Mindfulness and Teaching:
Lessons From Dynamic English
by Maya Frost
Back in 1983, I was hired to teach English in rural northern Japan.
I had no experience teaching, and didn't speak a work of Japanese.
No matter--I had the requisite four-year college degree and a thirst for adventure.
My employer/boss/teaching partner was Grif Frost, a 27-year-old budding
entrepreneur who had married the Japanese exchange student who had once
lived with his family. He ended up living near his wife's parents in Mutsu,
and did what any self-respecting English-speaking person did in Japan in 1982--
he started an English school.
Now, Grif had no experience teaching, either. He had a master's in International Management
and a couple of toddlers at home. He was also the token American in Mutsu,
and figured he might as well put it to good use.
Without training, he developed an approach he called "Dynamic English"
--a high-energy, full-body form of English as pure entertainment.
He focused on presenting classes that were "Fast, Fun and Friendly",
and was notorious for his colorful puppets, loud singing, dramatic storytelling,
and excessive sweating.
As his teaching partner, I picked up on the style quickly. Soon, I was
getting my share of notoriety for creative book-reading.
In one infamous moment, I was spreading my arms wide to demonstrate the
concept of "big" when my blouse burst open. Talk about a visual aid!
We became something like rock stars among the kindergarten children.
Imagine a hundred Japanese five-year-olds seeing big white Americans
with squeaky oversized plastic mallets (great for elimination during "Simon Says"),
an overflowing bag of what looked suspiciously like toys, and boisterous
"Good Morning!" greetings. The kids would literally fall over laughing at our stunts,
and never got tired of our silly songs and wild games.
We were doing what came naturally--fully engaging the students in a way that
created real awareness of language, objects, directions, shapes, colors, and
verbal and musical sounds. Our older students were especially thrilled with this
active approach, so different from the "This is a pen" lessons they'd chanted in
their mandatory English classes in middle school.
By providing new triggers, surprising methods, and hilarious material,
we were offering novel stimuli, fresh perspective, and 100% focus on the present.
Little did we know that a Harvard psychologist would later describe these same
characteristics as essential for mindful learning!
Dr. Ellen Langer, author of The Power of Mindful Learning, talks about the importance of
being open to novelty, drawing distinctions, being aware of differing contexts and
perspectives, and orienting in the present.
Learning a language can be incredibly tedious or outrageously active and exciting.
We played with English and our students not only learned the lessons quickly
but laughed heartily, burned calories, and created a whole new mindset about
what it takes to learn something new.
Grif relied on mindful learning in developing his approach to teaching English
--he was completely open from the beginning, and was never hampered by ideas
of what teaching should look like.
He was creative about using games and songs he'd loved as a kid and turning
them into fresh and powerful tools for teaching. He shifted the lesson plans
when dealing with various age groups and English levels, and constantly improved
his approach by paying attention to the responses and being fearless
about making changes and trying out new ideas.
I learned that making learning fun is a powerful skill.
In fact, the basic guidelines for my mindfulness training
are remarkably similar to those for Dynamic English:
* Stay open to new things--including your approach to learning in general.
* Look for subtle differences in similar objects or ideas.
* Discover new uses for old tools.
* Explore shifting perspectives.
* Shake up stale notions.
* Engage all senses.
* Get physical whenever possible.
* Jump into the moment wholeheartedly.
* Be sure to have fun every single day.
Whether you're learning a language or developing mindfulness, the key is this: keep it dynamic.
And never underestimate the learning value of silliness.
FUN NOTE: I fell in love with a fellow Dynamic English teacher.
My husband is Grif's younger brother! :-)
© 2004-2020 Maya Frost
When sharing, please include the following:
Maya Frost is an author, mindfulness trainer, and creative change strategist.
Learn more at MayaFrost.com
Read more tips and articles about mindfulness!
I had no experience teaching, and didn't speak a work of Japanese.
No matter--I had the requisite four-year college degree and a thirst for adventure.
My employer/boss/teaching partner was Grif Frost, a 27-year-old budding
entrepreneur who had married the Japanese exchange student who had once
lived with his family. He ended up living near his wife's parents in Mutsu,
and did what any self-respecting English-speaking person did in Japan in 1982--
he started an English school.
Now, Grif had no experience teaching, either. He had a master's in International Management
and a couple of toddlers at home. He was also the token American in Mutsu,
and figured he might as well put it to good use.
Without training, he developed an approach he called "Dynamic English"
--a high-energy, full-body form of English as pure entertainment.
He focused on presenting classes that were "Fast, Fun and Friendly",
and was notorious for his colorful puppets, loud singing, dramatic storytelling,
and excessive sweating.
As his teaching partner, I picked up on the style quickly. Soon, I was
getting my share of notoriety for creative book-reading.
In one infamous moment, I was spreading my arms wide to demonstrate the
concept of "big" when my blouse burst open. Talk about a visual aid!
We became something like rock stars among the kindergarten children.
Imagine a hundred Japanese five-year-olds seeing big white Americans
with squeaky oversized plastic mallets (great for elimination during "Simon Says"),
an overflowing bag of what looked suspiciously like toys, and boisterous
"Good Morning!" greetings. The kids would literally fall over laughing at our stunts,
and never got tired of our silly songs and wild games.
We were doing what came naturally--fully engaging the students in a way that
created real awareness of language, objects, directions, shapes, colors, and
verbal and musical sounds. Our older students were especially thrilled with this
active approach, so different from the "This is a pen" lessons they'd chanted in
their mandatory English classes in middle school.
By providing new triggers, surprising methods, and hilarious material,
we were offering novel stimuli, fresh perspective, and 100% focus on the present.
Little did we know that a Harvard psychologist would later describe these same
characteristics as essential for mindful learning!
Dr. Ellen Langer, author of The Power of Mindful Learning, talks about the importance of
being open to novelty, drawing distinctions, being aware of differing contexts and
perspectives, and orienting in the present.
Learning a language can be incredibly tedious or outrageously active and exciting.
We played with English and our students not only learned the lessons quickly
but laughed heartily, burned calories, and created a whole new mindset about
what it takes to learn something new.
Grif relied on mindful learning in developing his approach to teaching English
--he was completely open from the beginning, and was never hampered by ideas
of what teaching should look like.
He was creative about using games and songs he'd loved as a kid and turning
them into fresh and powerful tools for teaching. He shifted the lesson plans
when dealing with various age groups and English levels, and constantly improved
his approach by paying attention to the responses and being fearless
about making changes and trying out new ideas.
I learned that making learning fun is a powerful skill.
In fact, the basic guidelines for my mindfulness training
are remarkably similar to those for Dynamic English:
* Stay open to new things--including your approach to learning in general.
* Look for subtle differences in similar objects or ideas.
* Discover new uses for old tools.
* Explore shifting perspectives.
* Shake up stale notions.
* Engage all senses.
* Get physical whenever possible.
* Jump into the moment wholeheartedly.
* Be sure to have fun every single day.
Whether you're learning a language or developing mindfulness, the key is this: keep it dynamic.
And never underestimate the learning value of silliness.
FUN NOTE: I fell in love with a fellow Dynamic English teacher.
My husband is Grif's younger brother! :-)
© 2004-2020 Maya Frost
When sharing, please include the following:
Maya Frost is an author, mindfulness trainer, and creative change strategist.
Learn more at MayaFrost.com
Read more tips and articles about mindfulness!