Several years ago I read Stephen R. Covey’s The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, which looks at seven practices common to successful leaders. He presents a framework for personal effectiveness using principles such as fairness, integrity, honesty and human dignity. At that time I wrote my Personal Mission Statement based on Stephen R. Covey’s principles. As I started my new path as an ESL teacher it struck me as very relevant to teaching and learning.
When I recently started on my new career in ESL teaching, I was eager to inspire my students and show them that learning English could be exciting, fun, and dynamic. But I quickly discovered that developing and teaching an engaging ESL course is a formidable task. These principles can provide guidance in our teaching and make us more effective ESL teachers, prepared to teach material in a way that our students will remember for years to come. The first three habits focus on moving from dependence to independence- self mastery. The next three have to do with interdependence- working with others. Finally, the last habit relates to self-rejuvenation and balance in one’s lifestyle.
Habit 1: Be Proactive
In Covey’s discussion of his first recommended habit, “Be Proactive”, people must take the initiative and hold themselves responsible for their success. Habit 1 is about being in charge and creating your own destiny. Applied to a teaching context it is important to think about the important things that you want your students to learn and remember. This principle considers activity based learning and keeping course objectives in the fore front. The purpose of this habit is to encourage students to plan their goals for learning, and approach to, the course. Key questions to ask students at the beginning of the course will help students clarify their goals and set expectations for achievement. Students should be encouraged to answer questions such as: What grade do you envision getting? What will you do to achieve that grade? What do you want to learn? This contract sets the expectation for students to perform well and holds high expectations of both the teacher and the students to make extra efforts.
Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind
According to Covey’s second recommendation, “Begin with the end in mind”, means to begin each day or task with a clear idea of your desired direction and destination, and then to make things happen. This habit is about vision. Learning is not sitting on the side lines. Students do not learn by just listening to the teacher, memorizing assignments and spitting out answers. Students need to talk about what they are learning, write about it, relate it to past and current experiences and then apply it to their daily lives. Learning must be active, engaging and relevant to the student.
Habit 3: Put First Things First
When discussing his third principle, “Put First Things First,” Covey states if you put first things first, you are organizing and managing time and events according to the personal priorities you established in Habit 2. Applying that principle to the classroom, the first class would be to form group cohesion and build relationships with your students. Establishing teacher-to-student, and student-to-student relationships is an important factor in motivation and involvement. For example, on the first day of class an ice-breaker game would enhance group cohesion by introducing students to one another and letting them find common interests and determine how they can learn from one another.
Habit 4: Think Win/Win
In this practice, “Think Win/Win,” the author discusses the importance of collaboration. Applied in the classroom, learning is enhanced when it is a team effort. Working with others increases involvement and learning. Sharing ideas and responding to others’ reactions improves thinking and understanding. Part of the teacher’s goal is to be receptive to students and what he or she can learn from them.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
In Covey’s fifth habit, “Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood,” he explains the importance of listening to others’ points of view before trying to convince them of something different. In the classroom, students learn in different ways. Some learn visually, others actively- hands-on- while others prefer a combination of learning methods. Teachers should respect diverse talents and ways of learning. Students need the opportunity to learn in ways that work for them. It is important for teachers to educate themselves about different learning styles and try to incorporate teaching methods that can reach all kinds of learners. As well, using empathy creates an atmosphere of caring, respect, and positive problem solving.
Habit 6: Synergize
According to this principle, “Synergize,” people should share their thoughts to create new, integrated ideas. Synergize is the habit of creative cooperation. It is teamwork, open-mindedness, and of finding new solutions to old problems. It’s a process, and through that process, people bring all their personal experience and expertise to the table. Together, they can produce far better results that they could individually. When we collaborate, we can maximize our learning and create improvements together. As well, applied in the classroom knowing what you know and don’t know focuses learning. At the start, students need help in assessing their current knowledge and competence. Students need feedback on their performance in order to benefit from their courses. Students also need opportunities to perform and receive suggestions for improvement. In addition, at the end of their course they need chances to reflect on what they have learned, what they still need to learn and how to assess themselves.
Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw
In “Sharpen the Saw,” Covey recommends strategically maximizing your time and talents to maximize your mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical energy and to maintain balance. When we keep those aspects aligned, we can be more effective in our teaching. Maintaining balance and renewal is necessary.
As teachers develop course materials to teach the most important lessons in view of different learning styles, they can then begin to understand how to achieve success for both teachers and students. Using technology and current issues that are important to students, teachers can encourage them think creatively to solve real-life problems. Finally, teachers should teach students to balance the essential elements of life, to maintain inquisitive minds, spiritual balance, physical health, and human connection.
References
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (1989, 2004) (ISBN 0-671-70863-5).