increasing complexity and depth.
The right deliberate repetition embodies the essence of optimal learning.
I had an insight while teaching basic math to my son:
Repetition in math isn't just about solving equations. It's about starting with the derivation of the law, developing the equation, performing the calculations correctly, and finally arriving at the answer.
Most schools focus solely on the math itself, not the derivation of laws. While this approach can create math experts, repeating the whole process—starting from law derivation for each problem—makes students truly math-wise.
Similarly, language learning doesn't begin with memorizing single words. It extends to discovering words in context, consulting dictionaries, and analyzing words. Start by using the dictionary effectively and analyzing words, then progress to understanding input and producing output.
A relaxed and friendly environment
A friendly environment is sometimes confused with a teacher's kindness. While kindness is important, it's not the main focus here.
The relaxed environment is actually created by the student. This happens when they choose the right time for themselves, set specific study hours, and are clear about their "why".
Creating a friendly environment is crucial because it's like the soil where a seed is planted and nurtured. Over time, the right soil will produce a strong, healthy tree.
Here are some suggestions for creating such an environment:
Be part of a small, dynamic community: This encourages students to participate and learn from one another.
Establish a safe space for making mistakes: The classroom should be a place where students feel comfortable experimenting and learning from errors.
Explore beyond language to embrace culture: This approach adds depth to the learning process.
Integration of Technology and Cultural Immersion
Technology is not an end in itself. In my view, the entire teaching profession should be in an experimental phase. Teachers should test new technologies themselves rather than relying on reviews. Be technology-wise! Know how to use that technology in the most effective way.
It's about approaching tools with an open mind, free from preconceptions. Bring the problems students face to the forefront, and strive to solve them using new tools. This approach fosters independent thinking and innovative problem-solving.
Final words:
Teaching is a transformative activity. It is a permanent quest for being a better person on all levels. The act of teaching is very human and very sacred!
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