Two Poems

Francisco Gomes de Matos, Brazil

Francisco Gomes de Matos, an applied peace linguist from Recife, Brazil. President of the Board, Associacao Brasil America .Co-founder of The World Dignity University. Professor Emeritus, Federal University of Pernambuco. E-mail: fcgm@hotlink.com.br

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On my Soul: Rhymed Reflections
When do we humanize our language teaching ? A Checklist

On my Soul: Rhymed Reflections

Although my SOUL I can´t see
It is a deep PRESENCE in me

Although my SOUL I can´t hear
Its voice tells me: Have no fear

Although my SOUL I can´t reach
I´m blessed: soulfully I can teach

Although concrete things about my SOUL I can`t say
I am blessed : as a human being ,soulfully I can pray

Although physically Death I can`t survive
I´m blessed : spiritually I´ll always be alive

When do we humanize our language teaching ? A Checklist

We humanize our Language Teaching when we,,,...

1. respect our students` rights
   (communicative,cultural,crosscultural,educational,
   economic,psychological,social,...)
2. treat our students with dignity when we guide their engagement in varied
   activities in class
3. apologize to our students (and/or to their parents)by admitting to having
   corrected inappropriately or unfairly
4. encourage our students to learn to use vocabulary and phraseologies that
   will enhance their peaceful interpersonal relations
5. instead of authoritarianly saying :"I allow my students ...",or " I
   have/get my students to ...", I humanizingly say "I encourage
   
   my students…" and "I ask my students ..."
   
   Colleagues are asked to reflect on the above items and to add their own humanizing ideas.
   
   Humanizing Language Teaching calls for our living up to our
   responsibilities as Educational Humanizers,that is,
   
   as, language educators committed to the Traditions of Human Rights and Peace.

Please check the How the Motivate your Students course at Pilgrims website.
Please check the Building Positive Group Dynamics course at Pilgrims website.