‘Happiness should be the end goal of education’ – Aristotle
Accordingly to Seligman et al.’s 2009 paper, positive education is a response to the gap between what people want for their children and what schools teach. That is, most parents want their children to be happy, healthy and confident, but schools often focus mainly on achievement, discipline and academic skills. These are of course important, but so are positive outcomes.
Sometimes we teachers get caught in a negative cycle and this can reflect on our teaching, which automatically results in blocking learning efficiency.
The wellbeing of our students can be implemented in teaching through positive psychological interventions.
Teaching Happiness in the Language Classroom aims to equip language teachers with specific tasks, the implementation of which will expose students to a rich educational experience. Students are encouraged to think more deeply with their minds and cultivate positive habits that will make them happier and more resilient people.
The need for such material to be included in our teaching is even more in demand nowadays, due to the isolated learning environment many children experienced during the COVID pandemic. This book can be used as a reference since the tasks in this book can supplement any other educational material.
Most of the tasks can be adapted to meet the linguistic needs of any level. It is up to you to decide when to use it and how often, according to your syllabus design. The tasks should be done repeatedly, allowing your students to get used to the positive thinking. Don’t forget that being positive is a habit!
What marks this collection of activities for learners as very different is the organizing principles which centre on research and the practice of positive psychology as described by Peterson (2006). Concepts are effectively articulated and applied in the three sections of this book with techniques for multiple levels of learners.
All sections actually begin with a one-page introduction, written at an upper intermediate level. This describes the principles of the section such as Engagement or Forgive. These introductions could be useful for both teachers or learners.
Teaching Happiness In The Language Classroom applies principles of generating flow and provides learning which avoids traps of negativity and any feeling of being in a day-to-day grind. The resource asks us to look openly, embrace happiness and develop ourselves in this time when positivity is much needed.
Check a quick preview available online:
https://www.expresspublishing.co.uk/files/Positive_4U.pdf
Teaching Happiness In The Language Classroom is available at Disal\s website:
https://www.disal.com.br/produto/4623872-Teaching-Happiness-In-The-LanguageCl
