Your Teacher's Blog

When is a date not a date?

2017-04-25T14:00:00.000+01:00

When it's a date:-

This is a date.

And these are dates.

Endure

2017-04-09T22:11:00.001+01:00

A new word for me - and I like it!

2016-08-05T20:13:00.000+01:00

Although I'm not keen on labels, I have decided that I am autotelic, and I have created the Learn English (Online) Network on autotelic principles, without even realising it.

Autotelic - Not an everyday word, but one that I've decided all learners should know. It is composed of two Greek roots: auto (self), and telos (goal).

Nowadays people are often externally driven: things such as comfort, money, power, or fame are the motivating force behind what they do.

But someone who is autotelic does things for their own sake.

The Hungarian-American psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi used the term “Autotelic” as part of his Flow Psychology. An autotelic person experiences flow in work, in family life, when interacting with people, even when alone with nothing to do. They are less dependent on the external rewards that keep others motivated. They are more autonomous and independent because they cannot be as easily manipulated by external threats or promises of reward. At the same time, they are more involved with everything around them because they are fully immersed in the flow of life.

In the modern world, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that learning is a very personal experience. It is different for everyone: Different motivation, different pleasures, different goals, different fears.

An autotelic activity is one we do for its own sake, simply because the experience is the main goal, which is why I'm now going to describe our sessions as autotelic activities. As a learner, you do these activities for their own sake, without any inducement of external rewards (beyond the occasional badge). Don't get me wrong, points, badges and leader boards can motivate you to perform well, but in our sessions, it is the activity itself that is the reward.

So get involved, find your flow, and enjoy a truly rewarding (and autotelic) experience!

Sources:

https://www.peoplematters.in/article/training-development/achieving-state-flow-learning-using-gamification-10867

http://moodlemoot.integrating-technology.org/

Spellcheck and check for meaning!

2015-06-16T09:31:00.000+01:00

If you don't, you could end up talking to people about their unique testes!

It never fails to amaze me.

Cock of the walk

2015-04-19T20:03:00.002+01:00

Used to describe a man who acts as if he is more fashionable or important than other people. This cockerel really was Cock of the Walk, and the ladies loved him!

Learn anything you can...

2015-01-30T09:58:00.002+00:00

Learn everything you can. #LearnEnglishNetwork pic.twitter.com/RpIYcFE5EI
— Lynne Hand (@YTatLE) January 30, 2015

Tattoos

2014-10-18T07:48:00.003+01:00

For everyone who took part in the tattoo sessions.

How about this one?

Busy busy busy

2014-10-17T08:01:00.000+01:00

The LENA land in Kitely has a new look for autumn.

Check out what we did in our first session.

Served on a silver platter

2014-09-20T16:56:00.004+01:00

Usually when something is served on a silver platter, it is presented to you without work or effort. In the photo this was outside a restaurant, with the little pig being served on a silver platter - not the best advertisement I've ever seen - suffice to say we walked on. PS - Fluency in English doesn't come served on a silver platter.

High and dry

2014-09-14T18:53:00.002+01:00

If you leave someone high and dry, you leave them unsupported and helpless.

In this photo this boat has been left high and dry - literally.

A bowl of cherries

2014-06-10T07:55:00.001+01:00

Life is just a bowl of cherries. Can mean, "everything is going well", but can be used sarcastically.

Talking Rubbish

2014-04-25T07:09:00.000+01:00

If someone says you're talking rubbish, it usually means you are saying something that doesn't make sense, but in Friday's Kitely session, April and I were literally talking about rubbish, and, believe it or not, there is a lot of vocabulary to do with rubbish and bins.

To tread the boards.

2014-04-19T07:18:00.002+01:00

If you "tread the boards" you are an actor on the stage, but these floorboards are well trodden.

More entertainment idioms.

Don't lose your head

2014-04-14T07:24:00.000+01:00

If someone tells you not to lose your head, it means don't panic.

The advice was too late for this guy.

Body idioms.

More menu howlers

2014-04-10T08:59:00.000+01:00

I had to take a photo of this one.

I'm on a seefood diet - I see food and I eat it.

Cold rations sounds as if you are in the army, as do range eggs.

Lamb is a baby sheep.

I will not eat the Supremes and I'm not keen on eating bits of anything.

I have never met Homa, so I'm not sure I would trust his cooking.

Norway is too big to fry.

Do not put acorns in my food.

Don't insult anchovies, I'm sure some of them are quite clever.

I have never eaten a fake salad.

Scream anyone?

2014-04-05T16:41:00.002+01:00

Some people have taken the "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream", rhyme a bit too far.

Chops of milky lamb

2014-04-05T08:51:00.000+01:00

Suffice to say, I didn't order that.

The dog's cojones. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

2014-03-26T09:54:00.001+00:00

The dog's cojones. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!:

'via Blog this'

To Zorb | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

2014-03-26T07:42:00.001+00:00

To ZorbZorbing (globe-riding, sphereing, orbing) is the recreation or sport of rolling downhill (or across water) inside an orb, generally made of transparent plastic.

To Zorb | Flickr - Photo Sharing!:

'via Blog this'

News Round Up 85 - The English Magazine

2014-02-23T07:07:00.001+00:00

Imagine being allergic to water:-

News Round Up 85 - The English Magazine: "
Rachel said: “I never go out without checking the weather..."

'via Blog this'

Use of agreeable

2013-12-17T08:31:00.000+00:00

For +april sis.

We tend to use "agreeable" to describe a person. It is faint praise though. You can use it to describe the weather and temperature but as the following shows, it's a word in decline, and so it sounds a bit strange if you use it too much.

Source google.com

Maybe you could stage a comeback for it. :)
PS - Agreable - is French.

News Round Up 70 - Normal Speed (made with Spreaker)

2013-11-12T10:12:00.001+00:00

Amatsu's first broadcast. Hopefully one of many. :)

On The Edge Of The Woods

2013-11-11T00:33:00.001+00:00

On The Edge Of The Woods
Originally uploaded by Big Grey Mare

This is why autumn is my favourite month.

Thanks to Carol for sharing.

Learn English Through Role Plays

2013-11-08T08:19:00.001+00:00

Kitely English
Originally uploaded by Lynne Hand

Hermine was a very good Barista.

The German Elections

2013-09-30T16:01:00.005+01:00

So glad I missed the hype.

Guess what? She is still on her perch. :)