I had the pleasure of attending this year's KOTESOL conference. It had a simple and much needed theme. Focus on Fluency.

I caught the tail-end of Stephen Krashen's plenary session "The Secrets of Hyper Polyglots". He was presenting information from two amazing polyglots who have had a tremendous amount of experience acquiring different languages in different situations. They had written down their own conclusions about second language acquisition. His conclusions included that (a) polyglots understand that the driving force behind language acquisition is: comprehensible input and they recognize the limited role of conscious knowledge of grammar and error correction.
(b) They reject the popular immersion idea that all you need is to “go to the country".
(c) They seek high-interest “compelling” input.
(d) They warn us about striving for perfectionism, both in terms of producing and understanding language.
(e) They urge us to “trust the process.”

In terms of speaking dynamics, I was pleasantly surprised. He was engaging, told a number of jokes and made his points. And I admit I am intrigued by the idea of not having conscious knowledge of grammar. I am not sure I completely agree with him on this point. His polyglots were people who, for the most part, spent their time speaking the language. My students are supposed to be able read, write, listen, and speak in English. They are falling lately in the writing and reading of English because of only basic knowledge of grammmatical forms. 

Another session I particularly enjoyed was by the amazing teacher trainer who wrote the Communication Games series from years ago. Jill Hadfield was simply and quickly presenting information from her book Interaction Online. I did notice the connections between the in-class interactions from the Communication Games series with the online interactions she was presenting. There was a logical and categorized progression that she showed before she flashed her book on the screen for less than 30 seconds. I was not the only person more than a little surprised by this. Someone closer to the front was able to ask her to show the slide with the book on it.

Jill Hadfield had another session on Sunday that I was not able to attend. I understand from other KOTESOL members that it was equally amazing. I will be ordering the book closer to Christmas when I have time to read it.

The following weekend I had the pleasure of hosting a Christian Teachers Retreat/Picnic on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

I was greatly blessed by our small crowd who shared grace, food, educational thoughts, and service ideas for our group. I was blessed by Grant Rush, Jinny and David Toft, Elizabeth Belkour, Jensah and Jeku Aromin, Rosemary Sorg, Hansun Kim, Justin, Aidan, and Jordan and a few others. None of us taught oe led a session. We just had a great discussion on how to share our faith with students, colleagues, and other people within KOTESOL. I came away thinking that I was just as blessed by these people who work and teach regularly as I was by the  KOTESOL community and the presenters.

Service opportunities are everywhere here when we really look with our God-given eyes. I look forward to building community with the Christian Teachers Special Interest Group! And to teach and serve in a way that brings honour to God.

Reconciliatory approaches to language teaching and learning are important in developing all aspects of a student's person.  I had the privilege of interviewing Jan Dormer and Cheryl Woelk about their recent book, Teaching English for Reconciliation, for the Christian Teachers Special Interest Group.

1) Why is reconciliation important in educational contexts? 
 
Learner-centered educators have long realized the importance of holistic teaching – developing the whole person, rather than focusing purely on the transmission of information. Educational endeavors provide us with rich contexts for helping individuals not only to learn specific content (or in the case of ELT, acquire English), but to grow in their understanding of themselves, others, and their relationships.
 
2) Why is reconciliation important in English language teaching contexts? 
 
In English language learning classrooms, we find environments that are especially well-suited to develop the whole person, including their perspectives, attitudes, and relationships with others. Part of the reason for this is the relational nature of language. Language is learned for the purpose of communication. In English learning classrooms we must consider not only the actual words used, but also when, how and with whom those words are used for specific communicative purposes. Individuals who may have never given much thought to how they build relationships with others must now go below the surface and strive to understand the pragmatics of language use. And the English language is rich with a multitude of ways to soften language, be kind but assertive, concede a point… and a host of other language functions which are a legitimate and needed part of language acquisition. These factors and so many more can make an English language classroom an EXCELLENT place to learn and practice reconciliatory and bridge-building skills!
 
3) What biblical texts speak to the importance of reconciliation?
 
Themes of reconciliation are woven throughout the Bible, as writers depict God's ongoing efforts to restore a right relationship with people. This culminates in Jesus life, death and resurrection through which all are reconciled to God and made one with each other, as described in Ephesians 2:13-19. In  2 Corinthians 5:17-19, our response to this reconciliation is made clear: we are to join in with this "ministry of reconciliation" as ambassadors, reconciled to God and each other.
 
4) What are some simple ways to nurture spaces for reconciliation in the classroom?
 
Focusing on building healthy relationships and community in the classroom, drawing awareness to the need for reconciliation by looking at topics discussed in class from a peace and justice lens, practicing and modeling skills for dealing with conflict in life-giving ways, considering how our methods of teaching support a healthy learning community, and connecting our work with larger efforts for restoration of relationships in our contexts are ways that teachers can encourage opportunities for reconciliation. Our framework looks at how we can apply each of these efforts in detail in our classrooms and educational systems.
 
5) How does the view of the learner and teacher change when teaching for reconciliation?
 
Learner agency and power becomes a significant part of our consideration. Whether in making decisions about learning, working in groups, or assessing dynamics in the whole class, we see students as individuals with unique personal and collective identities that shape how they interact and communicate with others, thus shaping their language learning. Rather than seeing the teacher as a sole source of knowledge or power in the classroom, the teacher becomes an observer, supporter and coach for students to use their agency in their learning and interactions.
 
6) What are some practical ways to provide students with opportunities to learn about reconciliation in class? 
 
Our book focuses on exploring reconciliation in an English classroom through systems, methodologies, skills, issues and relationships. All of these can help students to learn about reconciliation. We can have systems in place that are equitable and just. We can use methodologies which provide a voice for everyone in the classroom, and which encourage relationship-building and risk-taking. We can purposefully teach skills of active listening to others, putting ourselves in others’ shoes, and clarifying meanings and understanding. In classes where the teacher can bring in his or her own topics and texts, we can explore issues which can help students learn about individuals who are peace-builders, or situations in need of reconciliation. Finally, the English language classroom should always be about relationships. We should be actively building relationships with each of our students, and should also be paving the way for them to build relationships with each other, in our classrooms.  
 
7) How can the Reconciliatory English Teaching Framework be integrated into existing curriculum? (Many teachers don't have the freedom to change curriculum) 
 
The framework we suggest has a broad reach. In places where teachers don't have freedom to change curriculum, there are still some aspects related to curriculum that can be adapted or highlighted. The framework can help guide the choices all teachers make in creating lessons in order to look for possibilities that are there, and be intentional about making decisions in the direction of reconciliation. This includes conducting careful context analysis, choosing collaborative methods to teach curriculum content, highlighting and using conflict resolution and healthy communication skills, framing issues from a peace perspective and prioritizing relationships.
8) Do you have recommendations on how to the Reconciliatory English Teaching Framework can be used in teaching English as a foreign language and international contexts? 
 
We believe that our framework can apply equally well to ESL and EFL contexts, and that it can be used anywhere that English is taught. In any given context, a good English language teacher must first learn the local culture and context well. Then, that understanding should serve as a lens in deciding which elements of reconciliatory teaching would be appropriate and beneficial for the learners. Our book includes stories from many different countries, in both ESL and EFL contexts.
 
9) Do you have recommendations on how to the Reconciliatory English Teaching Framework can be used in teaching English as a foreign language and international contexts?
 
We believe that our framework can apply equally well to ESL and EFL contexts, and that it can be used anywhere that English is taught. In any given context, a good English language teacher must first learn the local culture and context well. Then, that understanding should serve as a lens in deciding which elements of reconciliatory teaching would be appropriate and beneficial for the learners. Our book includes stories from many different countries, in both ESL and EFL contexts.
 
You can order the book from the William Carey Library by following this link.
 
https://williamcarey.com/products/teaching-english-for-reconciliation?utm_source=Jan&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Dormer
 
Or you can order from Amazon by following this link.
 
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B079YWTHCD/?coliid=I3PWUU5AJJBSFH&colid=2AHPK794CIDOX&psc=0
 
These are not affiliate links.

​Dr. Jan Dormer teaches TESOL in the Messiah College Graduate Program in Education, after many years of teaching English in Indonesia, Brazil and Kenya. She wrote two textbooks in ACSI’s Passport to Adventure EFL Series, and the book What School Leaders Need to Know About English Learning (TESOL International Association, 2016). In addition, she is the author of Teaching English in Missions: Effectiveness and Integrity (2011). She served on the CELEA (Christian English Language Educators Association) Board as Past President.

​Cheryl Woelk is a language instructor and peace educator who currently serves as the head teacher at Connexus language institute and coordinates the Language for Peace project, integrating language and peace education curriculum. Cheryl is active in TESOL International and co-author of the book, “Teaching English for Reconciliation” (forthcoming). She holds a BA in English, a certificate in TEFL, and an MA in Education and Conflict Transformation.
 

Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie is actually a very short book about homeschooling, but it has much to offer in regards to teaching as a Christian.  Many of us get wrapped up in the everyday stress of checklists, homework assignments, presentations, grammar lessons, and the lot in regards to teaching.  Sarah Mackenzie, of Read-Aloud Revival (amongstlovelythings.com) fame, does a great job unpacking the concept of schole (Greek word for institutions of education) which has been interpreted as restful learning.  In this first post of a three part series, I would like to focus on the first part of the book entitled “Whose Well Done Are You Looking For?”.

In Philippians we are told to be anxious over nothing, yet we are anxious over many things.

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God.  And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

We worry and fret over our students, the quality of our lesson plans, our relationships with other teachers.  We easily fall into worry and fret about our own lives.  Our souls are restless, anxiously wondering if something else out there might be a bit better – if maybe there is another way or another book that might prove to be superior to what we are doing now.  We choose anxiety as our guide instead of humbly submitting to God and letting Him guide us.

This book is a plea and an explanation on how to seek Him first.  Can we live and teach from a state of rest? We can, but we must approach the Holy Spirit every single day, asking Him to lead us and to quiet or anxious souls so that we can really bless our children (students) – not with shiny curriculum or perfect lesson plans, but rather with purposeful, restful spirits.

I appreciate that Mackenzie brings up the point that rest is not ease.  “This isn’t idealism. It isn’t simple and peaceful in the sense of being easy or gentle.  Teaching from rest is meaningful learning and growth – but without the anxiety and frenzy so common in our day.  Contrary to what you might think at first when you first hear ‘teaching from rest’, teaching from rest will take diligence, attention, and a lot of hard work” (4).

Unshakable peace is not going to come from getting through a certain amount of material over a specified amount of time, but it also doesn’t come from throwing in the towel and giving in when things get hard.  Peace comes from knowing that our genuine task is to wake up each morning and “get our marching orders from God” (4). It comes from diligence to the work God has given us, but this is diligence infused with faith, with resting in God’s promises to guide and bless us.

The bottom line is resting is about trusting God.  “Rest is trusting that God’s got this, even if I’m a mess, even if I’m not enough, even if I mess up everyday.  Because I do” (4).  Rest is also trusting that even though some of your students are not progressing in their English skills they way you intended for a course, they are learning and God is there with you in that process.

The author brings up the important point of rest being a virtue between negligence and anxiety.  Teachers, like homeschooling mothers, find themselves likely to fall prey to one camp or the other.  A course that is so condensed that it leaves no room for the soul to breathe will suffocate, but so will the absence of purposeful and intentional teaching. If we are doing our students a disservice “shuttling them through a set of books and plans without consideration for their souls, we are doing them an equal disservice by ignoring their formation and leaving our children (students) to form themselves” (7).

If our students are images of God (of course they are), then we are not meeting their needs or tending to their real nature when we swing like a pendulum to either the vice of anxiety of the vice of negligence.

Personally, I spent my first few teaching years leaning towards negligence.  I was relaxed.  It was not laziness exactly.  I went in to teach them intentionally and I thought it would a wonderful gift to my students to allow them to bloom on their own terms.  My neglect fostered laziness, carelessness, and a somewhat self-centered view of learning.  I was thinking about wisdom and wonder, and had come to the conclusion that I should do my best to step out of the way.  I had failed to build a bridge between the students God had put in front of me and the person intended each of them to be.

“The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting.”      Plutarch, “On Listening” in Essays, trans Robin H. Waterfield, ed. Ian Kidd (London: Penguin Classics, 19930, 50.

This quote tells us that education is not the filling of a bucket.  This is not about filling the mind with information.  It is the lighting of a fire.  We have to remember that a fire does need to be lit and then stoked.  Otherwise, it will burn out.

In Luke 6:4 we learn that when a student is fully formed he or she will become like his teacher.  Clearly, a teacher cannot form a students by staying in the shadows.

Consequently, rest is not the absence of work or a failure to consider and carry out a plan.  It is work and leisure properly ordered.  It involves doing the right thing at the right time and realizing that our task to hear God’s call and follow His Commands, and then trust that God will God.  In a sense, to be at rest even while at work.

Our anxiety could be sidestepped by simply acknowledging who we are trying to please.  It might sound simplistic, but consider that your days will likely look different depending on whether you are doing it all for His pleasure, or doing it to please students, administration, colleagues, or anyone else.  Who are you trying to impress?

Teaching from rest is also about excellence.  Sometimes we get caught up with our exceptional language learners and focus on them.  We need to remember that God never demands that we produce prodigies or achieve what the world would recognize as excellence.  “Rather, he asks us to live excellently – that is, to live in simple obedient faith and trust.  He asks us to faithfully commit everyday to him and then do the day’s tasks well.  He’s in charge of the results” (10).
​
Teaching from rest has many aspects of what it isn’t.  It isn’t anxiousness, worry, or anxiety.  It isn’t idealism.  It is meaningful learning and growth for our students that will take diligence, attention and hard work.  It is a virtue that falls between the vices of negligence and anxiety.  We are to trust that God has everything just where He wants it to be.  Teaching from rest is about living in relationship with God; we are to live in obedient faith to the day’s tasks and He will bless the results.  In the end, teaching from rest is about being at peace in God’s presence.  As we rest in His presence, we are better equipped not only for teaching, but life in general.

​It’s autumn and the ground is covered in leaves.  The crimsons and golds of this season are barely noticeable when walking down the street.  It’s something we step on, something we step over.
 
Have you ever really looked at an autumn leaf?  Have you thought about God’s faithfulness as you looked at it?
 
A leaf. Behold a single leaf. So fragile, it tears like paper, crushes in your hand to a moist stain, sharply fragrant. Dry, it burns swift and crackling as newsprint, pungent as gunpowder. Yet a leaf may withstand hurricanes, stubbornly clinging to its limb.
 
Hold it open in your palm. It is perfect as a newborn’s smile.
 
Pinch its stem between thumb and forefinger and hold it to the light. Eden bleeds through. Its veins are like bone work in silhouette.
 
This single leaf, joined to the tree, drinks poison from the air, drinks it serenely as Socrates downing his cup of hemlock, and refuses to return in kind, instead spilling out life-giving oxygen. This leaf tilts to catch the sun, its warmth and radiance, to distill the heat and light down to the shadows, down to the roots, back up to limbs. To shade the earth. To feed you and me.
 
A leaf. God makes these season after season, one after the other, billions upon billions, from the Garden to the New Jerusalem, most for no eye but His own. He does it faithfully, or else I would not live to tell about it, or you to hear.

Now let me reflect for a moment on students.  

Students come in many shapes and sizes.  Their smiles, their ideas, their thoughts touch mine every day.  Their diversity touches me very hour I teach.

The general hum and roar in the hallways is from exhausted students struggling with homework.  They are trying, they are putting in the effort, they are learning to be more.   Their effort is a thing of beauty.  Their effort is work in faithfulness.
 
Perhaps of all my many sins against heaven, this ranks with the worst: Until this moment, I have never thanked God for a single leaf.  Until this moment I have not expressed my thankfulness for the faithfulness of my students.  I have expressed gratitude for the few that have come back and thanked me, but not for all the students that I have taught over the years.  
 
Which is the problem with faithfulness: We hardly notice it.
 
Faithfulness is, by definition, the predictable, the habitual, the sturdy, the routine. It is the evidence of things seen, but seen so often we’ve grown blind to them.
 
It is the substance of things expected, expected so unthinkingly that we now take them for granted. It is the air we breathe, the ground we walk on, the skin we inhabit, the way our insides tick and pulse and spin all on their own, in season and out, whether we sleep or work or play, without asking us or us having to ask.
 
It is these myriad amazing things—toes and eyes, leaf veins and cloudbursts, bedrock and ozone, seed and sap—that by their very constancy and durability have worn familiar or become invisible. The sheer steadfastness of things that surround and uphold us are dull with the caking of the ordinary.
 
We live amidst surpassing wonders, but most of it has become run-of-the-mill. We dwell among endless miracles that, repeated day after day, have grown tedious. We are lavished with gifts that we now expect or ignore or begrudge.
 
Faithfulness bores us.
 
Who among us leapt up this morning as the sun rose, exclaiming, “Look! Look, everybody, look! The sun! Here it comes! Hallelujah, it’s here again!”?
 
Or who ran through the house shouting, “Ha ha—air! Behold! Air! Clean air, fresh air, air to fill my lungs, air to shape my words, air to move the clouds, air to lift the birds”?
 
Not me. I woke up groaning.
 
In both creation and relationships, faithfulness is the most amazing yet least captivating trait.
 
It is one quality—in the cosmos, in God, in others—that we can’t live without, but that we don’t much live with, either, mindful of it, thankful for it.
 
Look how we use the word itself in everyday speech. “My husband. How can I describe him? Let me say this: He’s faithful.”
 
Code language for he’s a drudge, a bean counter, a plodder. He gets the job done, but with no aplomb or pizzazz.
 
If we call a car faithful, we mean it’s functional, not fast, not flashy. It’s drab and boxy, an old dray horse.
 
Faithfulness is not only boring. In some contexts, it’s almost embarrassing.
 
J. Allan Petersen, in The Myth of the Greener Grass, tells the story of a dozen married women at lunch together. The conversation got more and more intimate, under the skin, the sharp tip of inquiry corkscrewing into inmost places, prying loose tightly held secrets.
 
“How many of you,” one woman asked, “have been faithful to your husbands?” Only one woman out of the twelve raised her hand. At home that evening, one of the women who didn’t raise her hand told her husband about the lunch, the question, her reaction. “But,” she quickly added, “I have been faithful.” “Then why didn’t you raise your hand?” “I was ashamed.”
 
GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IS one divine characteristic that we rest in so completely that our rest has become apathy. “In him,” Paul declares, “we live and move and have our being.”  We just hustle in, heads down, duty-bound, and clear the table.
 
So our dilemma: How do we rest in God’s faithfulness, but never take it for granted?
 
Maybe the best way to begin is to examine how God describes His own faithfulness. Allow me to summarize the biblical texts on this theme.
 
He abounds in faithfulness, and by faithfulness He keeps His covenant of love to a thousand generations. Because of His faithfulness, He does no wrong. He shows Himself faithful to the faithful. He’s faithful in all He does, and by it He guarantees that His words are right and true. His faithfulness reaches to the skies, is sent down from the heavens, and is appointed to protect us like a shield and a rampart. God’s faithfulness surrounds Him and goes out before Him. He will not betray it, and it endures forever.
 
In faithfulness, God disciplines His children. Because of His faithfulness, He will keep all His promises. His faithfulness is great. It is not canceled out by our lack of faith. Because of it, He forgives us and cleanses us from confessed sin, and He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. By His faithfulness, God sanctifies us and keeps us blameless until the coming of Jesus, and by it He gives us strength and protection from the evil one.
 
Faithfulness is one of Jesus’ names. What’s more, the faithfulness of God is connected with His love, righteousness, truthfulness, steadfastness, compassion, mercy, peace, grace, slowness to anger, creative power, mightiness, justice, deliverance, relief, and holiness. 
 
Old Faithful indeed.
 
There’s a common thread in all this: you and me.
 
The touchstone of God’s faithfulness is His way with people.
 
It is mostly about a journey He took, His house to yours, in order to bring you all the way back again to His. Behind the drama of the incarnation, the atonement, the redemption; behind the drama of Jesus calling Zacchaeus down from the sycamore tree, calling Peter away from his nets, calling Matthew away from the tax booth, calling you from wherever you were when He found you; behind all that is simply this: God is true to Himself.
 
God is faithful.

This post was originally published on the chroniclesofhopekorea.wordpress.com.  I'm reprinting it here so other people can read and be inspired by Amanda and the amazing work she does.  Amanda DeCesaro teaches and inspires at Chongshin University.  She is an amazing bundle of energy that truly enjoys Korea and her people.

How did you become involved in Christian English language teaching?

After graduating university with a degree in Animal Science, the last thing I thought I would be doing is teaching. I went on to become a missionary with the formerly named Campus Crusade for Christ in Australia. I had previously attended a missions conference in Busan but it was in Australia where I discovered my love for the Korean people. Many of my students were Chinese or Korean and I even shared a house with two girls from Busan. Following my two -year commitment to serve in campus ministry, I knew God was calling me to Korea.

I began looking into opportunities that would take me to Korea and as most could guess, the only opportunities I came across were teaching positions. If I had still been in college I may have given up; however, Australia also showed me that I had potential for teaching others. I realized guiding others to understanding brought me great joy and also served as a tool to form relationships. Looking back it is evident in how God led me and prepared me to teach English in Korea. I did not want to arrive unprepared, so prior to applying for any positions I completed an SIT TESOL program. The training I received as a missionary combined with my education set me on the path for missional language teaching. And I cannot be more grateful for how God has used my life so far.

How long have you been here?

I have been in Korea for five years. I spent my first year at an English village and the past four years I have been teaching at Chongshin University. It has gone by so fast and I hope to be here for much longer.

What is the most challenging aspect of Korean culture for you?

One challenge that I have often discussed with my students is being the "foreigner" which I have found to be equivalent to “outsider”. On several occasions I have expressed to friends that even if I were to fluently learn Korean, gain citizenship, and assimilate as much as possible I would never be fully accepted into Korean society. It is not that I desire to do so, but the outsider feelings are definitely felt. However, God has been teaching me through this and shown me unique opportunities only a foreigner could have. Most of my students are more open with me because I'm not Korean, and so I am able to offer support and advice they would otherwise not receive. While sharing with some of my North Korean students that this was the most difficult part of living in Korea they expressed a similar notion. North Koreans often try to hide their dialect and accent in fear of being found out that they are from the North. Because many South Koreans view them as separate from the current society, my students have shared that they too feel like outsiders. Having this in common has helped me connect better with the North Koreans I minister to. I have grown to see this challenge as a blessing, sometimes a painful blessing, but a blessing nonetheless.

What aspects of Korean culture do you particularly enjoy? 

This summer I was able to visit my family back in Wisconsin and while reverse culture shock was not as dramatic as I have experienced in the past, I definitely was able to reflect on Korea. I was missing my friends and church as I expected but I also missed some things I had just taken for granted while living in Seoul. Whenever I went to a restaurant people just ordered their own food and would not share. I wanted to order a variety of food and share with everyone, just as I often do in Korea.

Another thing I noticed about the food was that most things tasted very salty or very sweet. Korea had changed my taste buds, but probably for the better especially for my health. For several days I was without a car and my family members were all working. Forced to stay at my parents’ home, I felt stranded and longed for the very convenient transportation of Seoul. Even though my interactions with people were very different, I couldn't exactly put my finger on what it was. Although I knew it, this trip caused me to really feel the fact that Korean culture had changed me; things I had viewed as strange are now normal and I really enjoy many things. The main aspects I enjoy are food, language, fashion, and many relational interactions.

What other ministries are you a part of?

I attend New Harvest Ministry (NHM) which is the English ministry of Sarang Church. It was here that I really got connected. I am currently a small group leader, as well as a team leader. As a leader I am able to see others grow closer to God and with each other. It has several challenges but I love my group members. Team leading has had its own challenges, but coming alongside other leaders and helping them with their struggles and having the opportunity to pray for them is really great. Soon after I started attending NHM I became involved in Sarang's North Korean ministry. The ministry runs a school called Banseok, preparing young North Korean students for university. These students, just like my Chongshin students, have become my kids, brothers and sisters, and friends. I love them all so dearly.

How do you connect your faith to your teaching?

Just as naturally as breathing is how I desire my faith to fuel everything I do in my life. I look for and create teachable moments in each class. Because I teach at a Christian university I have the unique opportunity to be extremely open about my faith. Praying with my students during class and asking for prayer requests for me to pray throughout the week is one of those amazing opportunities. I do not think I would teach much differently in a secular environment, though my speech may not be as overt, I would still seek out times to impress the love and wisdom of God upon my students.  

Do you think there is a Christian way to teach English?
​
I believe there is a Christian way of doing everything, not in the sense of morality or in the act itself, however, the very fact that as a Christian we are a new creation. Christ Himself dwells within me and my worldview is very different from someone who doesn't know Christ. I see with an eternal perspective and ideally everything I do is for the glory of God. Though externally many things I do may look similar to a non-Christian, God looks to the heart of a man. When it comes to teaching English I see so many wonderful opportunities to glorify God and love my students as Christ. Because I am entrusted with the responsibility to not only teach a language but also communication and human interaction, I do not view what I do simply as a vocation but as a calling. God has gifted language to us because we are beings of relationship. Because I personally know the creator of us and of language I am even more deeply equipped to teach with a perspective that reflects God's original design. With themes of reconciliation, justice, real love, and so much more English does not simply remain a language that must be learned for various secular reasons, it becomes a means for deeper connection.

The following piece has been inspired by I Corinthians 13.  As you begin your semester, read these words and remind yourself that we put in our best effort, but the fruit of our labor is completely up to God.

If speak many languages through my own hard work, but do not have love, I am only making noise.

If I have the gift of teaching and understand the intricacies of advanced grammar in those languages, but do not have love, I am only putting time in the classroom.

If I have in communicative theory, task-based teaching, and other current language theory, but have not love, I will be inadequate as a language teacher.

If I give all my time and effort to my students, taxing my body to which I can boast, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love in the classroom is patient and kind.

Love in the classroom does not boast and is not proud of itself outside the classroom with other teachers.

Love in the classroom honors the students.

Love in the classroom is not seeking position elsewhere.

Love in the classroom is not angered easily by laziness and disinterest, but works through it.

Love rejoices with all the little steps taken in language learning.

Love always protects, trusts, and hopes in the educational journey of each student.

Love will not fail.

Communication that does honor those around us will eventually cease.

Knowledge that is not treated with Godly wonder will pass away.

When the language teachers were young, they talked, thought, and reasoned like a child.

When the language teachers became older, they put the childish things away.

Let us mature in our walk of faith and seek God face to face in the classroom.  Let us seek Him in the faces of our students.

I have come to understand that I am fully known as I labor for and with students.

Faith, hope, and love are keys in the successful language classroom, but the greatest of these is love.
​
May God bless you as teach!

Shaina Snyder will be presenting "Growth Mindset in EFL" at CELT Seoul 2016.  I have had the pleasure of learning about growth mindset through this interview.
1) What is growth mindset?
Some people believe that ability is innate--great talents are born, not made. This is fixed mindset. At the other end of the spectrum is growth mindset. People with growth mindset believe that you can significantly improve your abilities and intelligence. Growth mindset is related to implicit theories of intelligence in the field of psychology; it was discovered by Carol Dweck and colleagues. Carol Dweck's book Mindset: The New Psychology of Success is a fun read and an excellent summary of the mindsets and related research. Dweck explains that mindset affects how people react to challenges, failures, feedback, and more, and she asserts that it is possible to change your mindset.
2) How did you as a student become interested in growth mindset?
One of my professors or classmates shared a TED Talk related to growth mindset, and I was intrigued. I decided to read Carol Dweck’s book. I recognized my own fixed mindset. Growing up, studying as little as possible and still getting an A on the test was evidence that I was a 'smart' kid. Smarter than the others. Good grades were assurance that I was good and valuable. Failure was evidence of my inadequacy, and it made me want to quit. For example, in my first year of college, I had to take a biology class for my psychology major requirements. However, for the first time in my life, I truly struggled to learn, and I felt I could not possibly get an A or even a B or C. The possibility of failing was an unacceptable threat to my self-worth and future transcript. Rather than working harder to learn biology, I withdrew from the class and changed my major to sociology, which did not require the biology class. These choices were directly connected to my fixed mindset.  I believed that I was not good at science, and that I could not possibly catch up to the class. I quit rather than recognizing my failure as evidence that I needed to change the way I approached studying. That is just one example of how fixed mindset had affected my life. Since learning about growth mindset, I have been making an effort to apply it to my life. I have seen myself become so much more willing to take risks and push through challenges until I learn something and grow.
3) Why should Christian teachers be interested in growth mindset?
Christian teachers should be interested in this because it is in alignment with the word of God, and it can help students reach their potential not only in school, but in all of life. I think growth mindset is important for the Christian life. First of all, we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16), and God has said we can do all things through him (Philippians 4:13). So it is wonderful to see that he has equipped us with amazing brains that can create new cells and connections and turn things that used to be impossible into things that are now easy for us.
One thing that I found interesting is that students with growth mindset are more likely to seek help and not try to cover up their failures, while students with fixed mindset are more likely to hide their failures. In Christianity, so many people are hiding their sins and weaknesses rather than confessing their sins to one another and growing together. Also, people condemn themselves or others for their failures along the way in their walk with God. But the Bible tells us in Philippians 3:12-14 that we should keep growing and moving, unhindered by the past mistakes and failures. God does not condemn us. Carol Dweck notes in Chapter 8 of her book: “when people drop the good-bad, strong-weak thinking that grows out of the fixed mindset, they’re better able to learn useful strategies that help with self-control. Every lapse doesn’t spell doom.” In life and in school and in faith, growth mindset can help us.
4) What facts about language acquisition support growth mindset?
The exact mechanisms of language acquisition are a bit mysterious. There is controversy about a critical period and other topics like what exact skills or characteristics result in some people having more of an aptitude for language learning than others. While some students may have a greater aptitude for language learning than others at a given point in time, the reality is not so simple. Studies such as those included in the book Lessons from Good Language Learners edited by Carol Griffiths have shown that there are a myriad of roads to language learning success. Good language learners are diverse. Each person has strengths and weaknesses that can be harnessed to grow their language ability; if they happen to have a personality that is less suited to language learning, they can rely on or develop other crucial skills such as increasing their strategy use or learning to analyze language parts. The mental processes or skills that give some people an advantage in language learning can often be taught! Some people argue that working memory is key for successful language acquisition, and brain research such as Dingfelder's (2005) supports the idea that it is possible to exercise one's brain and increase working memory ability. Finally, studies about the brain and language learning are showing more and more the plasticity of the brain and the way it physically grows and makes connections while people of all ages and walks of life are learning a second language (Li, Legault, & Litcofsky, 2014).
5) How can students who feel they have plateaued in their language learning be introduced the possibility of further language development?
Developing growth mindset in the language domain will be helpful. Students can be introduced to the brain's amazing ability to grow and form new connections, leading to increased ability in the language domain. As I mentioned before, neuroscience is finding the brain to be incredibly plastic at any age, and this plasticity includes language acquisition.  Also, students can come to understand that a plateau is common, especially at the intermediate level, but that others have overcome the plateau. They can, too, by taking care of their brains physically and thoughtfully choosing and utilizing as many language learning strategies as they can.
6) What are the better websites that explore growth mindset for language learners or are easily adapted for language learners?
Carol Dweck and colleagues have created a wonderful comprehensive computer program and set of lesson plans to introduce growth mindset. Although it is not specifically for language learners, each lesson includes some alternative activities and options to scaffold for learners of all levels. You must pay to use the program; it is available at mindsetworks.com.
Additionally, I have found this blog to be helpful: http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2012/10/13/the-best-resources-on-helping-our-students-develop-a-growth-mindset/
Finally, I recommend checking out some videos or TED talks such as this one: https://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve?language=en
7) What lesson plans, materials, and learning strategies have you developed on growth mindset?
I have developed a set of lesson plans that teachers can use to introduce growth mindset to their EFL or ESL students and help their students start changing their mindsets about language learning. The lessons include some language objectives as well as pictures or comics to help make the concepts comprehensible. They also include surveys to help students understand their current mindsets and learning strategies. I have only included resources that can be used without Internet, so teachers in any type of ESL/EFL environment can use them. I want to make these lessons available for teachers to use as is or to borrow from and adapt as needed.
8) How did you come to study at Messiah College?
I was born and raised in Pennsylvania, where Messiah College is located, so I had occasionally heard of Messiah College over the years. When I decided I wanted to make a career change from social services to education, rather than going back for a second bachelor’s, I thought it might be best to pursue a master’s degree. I wanted to stay out of debt, so I wanted to find a flexible program that would allow me to continue working while attending classes. Messiah’s flexible online program allowed me to do just. The professors are excellent as well!
References
Dingfelder, S.F. (2005). A workout for working memory: New research suggests that mental exercises might enhance one of the brain’s central components for reasoning and problem-solving. Monitor on Psychology, 36(8), 48. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/monitor/sep05/workout.aspx
Li, P., Legault, J. and Litcofsky, K.A. (2014). Neuroplasticity as a function of second language learning: Anatomical changes in the human brain. Context, 58, 301-324. Retrieved from www.elsevier.com/locate/cortex
 __________


Early Registration for CELT Seoul 2016 is open until the end of April.  

If you are in Korea, go to this site:
https://koreatesol.org/content/christian-teachers

If you live outside of Korea, please register at celea.net:
http://celea.net/event-2147849

​

























​

The creative use of language  is an important aspect of language learning often ignored in second language classrooms.  Teachers and students focus on definite aspects of language learning (grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation) that are easily taught but not easily assessed.  The myriad of issues/challenges involved in oral assessment has led me to reconsider and evaluate alternative methods that allow students to be creative with what they are learning. 

Let’s look at the issues involved in oral assessment.  First, students are often not prepared for these kinds of exams.  The reasons are numerous. They are not familiar with these kinds of exams and, therefore, do not know how to prepare.  Also, they are just not motivated.  Second, if they are prepared, nervousness often takes over and the results are not as the students wanted.  Third, students often have memorized responses to questions they think the teacher will ask.  The end result of memorized responses is English production, not communication.   Follow-up questions are usually met with confusion by students.  Fourth, oral assessments are challenging for the professor/teacher.  Listening to similar questions and answers from every student can tax our listening skills as well.   

For the past three years, I have successfully used the famous murder mystery, Death on the Nile, as a final project in conversation classes.  Students write a script that reveals who the murderer is, why the murder was committed, and how it was done and create a 4-7 minute video from their script.  The requirements for the script include (1) asking 4-6 starter questions, (2) answering those questions and writing follow-up questions, (3) using rejoinders, (4) 7-10 vocabulary words or phrases from the movie, and (5) 3-5 modals of certainty.  In addition to writing the script, each student takes on the role of one character from the movie when they make the video.  This offered opportunities for creativity that allowed students to break free from their old language patterns and pushed many to a higher level of language learning.

This project has addressed the motivation issue that many students face.  In Motivational Strategies in the Language Classroom, Zoltan Dornyei explains “Human like to be challenged…This means that tasks in which learners need to solve problems, discover something, overcome obstacles…are always welcome.” (p 76 ) “Tasks which concern ambiguous, problematic, controversial, contradictory, or incongruous material stimulate curiosity by creating a conceptual conflict that needs to be resolved.”  (p 76) 

The first key to success for this project was to lead students through the creative process.  Decisions about the murder were made immediately after finishing the movie activities in class.  When the script was first introduced, I had students discuss with a partner who they thought the murderer was.  By the end of class, the students were to write on a piece of paper who they thought did it and why.  This focused students for the next class where they were given time to work on their script.  The next class was a rehearsal where they read through their scripts, and I made suggestions and comments.  The last class, where students watched each others’ videos, has continued to be a highlight for the past three years.   In addition, we watch the final scenes and reveal the real name of the movie (students are told the name of the movie is Love in Cairo to avoid downloading). 

Another key was to pick appropriate material for the age level.  Death on the Nile was chosen because it is a story about a couple who kills an heiress for money.  Students easily related to the concept of a love triangle.

The third  key was to create a rubric to assess the video the students made.  Careful consideration of use of language and pronunciation are as important as the action that highlights it.   

If you have been frustrated with oral assessment, this could be an alternative for your classroom.  The benefits were numerous.  First, students used language that they would use in traditional oral assessment (question formation, answers, grammar, and vocabulary) in a creative, meaningful way.  Second, they worked in groups which simulated real work experience.  Third, students often communicated to each other in English while working on this project.  Fourth, most students were motivated to do this assignment well due to the creativity involved.   

References:                          
​
Dornyei, Zoltan (2014?) Motivational Strategies in the Language Classroom. Cambridge University Press.

I have had the pleasure of meeting Jan Dormer once at an international CELT (Christian English Language Teaching) conference.  What a warm, wonderful and fun person who demonstrated the love of Christ.  When the Christian Teachers' Special Interest Group (CT-SIG) started making plans to host the next CELT, asking her to speak was one of the easiest decisions we made.  She will be a plenary speaker for CELT 2016.  

I asked her for the following interview at the beginning of November.  She blessed me personally with her answers and I'm sure she will bless you as well.The following interview will give you a preview of a faithful woman holding true to her call to teach English and train teachers.  I am honored that she is joining us for CELT 2016!
​
How did you get connected with English language teaching?

I grew up as the daughter of missionaries in Brazil, and began tutoring Brazilians in English when I was just a teenager. It was natural, then, for me to pursue an M.A. in TESOL right after completing my undergraduate degree in Elementary Education. I married a Canadian pastor, and began my TESOL career teaching adult immigrants in Ontario. After 8 years in Canada we became missionaries, and I taught ESOL in just about every imaginable context during our years in Indonesia, Brazil and Kenya. One thing I love about TESOL is the variety it offers. I have enjoyed teaching to all age groups, at all language levels, in all different types of schools and programs.

Tell our readers about your teaching context.  Where do you teach and how long have you been there?  What kind of courses do you teach?
​
I am an Associate Professor of TESOL at Messiah College, where I mostly teach in our graduate level TESOL programs. I have been at Messiah College for four years – ever since we returned from serving overseas. Our graduate program at Messiah College includes four main TESOL courses, which comprise our Graduate TESOL Certificate. Students can then go on to complete our full M.Ed. in TESOL. I mostly teach the topics of Second Language Acquisition, TESOL in Ministry, TESOL Methods, and thesis supervision. I do teach a course focusing on Global TESOL and TESOL Ministry at the undergraduate level as well. I am passionate about helping all of my students discover how they can serve God and others through TESOL!

One of the goals of the Christian Teachers Special Interest group (CT-SIG) is to explore the ways our faith connects to our teaching contexts.  Can you comment on this?  What are some of the ways you connect your faith to your teaching?

My faith saturates my teaching! God has called me to be salt and light for Him, just as he has called all of us, no matter what our professions. TESOL is the vocation He has given me in which to do this. At the same time, He has given me a passion for TESOL, and the exuberance and joy that I have when teaching ESOL or TESOL comes from Him.

On a more concrete level, I have identified four “M’s” that can characterize ESOL teaching as Christian: Methods, Modeling, Materials and Mentoring. How these aspects play out will vary from context to context. In the Christian English school that I developed in Brazil, our program was transparently Christian, and we saw a lot of spiritual growth in our students and staff. When I taught English for three years in a Muslim elementary school in Indonesia, these principles played out very differently. To learn more about these 4 M’s of Christian ESOL and what they might look like in different contexts, come to my plenary at CELT Seoul!

Tell our readers about your book Teaching English in Missions: Effectiveness and Integrity.  

During my years on the mission field I discovered that though there were many people engaged in English ministry, few had training in TESOL. At the same time, criticism against “Teaching English as a Missionary Language” (e.g. Pennycook & Coutand-Marin, 2003) began to emerge from the professional TESOL community. As someone with a foot in both the missionary and the professional TESOL world, I felt God nudging me to explore what characterized teaching English in missions well. I focused in on the need for effectiveness – to have the training needed to truly teach English well, and integrity – to be honest and transparent in our claims and actions.

My book first provides cautions against the use of TESOL ministry without appropriate preparation and understanding, outlining four possible “harms”. It then goes on to explore four distinct types of TESOL ministry, drawn from differing goals and contexts: host evangelism, host discipleship, ambassador evangelism and ambassador discipleship. Finally, my book seeks to show what are the hallmarks of effectiveness and integrity in TESOL Ministry – in what I hope is a reader-friendly tone with lots of anecdotes from real ministry experiences!

The theme for CELT 2016 is collaboration.  How do you address collaboration in your teaching context?  What collaborative projects are you currently working on?

I love this theme, and I am hard pressed to think of any part of my career that has not been marked by collaboration. My doctoral research focused on NEST-NNEST (Native English Speaking Teacher and Nonnative English Speaking Teacher) collaboration and relationships at Christian schools in Indonesia and Brazil. That research resulted in a template that schools can use to ensure positive and mutually edifying relationships, which I call “shared competence”, between NESTs and NNESTs on a school staff (see Dormer, 2012).

Currently, I am part of a team developing an ESL program at our church. Our area has many Somali refugees, who are Muslim. As these individuals have begun coming into our church for ESL classes, we have had many hurdles! However, collaboration, with our shared goal of Christian ministry, is taking us through the bumps in the road. It is exciting to see what God is doing, and none of it would be possible without the work of many people, each carrying out their part contributing to the whole.

What aspects of collaboration do you find particularly challenging?

Working closely with others usually requires compromise, and that is sometimes hard! If our new church-based ESL program is really going to be a team effort, for example, that means that what I think is “best” may not always prevail. Others need opportunities to use their ideas, and to learn from experience. What I try to keep front and center in my thinking is that this is God’s program, not mine. He is fully capable of carrying out His plan despite our human missteps and imperfections. That perspective helps me to extend grace and support instead of insisting on my own ideas.

References

Dormer, J. E. (2012). Shared competence: NEST/NNEST collaboration that benefits all in Honigsfeld and M. Dove (Eds.), Co-teaching and Other Collaborative Practices in the EFL/ESL Classroom: Rationale, Research, Reflections, and Recommendations, Charlotte (pp. 241-250.) NC: Information Age Publishing.

Pennycook, A (with Sophie Coutand-Marin). (2003). Teaching English as a missionary language (TEML). Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education. 24/3, 337-353.

I have been reflecting on punctuation and faith in my writing classes as of late.  I have come to think of the period, the exclamation point, the question mark, the ellipsis, quotation marks, and the comma.  How does punctuation mark your own story?
 
Period (.) End of sentence. Factual. True. When God speaks, it’s usually a simple, declarative sentence. Go. Stop. Trust. Follow me. Our culture has tried to make us believe that our faith isn’t strong enough unless we reside in a place of certainty. And sure, that’s a great place to be. Sometimes our beliefs are absolute and sure, and we’re strongly rooted in our faith. We simply know what we know. But do you know what else I know? It’s OK to not remain here all the time.

Exclamation point (!) Wow! God is amazing! I see Him! I want you to know Him! The best way to approach God is with thanksgiving—by noticing all that He does, all that He is, and letting ourselves feel the awe and wonder He inspires. And the best way to get someone else excited is to express yourself genuinely and enthusiastically. It’s hard to maintain this level of excitement over the long term, though—we get tired, other worries crowd their way in, and so on. It takes sustained effort to remain here and it’s a wonderful place to be, but I spend more time with the next one…

The question mark (?) When Jesus asked questions, He was trying to help people uncover truths: Who do YOU say that I am? Questions aren’t bad, even in our faith. It really all comes down to intent. Are you asking questions in the hopes of arriving at a stronger, more accurate belief of who God is? Or are you looking for excuses not to commit to Him? Think of Thomas—he may have been labeled a doubter, but isn’t he the only one who got to touch the resurrected Jesus? His questions demanded a direct, tangible answer. Do yours? If you’re hungry for more of God, if you want to find more and go deeper, please—ask away!

The ellipsis (…) This mark indicates when something is missing, showing a place where words or thoughts have been removed. It also shows where a conversation fades to nothingness. I think, if we’re honest, we can all see a few of these ellipses over the course of our faith—someone hurt you, or God didn’t answer your prayer as you’d expected. Maybe you simply stopped seeing God and wandered away unintentionally. Those dots are a normal part of our stories. If you find yourself here, take heart—for something to be missing in the middle, there has to be something both before and after the gap. Keep looking for God, and before long, you’ll find yourself on the other side of the dots.

Quotation marks (“ ”) Most of what I know about God I’ve learned from others—pastors and teachers, yes, but also friends, acquaintances, writers, musicians, and celebrities. (Occasionally, we learn the most from seeing what we don’t want to do.) When we get excited about something, it’s natural to share it--she said this, he taught me that. This is where quotation marks come in handy. Don’t just mimic what you hear, though. Evaluate it, use wisdom, and verify its accuracy. And remember that you don’t always have to look far away—trust in the truth of your own experiences, too. They often make the most moving testimonies.

The comma (,) This is a good place to be—in the middle. Seeing all the things God is doing. Collecting lessons and gathering knowledge. Experiencing the different names and faces of our God, one after another. Understanding that even when one thing happens (good or bad), it’s followed almost immediately by something else. The good news that commas bring is the fact that your story isn’t over yet.

All of these marks are useful and necessary. No value judgment is implied in any of them—they’re part of your own personal story, your natural expression of God’s involvement in your life. So will you take a minute and think about your faith life? Which punctuation mark is your default? Is your life expressing what you want to say? Don’t feel bad if you’re not there yet (or ever). As any English teacher will tell you, it’s important to vary sentence structure. Straightforward sentences are fine. But not if there are no other kinds. And other times, don’t you think questions are best? Some days, all we can do is exclaim about the goodness of God! On others, we may sit in silence, reveling in His mercy and His grace, His kindness, His gentleness, His variety, and His great love for us. Through it all, though, we can know one thing. However we express ourselves, we can rest assured that God will lead us through all of these different phases. And oh, what a story we will have to tell!

Period (.) Here is a little bit about my story.  I got married and came to Korea in 1998.  I have taught many university students, but I did teach some talented high school girls at Ewha Foreign Language High School.  My teaching has expanded because I now have a family I adore.

Exclamation point (!) God has been very good to me over these seventeen years in Korea!  I have a beautiful family, including three boys that are slowly turning into godly men, a loving husband, a nice home, and a teaching position I enjoy.  I also enjoy writing and teaching for KNU International English Church and the Christian Teachers Special Interest Group (CT-SIG).

The question mark (?) My most growth filled times are filled with questions.  How do I connect my faith to my teaching?  How do I connect my faith with daily interactions with my children?  Why are art projects, plants, and books so good for my soul?

​The ellipsis (...) My life continues to have its challenges ... raising children in a Confucianist culture ... understanding my Korean husband when I really don't understand ... trying to understand administrative decisions at my job ... There is a lot to living cross-culturally that I do not understand ... I need to listen deeply, pray, and collaborate with others in the confusion.

Quotations marks (" ") Quotes from so many people have informed my faith.  This one from the book of John has kept going and pondering for years.  "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) Jesus, Paul, Mother Theresa, Dorothy Day, Derek Liebenberg, Brian Roller, Ann Voskamp, Corrie ten Boom, Beth Moore, Max Lucado, and so many others.  

The comma (,) This is a good place to be - in the middle.  Seeing all that God is doing, collecting lessons and gathering knowledge. Experiencing the different names and faces of God one after another.  Understanding that even when one thing happens (good or bad), it is followed almost immediately by something else.  The good news that commas bring is the fact that your story isn't over yet.  

The question mark (?) Aren't you excited that your story isn't over yet? 

Dear Lord, speak to us in sentences we can understand. Help us express our love and gratitude, build a deeper trust in You, and never run out of words to say. You have so much to offer us… whether we’re asking, quoting, listing your traits or hungering for more. Put Your mark in our lives, never to be removed, never to be erased. Amen.