Teach English in Youting Zhen - Chongqing

Multiple intelligencesThe classroom has a long lasting effect and teachers should desire to make sure learners will all experience success. Learners have different strengths. According to the Pygmalion theory a person?s place in society is largely determined by how others treat them. (Rosenthal, Robert; Jacobson, Lenore (1992) In this essay I will attempt to emphasize the benefits of adopting a multiple intelligence approach in the classroom to both the learners and the teacher. I will do this by explaining prior thoughts on the subject of intelligence, by discussing present day ideas. By introducing the man behind the theory of multiple intelligences and how one can implement this theory in the classroom as well as the TEFL classroom. This topic is interesting in that it eliminates the idea that one is intelligent only if they excel in the logical and cognitive it glorifies the artistic, the athletic, and the musical. I believe that if teachers have great expectations of all the learners abilities within the classroom, then all students will flourish. The Pygmalion effect: The term Pygmalion effect refers broadly to the effects of interpersonal expectations, that is, the finding that what one person expects of another can come to serve as a self-fulfilling prophecy. (Wentzel, K. R. 2010) A study was conducted by two Harvard professors Rosenthal and Jacobson, their theory identified a few learners as ?Bloomers? or high achievers and they told the teachers at schools they were special, however these learners had been chosen randomly and in effect these learners flourished because the teachers had great expectations and treated them differently, proving that teachers beliefs do affect learners outcomes. The definition of intelligence. If we were to ask the question, ?what is intelligence?? what would our response be? The most common responses will often note a person's ability to solve problems, utilize logic, and think critically. Generally intelligence is how we respond to external stimulus, comprehend or examine something. Our intelligence, therefore, is our singular, collective ability to act and react in an ever-changing world. It was believed that we all learned the same way so at the turn of the century a few scientists asked a famous professor Binet to devise a way in which people could be ranked. Binet came up with the intelligence quotient or IQ which had an average of 100. In schools learners were tested in their math?s ability and their linguistic ability, any learner that scored above for example 130 would be regarded as gifted and would attend a more advanced class any learner that scored 80 for example would be placed into special education classes. These scores could also pre-determine whether learner would be accepted in certain learning programs, this however eliminated the weaker learners from achieving success. Like fingerprints; no two individuals are exactly the same or possess the same learning style. (mb.com) Therefore it was believed for a long time that there were only two intelligences and if you excelled in these you were ranked as a genius. But what about the rest of society? Who is Howard Gardner? Howard Earl Gardner (born July 11, 1943 in Pennsylvania) is an American developmental psychologist who is a professor of Cognition and Education at Harvard University. In 1983 he argued against Binets ?IQ myth? and proposed the theory of multiple intelligence in his groundbreaking book (, ??Frames of Mind??) He proposed seven intelligences and a few years later proposed an eighth. The intelligences: Linguistic intelligence: These are individuals that enjoy reading, writing, storytelling, they speak well, have excellent vocabulary, they spell correctly memorize easily and can analyze the hidden connotations in texts quit easily. Logical-mathematical intelligence: These are individuals that are good with numbers and reasoning, their approach is sequential, systematic, and logical and they enjoy science and numbers. (Albert Einstein) Musical intelligence these individuals have a good ear for melodies, pitch beats, they can create music with their voices or instruments (Mozart) Visual-spatial intelligence These individuals are artistic and excel in creating artwork, they are good with colors, dimensions, images and designs, they see things from different perspectives , they enjoy video and photography, they doodle.( Michelangelo) Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence these individuals excel in body movement and control, they are good at dancing or athletics, they are graceful, have good timing and coordination (Michael Jordan). Interpersonal intelligence. These people are good at relating to other people, they have ?people skills?, they are sociable and get on with different people. They are leaders, mediators of conflict and can influence people; they are good at selling things, being politicians etc. (Oprah Winfrey) Intrapersonal intelligence these people are good at managing their lives, they seem to have a sixth sense, they are quiet, they work to find their place in society and to develop personal growth, they are good at controlling their feelings and emotions. They use symbols to express themselves. Naturalist intelligence these individuals tend to love plants, animals and nature, they are eager to preserve things in nature. (Charles Darwin) However Gardner was criticized for using the word intelligence when everyone was using the word ability. He also had not set criteria for analyzing intelligence. People argued that these intelligences could only be determined by observation as opposed to scientific assessment The question is who determines that certain human ability has more value over another and proves that standardized IQ tests only benefit those who excel at the logical/ mathematical. Implementation of intelligence in the classroom. Gardner says that we should take the differences of intelligences amongst learners seriously In "Variations on a Theme: How Teachers Interpret MI Theory," (Educational Leadership, September 1997), Linda Campbell describes five approaches to curriculum change. During lesson planning teachers can work together and team teach, during which they can focus on their own intelligence strength. lesson plans can be created using influences from the different intelligences a dance, a song and teachers can include learners opinions when devising lesson plans. Assessments, these can be designed to show what the student has learned Apprenticeships: these can allow learners to gain mastery and skills over time. According to Gardner this should take up one third of a student learning experience (Gardner, Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences, 1983) These are just a few instances but using multiple intelligences in the classroom will and can allow teachers and parents to understand better the learners within their own personal intelligences. Teachers can therefore help learners understand and appreciate their strengths and apply these within their own environments. Learners will and can excel, find their place in the world and not feel inadequate or inferior to another student who may be excelling in math or English. Implementation in the TEFL classroom The teacher can make use of the different intelligences within the ESL classroom. Verbal/ linguistic, this would be the fundamental or primary form of intelligence used in the English classroom. The teacher can speak as well as allow students to assist each other in understanding. Visual/spatial: the teacher can make use of pictures, objects, flashcards to help student remember. Body-kinesthetic: using role plays and gestures for example allowing students to act out verbs like jump/sit down/ stand up etc. Interpersonal, the teacher can make use of group work and pair work during which students will work together and get to practice using English as well as develop relationships. Mathematical/ logical, this can be use when analyzing grammar. Musical: this intelligence can be used when teaching new vocabulary or a grammar point, for chanting, intonation and tone etc. Intrapersonal; allowing learners to be critical of themselves and to assess how much they are learning. For example you could allow learners to assess their own tasks after an activity. Environmental, similar to visual or spatial skills, learners can use their environment to master the English language. Therefore multiple intelligences do have their place in the TEFL classroom. In conclution Teacher?s should expect the best from their learners and understand their different learning styles. From my readings and research we see that all learners or people aren?t equal. We all cannot excel in all intelligences but we can see that from making use of teaching to intelligences within the classroom we will allow learners to experience greater success in society (and English) as opposed to the past view of only two intelligences. We all have much to learn and areas in which we need to grow. Teachers should therefore desire to make all their learners experience success. We see that ?multiple intelligences? has its place in the TEFL classroom and it has its benefits in creating successful learners. we all should expect the best of our students and respond to the strengths of our learners as opposed to emphasizing their weaknesses. Like a garden that is in need of constant and careful nurturing, intelligence is also capable of growing more than just one variety of flowers (www.mb.com.ph/.../multiple-intel 31 Mar 2011) References: 1) Campbell, Linda, Bruce Campbell, and Dee Dickinson. (1996) Teaching and learning through multiple intelligences. MA: Allyn & Bacon 2) Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. new york: Basic Books. 3) Eysenck, M. W (1994) "Intelligence". In M. W. Eysenck, (ed.), The Blackwell dictionary of cognitive psychology (pp. 192?193).Published Online: 30 JAN 2010 4) Rosenthal, Robert; Jacobson, Lenore (1992). Pygmalion in the classroom (Expanded Ed.). New York: Irvington. 5) Scarr, S. (1985) "An author?s frame of mind [Review of Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences]" New Ideas in Psychology, 3(1), pp. 95?100. 6) Sternberg, R. J. (1983, winter) "How much Gall is too much gall? {Review of Frames of Mind: The theory of multiple intelligences}". Contemporary Education Review, 2(3), 215?224. 7) Sternberg, R. J. (1988) the triarchic mind: A new theory of human intelligence New York: Penguin Books. 8) Sternberg, R. J. (1991) "Death, taxes, and bad intelligence tests", Intelligence, 15(3), pp. 257?270. 9) Sternberg, R. J. (1998)? Intelligence, instruction and assessment: theory into practice? Lawrence Erlbaum associates. Mahwah, NJ .pp17 10) Wentzel, K. R. (2010.) ?Classroom Behavior?. Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology. pp. 1?3.University of Maryland, College Park. 11) Online: ? Edwebproject. ?Traditional intelligence theories?edwebproject.com.01/11/2011 { http://www.edwebproject.org/edref.mi.info.html} ? Guignon, Anne. ?Howard Gardner?s multiple intelligences: A theory for everyone?educationworld.com.02/11/2011. {http://www.educationworld.com/a-curr/curr054.shtml} ? Ilich Iain, lifestyle correspondent.? How to determine someone?s intelligence?askmen.com.o1/11/2011 {http://www.askmen.com/money/how_to_200/222b_how_to.html#ixzz1d0AfuY8W} ? Tendero,Hendry.S.? multiple intelligences? mb.com.ph(manila bulletin publishing corporation).01/11/2011 {http://mb.com.ph/node/312159/multiple-intelligence} ? Tendero,Hendry.S.? multiple intelligences? mb.com.ph(manila bulletin publishing corporation).01/11/2011 {http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/308476/reviewing-learning-styles-and multiple intelligences} ? Tendero, Hendry.S.? multiple intelligences in teaching English literature? mb.com.ph(manila bulletin publishing corporation).01/11/2011 {http://www.mb.com.ph/.../multiple-intelligences.} ? Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. ?Theory of multiple intelligences?wikipedia.org.02/11/2011 {http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/theory-of-multiple-intelligences} ? Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. ?Howard-Gardner?wikipedia.org.02/11/2011 {http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/howard-gardner}