Hi, I’m Carrie!

This summer I am trying out a new hobby. I am turning 54 in July and I am starting to feel the effects of aging. It’s harder to get up off the floor, my balance isn’t as good as it used to be… I am not the first year teacher I once was…

I started taking yoga classes this summer (which kind of makes me feel like the 99 year old yogi in the Los años dorados unit), and they’re teaching me a lot more than just yoga! It actually got me thinking about how our students feel when they are in our classrooms. Learning language is a lot like “skill based” activities we might learn as adults. You can’t just memorize the names of all the moves or the plays of your new “game” and become good at it. Your body and your ability grows as you remain active in your practice of the skill.

Every week, I attend three classes. On Tuesdays, I take Flow + Stretch. On Wednesdays, Flow. On Fridays, it’s Flow + Align. They’re all yoga, but the skill sets are (much like my language classroom) very different. They’re not just different because of their names, they’re different because of the teachers. I love them all, but they really open my eyes to being a newbie student in a skill based activity.

On Tuesday in Flow + Stretch, I have found my perfect i+1. Krashen describes i+1 as the spot where language learners consume material that is slightly above their current proficiency level. That’s what flow + stretch is to me. I am comfortable but slightly challenged. Looking around that class, there are people who can do SO MUCH MORE, but they are enjoying the slower pace as they add their own little flair to the poses. There are no poses that I can’t do and, in this class, I am a little wobbly, but I can do it all on my own. It’s a great confidence boost with a little challenge on the side!

On Wednesday, I take Flow… Or should I say, Flow takes me… out. It is tough. I sweat a LOT. There are poses that I have to adapt because I can’t quite do them. I use bolsters, blocks, straps, and sometimes just my knees to save myself when I’m in over my head. It’s a little harder for me to clear my head and just be present in this class because I am self-conscious and also I have to work so hard to hold the poses. And don’t even get me started on how glad I am to hear “take your savasana”. Meanwhile, there are people (even newbies) who are very flexible and in shape and are doing them like they have been coming forever!

The funny thing is, in both of those classes there are people who are newer than me who are more flexible and have better balance and there are people who have been coming longer who are still doing adapted poses… Not everyone’s i+1 is the same. Day by day, class by class, or month by month, we are all growing but at our own pace.

On Friday I have Flow + Align. This is a great class because there is very little sweating. It’s actually just the i for me, there’s really no +1. But you know what? I love that. It’s great to end the week with some awesome stretching and moving that just feels good. I can actually enjoy it (especially when he adds the sound bowls to our poses as we cool down).

From level 1 to level 4, my language classes have all of these types of days. Some days, a student feels like they’re right at i+1. They understand everything that’s happening and even feel like they’re learning something. Other days, they feel really challenged… maybe even a little frustrated. I am a motivated yoga student paying money to be in my Wednesday class… a student in my language classroom is not necessarily feeling the same way, so I can’t do too many days like this if I want to keep students hanging on. (And remember, what feels too challenging differs from student to student, so there are a lot of things to be watching every day.)

I want to encourage you to not miss out on the Flow + Align. That Friday vibe I have of the class being something to really look forward to. Something that feels good and let’s me show what I have learned so far. Something that doesn’t push me until I feel weak, self-conscious, or hot-flashy.

When we look at materials for our language classrooms, we can’t discount a Wednesday class challenge now and then. Units, readings, topics that stretch them are important to our learners… but we have to temper those with Tuesday and Friday classes. Give them days where they feel nothing but confidence. The materials are easy, the discussion flows, the class is vibing! Give them days that feel like i+1. They’re learning, but they are still feeling confident as they flex their new skills. Let’s help them stay confident so they will put more time into their practice and grow whatever their pace.

As you have a little time off this summer, I challenge you to try a new hobby that puts you back in the seat of being a learner. (Maybe you’re a new parent this summer… or adopted a puppy… you’re right in that place, don’t do anything else!) Seeing i+1 in action in my life is a great way to reflect on my practice before I head back to my classroom in August!

Namaste!