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Take 5 with TESOL!

  • 1.  Take 5 with TESOL!

    Posted 20 days ago
    Edited by Natalie Bertsch 20 days ago
    Hi, everyone!

    We understand that many English language professionals are busy, and we want to help you focus on your well-being. You're invited to take a 5-minute break with TESOL! This week, we want to hear from you. Share what you are doing for self-care in the discussion thread. Watch for more #TESOLtake5 breaks!

    Take care, Natalie

    ​​

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    Natalie Bertsch
    TESOL International Association
    United States
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    ​


  • 2.  RE: Take 5 with TESOL!

    Posted 19 days ago
      |   view attached
    Hello everyone,
    Self-care is crucial, especially during these challenging times with COVID 19 making life difficult. 
    One of the things I like to do for self-care and well-being is visiting my favorite coffee shop and indulging in my favorite drink, Arabic Coffee! I'm addicted!
    The smell of the aroma from the coffee pot is magnificent! Arabic coffee in Saudi Arabia is always served with something sweet, so it's a great excuse to cheat without feeling guilty :). My coffee time is a great chance to relax, meditate, sit back and enjoy the moment.
    The Cafe that I go to is beautiful and has a lovely fountain, and the sound of the falling water is profoundly soul-soothing and therapeutic. I can stay there for hours, and it's just great to focus on the simple pleasures of life. 💕

    Thanks Natalie :)
    Hind Elyas
    PDPC Incoming Chair
    TESOL 2021 Conference Ambassador
    Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 


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    Hind Elyas, English Instructor at Niagara College,Saudi Arabia, Incoming Chair-PDPC
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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Take 5 with TESOL!

    Posted 19 days ago
    Edited by Laura Peskin 19 days ago

    Dear Friends and Colleagues ~

    Hello from Space! I'm on an Atlas V-541 rocket hurtling toward Mars with the mission of delivering the Perseverance Rover to explore the surface of the Red Planet!

    In July 2020 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) launched our spaceship from balmy Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA, Earth. We're due to reach the dusty planet, at Jezero Crater, on February 18, 2021.

    With the 313,586,649 frequent flyer miles I'll accrue (504,668,791 km; we didn't do so well in the States with the metric system!), I'll visit all the other planets in the solar system. This includes Little Pluto, who at heart still considers himself one of the Big Boys.

    After all that spacing out, I'll return to Earth relaxed, refreshed, renewed, and ready to tackle any challenges the future brings.

    Take care!

    Best wishes,
    Laura

    ------------------------------
    Laura J. Peskin
    Independent Educational Writer
    Space
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Take 5 with TESOL!

    Posted 18 days ago

    Hi Natalie,

    Thanks for discussing this important issue.

    One idea for self-care that I love came from Patrice Palmer's book,  (The Teacher Self-Care Manual: Simple Self-Care Strategies for Stressed Teachers).  It often feels like we're rushing from thing to thing, from helping kids remote learn to doing our own teaching to cooking dinner to running errands to paying bills.

    So trying to create a brief transition space, even 5-10 minutes of relaxing between tasks really helps me from getting too stressed out and it lets me mentally shut off what I was doing and start focusing on the next task. My son has me addicted to Mario Kart, so I've been hopping on that for 5 minutes to transition, but sometimes I'll check a Facebook group of jokes I really like, or doodle on my pad, or watch the birds out my window.

    Just something to shut my mind off for a minute before going to the next thing!

    Hope that helps!

    Best,

    Walton



    ------------------------------
    Walton Burns
    Freelance Writer
    Senior Editor, Alphabet Publishing
    www.waltonburns.com
    www.alphabetpublishingbooks.com
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Take 5 with TESOL!

    Posted 17 days ago
    Very timely!  In the fall at our local Three Rivers TESOL conference I did a session on 'self-compassion' that was recorded.  I am sharing it here in case anyone would like to take some space for themselves and their students.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUBWMGOaGXU&list=PL5CnfAlr6W5O1zsxB7xI3kGudbwn73cuz&index=2&t=22s

    We truly are all in this together!


    ------------------------------
    Janine Carlock
    Assistant Professor
    Duquesne University, ESL Programs
    Pittsburgh, PA
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    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Take 5 with TESOL!

    Posted 15 days ago
    Hello Natalie!
    Very important and interesting topic you chose. When I want to relax, I listen to songs. It doesn't matter whether it is in my native language or foreign language. The most important thing is it should be close to my soul. Even in the classroom I often use songs with lyrics on various topics. I think it can motivate students and start the day positively.

    ------------------------------
    Khurshida Eshimova
    School number 91
    Uzbekistan
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    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Take 5 with TESOL!

    Posted 15 days ago
    Hello Natalie!
    Very important and interesting topic you chose. I totally agree that teachers should have a good rest and pay more attention on well-being. When I want to relax, I usually listen to songs. It doesn't matter whether it's in my native language or foreign language. The most essential thing is the music's closeness to my soul. Moreover, I often find out positive effect of songs on my students in the classroom. Songs with lyrics are their favourite. So I can advise you a good song to start your day positively!

    Hope that works with you too!

    Good Luck!

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    Khurshida Eshimova
    School number 91
    Uzbekistan
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    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Take 5 with TESOL!

    Posted 14 days ago
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    Dear Natalie!

     Self-care is an equally important issue for everyone in the current global pandemic environment, including me.
    Right now, with work, study, and family worries, I feel like I just lack self-care. If I had the chance, I would go to countryside, forget about all the worries for a while, admire the bubbling stream,  watch the children flying kites happily, bask in the warmth of the sun and enjoy the awakening of nature.

     In Uzbekistan, where I live, spring is in full swing, and many people are tired of the frost of winter and have missed spring so much. In the spring, our mountains are especially green, and tulips spread on the slopes like a crimson carpet. In the gentle breeze, children happily compete by flying their kites in different shapes into the sky.

    </c-wiz>

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    Nigora Karimova
    Specialized school #6
    Uzbekistan
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    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Take 5 with TESOL!

    Posted 13 days ago
      |   view attached
    Hello everyone,

    I hope it's not too late to share my self-care moment with you.
    I usually go out for a walk as time-off from my daily routine.
    I'm sending you a ray of sunshine from Tunisia 🌞
    Take care and stay safe!

    Best
    Yousra

    ------------------------------
    Ms. Yousra Ferchichi
    Tunisia
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    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Take 5 with TESOL!

    Posted 13 days ago
    Hello Natalie and everyone,

    I love spending time baking fresh bread of many varieties with homegrown sourdough starter; the physical act of kneading is therapeutic and relaxing for me. Starting my day with hot-from-the-oven bread and butter paired with a favorite mug filled with freshly made coffee is soul-healing.

    I have also learned to forgive myself, something I found incredibly difficult in the past. If I am feeling overwhelmed and guilty for, say not washing every single dish in the sink and putting off that last pan for tomorrow, I tell myself to take a moment and forgive myself. The pan can wait; my mental health is more important. Being kind to myself not only physically but mentally has been my biggest lesson learned in self-care the past few months.


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    Erin Cho
    Cultural Exchange Facilitator
    USA
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    Original Message