During the last two years, there have been abrupt and hasty changes in our world. Consequently, we need to help our students to develop skills and provide them with experiences that go beyond simply learning an additional language. As education practitioners, we are fully aware of the importance of including core areas of the 21st-century skills such as the four C's collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity. However, the events generated by the pandemic outbreak and its effects on humankind's mental health became a cardinal issue. Emotional development, as the Cambridge Life Competencies Framework states, " is now an important foundation for success at all ages and emotional skills underpin and support both social and cognitive development in learners"(p. 5, 2020). Moreover, emotional development impacts on academic and social success over and above the effect of cognitive ability. Social and emotional learning (SEL) is defined as an essential part of education and human development. SEL is a process that aids young people and adults develop healthy identities through the acquisition of skills and attitudes, and the management of emotions. Individuals learn how to achieve personal and collective goals by establishing supportive relationships founded on empathy and caring decisions. Therefore, we should create activities that provide learners the opportunity to develop their emotional skills.
In the following link, https://padlet.com/bollainbrenda/ycdcjkjm6llgd1fy you will find a tool inspired by Wholehearted School Counseling that I have called "The feelings & Emotions wall" in which I invite my students to share drawings, poems, songs, and thoughts about how they are feeling. Not only have I been surprised by the impact these activities have had on my dear students, but also I have been flabbergasted by how they are able to express their feelings and emotions in a different language. (which is something that I highlight in my comments).
According to CLCF (2020), the result of cultivating effective emotional management skills leads to motivation improvement, positive response to feedback, and improved social relations.
Regarding classroom behavior, emotional development can lead to:
• Higher test scores and grades
• Minimal disruptive behavior and confrontation
• Maximised on-task behavior
• Increased social skills
If you are interested in getting more activities and tools to help your students develop SEL, leave a comment and I will be glad to share them with you.
References:
The Cambridge Life Competencies Framework (2020). Emotional Development. London, UK. Cambridge University Press
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