Networking with other EFL Teaching Professionals

I was happy to volunteer to attend the inter-ELTA meeting, representing the Stuttgart association (ELTAS), on Saturday. In Hamburg, a city I hadn’t visited before. So, despite the 11 hour round trip by train, I was very excited at the prospect of getting a whiff of sea air.

In fact, the train journey up north proved very fruitful – I managed to concentrate for the most part, on a number of outstanding jobs (lesson planning, report writing etc). Completely undisturbed. It was very satisfying. A good lesson for future reference: get myself tied down somewhere with no option for escape and simply knuckle down. Hum. If only it were always so simple….

Anyway, I’d planned on exploring a little on Friday evening once I’d checked into the hotel. That plan went by-the-by: it was just too cold and wet and dark. A hot meal and early night seemed a much better option. Especially after all my hard work on the train. This proved to be a good decision. The next day was bright and sunny. Up and breakfasted in good time, I used the opportunity to walk down to the nearest bit of water. As luck would have it, the stranger I asked for directions turned out to be a sea-faring local (are there any other kind of local in Hamburg?) who accompanied me down to the outlook where he explained about the container ships we could see in the harbour. All very interesting. I was touched by his willingness (indeed, eagerness) to talk with me. An excellent start to the day. And the smell of the sea….. ahhhhh. How I miss that. It really lifted my spirits.

Arriving at the meeting place, I was greeted by one of my online Xing contacts, Emma! How cool is it to meet a virtual contact in the flesh. (See current blog post in Fabulous Frauen). Then I was greeted by 2 familiar faces from the BESIG conference in Bielefeld – John and Wolfgang. We three sat together and enjoyed some typical British-humour interactions It’s always nice to have some light-hearted moments during serious meetings.

The meeting itself was primarily about sharing info on how the different associations manage their businesses. A very interesting insight into what other teachers do. A side-effect was the networking among we participants, always an invaluable activity, indeed an essential part of any business. We were able to conclude the day with an agreement to set up a common platform for each association to post on their current activities and to share info useful to the inter-ELTA group as a whole. How exciting is that to be part of something in its infancy. I, for one, am very much looking forward to seeing how the inter-ELTA wiki develops.

In the meantime, I have to figure when and how to get back to visit Hamburg properly!

Have I become a network junkie?

Usually, I’m somebody who likes to keep my friends to a minimum. My sister has hundreds of friends around the world. It all seemed like such an effort to keep in touch, arrange get togethers, remember birthdays and attend special occasions. I’m a classic introvert; I get my energy from stillness, quiet times and reflection. Having lots of people around me, lots of people relying on me – well, it’s just not my thing.

So I thought.

Now I’m hooked on social media & networking. I’m connecting with complete strangers around the world. And I’m loving it (a totally incorrect grammatical structure but widely recognised from a certain ad campaign).

This morning, for example, I started a conversation – via FB messages – with a guy I “met” in twitter who lives in Australia, on the Gold Coast (how lovely must that be!?) He looks like a nice chap, from his picture. His message was well written and friendly, so I responded – communicating with him as if he was an acquaintance of many years! Bizaare!

Often, when I meet someone in the traditional, face-to-face way, I’m more cautious, I hold myself back and tend not to share too much information. I like to get the measure of a person before I commit myself to getting to know them.

Since concentrating on networking for my business, I’ve turned into more of an extrovert. I actually enjoy getting out and about and meeting people – and then going home and checking out how I can carry on the conversation online.

Being home and carrying on a conversation online…. This is the ideal for me. Connecting from the comfort of my office, dining table, sofa. It’s on my terms, in my environment without the pfaff of putting on any make up or deciding if my outfit is appropriate. I can dispense with all that stuff and focus on communicating. And communicating in a thoughtful, delete-that-sentence-if-I-don’t-like-it way.

The people I “meet” online seem really cool – interesting, informed, intelligent, motivated people. Just like me! Maybe that’s why I feel I can connect so quickly and easily, I’m finding like-minded people. Presumably they’re doing what I’m doing, networking from home, work, where ever, so there’s instantly a natural affinity.

Or maybe it’s a case of the rose-tinted glasses making it seem that way. I used to be known as Shelley, the one who only sees the good in people. She’s so naïve and dreamy. Over the years, I’ve developed more of a cynical, “worldly” view and tried to be more like other grown ups. But I guess my natural tendency towards positive outlooks still rules. I can’t help it. I genuinely like people (even if I don’t need to be around lots of people all the time), I truly believe they’re good. Which quite clearly isn’t always the case. However, by connecting through a computer screen, I can enjoy “new friends” from a distance. I can exchange ideas and thoughts with them as and when I choose. I can walk away when I need to – although “unfollowing” someone in twitter would be hard. That would indicate that I find them no longer useful or interesting – a very hurtful thing. And I’m learning such a lot. Ultimately, that’s what life’s about, surely? Learning, discovering, developing and equally learning about, discovering new people and developing new connections.

It’s a wonder. I’m very happy to have met all the people I have over the last 18 months and look forward to all the new connections I shall make in the coming months.

Now I really must get on with some proper work – bye for now!

Michelle

Busy Days are Best

I’ve discovered my stress levels increase when I have a home office day… On days when I’ve been on the go all day, running from appointment to appointment, having a whole day to myself seemed like just what I needed. Since the start of this year, I’ve had more days in the office than not. This is not as good as I thought!

There definitely needs to be an element to my development plan for unstructured days. When I’m booked for various classes, I have a plan for the day. Left to my own devices, well – no plan! This has to change.

Fortunately, I met a very interesting man recently. Brian Mayne developed what he calls Goal Mapping.

I have the book, am registered for the online version and have networked with Brian’s German colleague, Timo Pommer. I’ve still to map out one of my (many) goals. Which one to start with?

OK. So my first goal is to draw up a goal. Just after I’ve finished blogging and checking out my social media interests and reading the news and….

Ahhhhh. Here lies the problem. Put the laptop away and focus.

Right. I’m off. Will report back when I’ve mapped out a goal.

For now, happy International Women’s Day to you.

Michelle

Am I a teacher or a trainer?

Last week, I had my first ever coaching session. As instructed, I came with my topic for discussion. However, within a few minutes, we’d touched on another of “my issues”, namely:

What am I? What do I do?

At this point in time, I consider myself to be in a transition phase so answering this question was not clear cut. What I did confirm was my reluctance to label myself “teacher”. That’s what my mother was – very successfully. Am I just a follow-on from my mother? Have I not managed to forge my own unique path in life?

Delving into the psychology of my mother-daughter issues is not my aim here. Exploring my development as a teacher of English as a foreign language is. The process started a while ago – informally. The thing with development is that it’s important to track and record. So, this blog will be my forum for doing that; doing it “publicly” is a bit of an experiment to see whether my issues are common to others too. I suspect they may well be.

Anyway, back to the coaching. My coach and I did get onto the main topic eventually. We agreed to leave the teacher-trainer issue for another time (or for a different kind of professional!). The development of my business was what I wanted to explore. How to move from weekly 90 minute classes to only offering workshops over 2 to 3 days. Although this move seems to be happening of its own accord, I want to proactively manage it and capture the potential I see here.

For now let me leave you with this thought from a guy called John Dewey:

“The self is not something ready made, but something in continuous formation through choice of action.”

Try to take time for yourself and your own development - in fact, keep developing, never stop!

Yours,

Michelle