ELT News Think Tank

This Month's Think Tank Panel

Marc Helgesen

Curtis Kelly

Peter Viney

Chris Hunt

Chuck Sandy

Panelists: Marc | Curtis | Peter | Chris | Chuck
Date: June 2005

Topic: "Can we teach our students to be happy? "

Marc Helgesen

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This column is about happiness. Since I am writing it during the first week of tsuyu (rainy season), that's either very useful or hopeless wishful thinking. I really, really hated rainy season for years. I don't anymore. I'll explain that later, but first let's talk about happiness…and English teaching.

“Practice kindness: do nice things for people. It makes you happier.”

A few months ago, TIME magazine did a cover story on "the science of happiness." It talked about new things researchers are finding out. Instead of focusing on depressed people, scientists are studying people who are happy to find out how they do it. One researcher identifies eight specific behaviors happy people do. You can read the full explanation HERE, but what follows is my summary, written in language most of my university students can easily understand.

1. Notice good things in your life. Write down 3-5 of them every week.
2. Practice kindness: do nice things for people. It makes you happier.
3. Notice life's joys. When something good happens, stop.
   Make a picture in your mind. OR
   Tell yourself what happened. OR
   Remember the feeling.
   This way, you can save the moment.
4. Thank someone who has helped you. Who has been important in your life? A teacher, a sempai, a parent. Write them a letter or tell them. Explain what they did for you. Say "thank you."
5. Learn to forgive. When someone does something bad to you, don't hold the anger inside. Let go of the anger. Writing a letter to forgive someone is a good way.
6. Take time with your friends and family. They love you. You love them. Spend time with them. Let them know you appreciate them.
7. Take care of your body. Get enough sleep and exercise. Do stretching, smiling and laughing.
8. Learn ways to deal with problems. Remember, we all face problems. Learn to move past them.

Those of you who read this column regularly know that I often think in terms of activities. When I come across a new idea, I think, "What can I do to put this in the hands of my students." When I read the article in TIME, I thought, "Wouldn't it be great if I could somehow use these ideas to teach English." They are interesting and certainly lend themselves to personalization ­ a powerful motivator. And, hey, if they help some learners be more positive, that would be great. In this month's column, I'd like to share a couple of those "happiness activities" with you.

The happiness journal
Remember hearing people say, "count your blessings" when you were growing up? Turns out they were right. People who take the time to notice good things in their lives really are happier. I made a happiness journal, which I copy on to both sides of a B4 sheet. You can download a PDF file copy HERE. I give a copy to each student. I explain that it is not homework. They don't have to do it. But, if they do, they get extra points (my students always have lots of ways to get extra points. It's a way to encourage them to use English as much as possible.)

Journal writing is a common out-of-class activity and this is the same idea, but instead of asking them to tell me about their day, they tell me about good things in their lives. These don't have to be huge things. Sure, occasionally a good friend gets married or your sister has a baby. But most things are much smaller. Noticing the greeting you get from your family ­ or your dog. Hearing birds in the morning. Just noticing the smell of the air after a summer rain. Or the smell of flowers (we really are trying to get students to stop and smell the flowers, aren't we?). According to TIME, the key is to do this regularly. They suggest selecting a specific time once a week to write 3-5 sentences. Seems like a good idea to me.

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