These two focuses have been integrated in this book. Students discuss and explore the issues in class (typically for 50 minutes each week) and then reflect upon them at home, writing at least one meaningful, dairy-style composition each week. The teacher does not have to correct these compositions as they are written, but can comment upon them twice during the semester, in special ¡°Teacher¡¯s Thoughts¡± pages. These provide an opportunity to offer positive feedback on cognitive, affective and social growth.

English Reflections is an English textbook, a personal diary, a learning journal, and a collection of integrated, interactive, reflective activities. Its purpose is to raise awareness of the learning process, fostering:

English Reflections has two focuses of interest:

  • One focus is on the use of interactive questionnaires, surveys, discussion topics, role-plays, quotes (on every "My Reflections page), and other awareness-raising activities which encourage everyone to talk, listen, read and write about learning. These activities are performed best in the classroom.
  • The other focus is on reflection about individual feelings, observations and thoughts about learning. This occurs in the ¡°My Reflections¡± pages in the book, where students write their feelings (in their own free time) about life and learning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

As interaction with other learners and individual reflection about the learning process continue in this journal, unconscious learning processes are activated, and a new perspective on learning and life grows - a perspective of language learning as education. According to this perspective, education must focus on the whole person - intellect, feelings, emotions, and social awareness; education is about learning how to learn, problem-solving, and critical thinking.

 

 

 

 

If we respect our students as learners, if we trust our students as responsible human beings and if we help them develop the skills to control what they learn and how they learn it, they will discover an invaluable jewel - the love of learning. This jewel will serve them forever, helping them to take on new skills and ideas and to adapt to new situations. Because of this, a humanistic, holistic approach to education is vital, allowing learners to progress from the warm-hearted interaction of the non-threatening learning environment, on to untold and unimagined learning experiences in their future lives.