February & Inspiration

2/5/2012

What is the fount of your inspiration and love for doing what you do? I stumbled on this puzzle this week from two different directions.   First, one of my students asked me for some recommendations for where she could find teaching activities. She is beginning her teaching practicum and will soon graduate to become a real teacher. She needs practical inspiration. Can you recommend books or websites that are good resources for EFL teachers?

            The other direction from which I came to meet this puzzle is a bit more circuitous, more abstract. I realized this week that now it is February, when Valentine’s Day is celebrated by some. One of its celebrants is my wife, for whom it is her favorite holiday. Not for its materialism or Hallmark platitudes, but rather just for love and all its myriad incarnations. So I’ve been pondering love. In addition, I got to thinking: what brings, and renews, love and passion to your work?

            In conclusion, I’d love to hear your comments for both or either of these puzzles: recommended resources for teachers and/or how you stay passionate about your work. In short, inspire us.

7 Comments

Iris Kerbis Cantor

2/4/2012 11:36:50 pm

Is passion innate? Can it be developed? Can it be discovered?
My passion for teaching students who need a more individualized curriculum is my life's work, hobby, happiness and love! I believe I first felt it at age 12 although I exhibited my passion for teaching, in general, at a much earlier age.

Clarissa link

2/7/2012 11:23:39 am

Besides working with my students, talking to other enthusiastic teachers helps me maintain and rediscover my passion. :)

I have some resources on my blog, which I really need to update (I'll link to yours when I do get around to updating it). I have a page there that lists free journals, many of which publish activities and lesson plans: http://www.talktotheclouds.com/resources/list-of-free-journals/

I hope the links all work, but I haven't checked them in a bit.

P. S. I like Valentine's Day for the same reasons. I wish more people would participate in efforts to reclaim it as a non-commercial holiday that celebrates love of all kinds! Not to be all simple-minded, but we do need more of that in the world. Most people just join in the red plastic frenzy or the onslaught of negativity, though.

Jeff

2/11/2012 10:06:09 pm

Hey Clarissa, thanks for the link! The list of resources on your blog is very rich. I spent some time perusing ELTED and found some interesting articles. Happy teaching.

Lobar

2/8/2012 03:47:41 am

Here are some good websites that I usually recommend to my ESL/EFL students. Your student/colleague can use them in his classes:
http://a4esl.org/

http://www.agendaweb.org/

http://www.real-english.com/new-lessons.asp

http://www.usalearns.org

http://www.hello-world.com/

Jeff

2/11/2012 10:12:39 pm

Hi Lobar, thanks for this list of resources. These seem to have lots of different kinds of activities for Ss. And Hello-World has many different languages, so I can even work on my Spanish or Korean. Thanks!

gus

2/12/2012 11:46:15 am

I don't where passion comes from and inspires people to make a difference in whatever field they choose, but success in those pursuits is the best fuel to keep the fire burning, be reaching students and helping them achieve things they did not believe or successfully securing more natural areas for wildlife and from more "improvement".

Peace

Jeff

2/12/2012 10:26:55 pm

Thanks for your comment Gus. I really appreciate the work you do as an Environmental Conservationist. I agree with your point about success being important for sustaining passion. It raises for me the issue of how one defines success, and who defines it. Unfortunately, it seems that our society often defines it in terms of money. For teachers, and your field, this is not a good formula for nurturing passion. It makes me wonder, what are better, more constructive ways, to define success? How do you define success?

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February & Inspiration

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