Video gallery

These video recordings are taken from longer interviews conducted with a number of ELT practitioners who have been influenced by humanistic principles in  their work as teachers, trainers, materials writers, and one as a publisher. A few names will be recognisable as the authors of teacher’s resource books that have been particularly influential in disseminating and popularising humanistic approaches to language teaching and learning, while others are known for their activity in different fields of ELT. What they all have in common is a belief in the importance of regarding the learner as a whole person.

The humanistic turn in ELT has never been a precisely defined method, but rather an orientation inspired by what learners bring to the classroom in terms of their personal histories and psychologies. It sees the learner as an individual with distinctive capacities, able to make a personal contribution to the learning process, and validates the impact of this personal dimension on the ways in which student and teacher experience the learning process.

All the interviewees reflect on what humanism in language teaching means to them, and how their belief in humanistic values affects key aspects of their practice as teachers. Some common themes emerge: learner-centredness, learner engagement, the importance of reflective practice; but as different individuals discuss their particular areas of interest – testing and assessment, intercultural awareness, teaching phonology, the place of technology in language teaching and learning, teacher training and professional development – it becomes clear that humanism is a philosophy of teaching that informs how they are and everything they do as language educators: classroom management, error correction, giving feedback, use of the mother tongue – in short, all the roles and functions of the language teacher.

The video recordings, which provide in-depth reflection from a selection of the practitioners whose profiles appear on the HLT website, should be of interest to researchers, trainers and teachers who may be aware of humanism in language teaching, but want to learn more about how humanistic principles can permeate every aspect of language education.

When accessing any of the videos, you might find it useful to consider this task sequence:

1. Expectations before you watch

Have a look at the interviewee’s profile on the HLT website. Find out about their professional history, their books and articles and their special interests in ELT.

• What do you hope to learn from the interview?
• What questions would you ask if you were the interviewer?

2. Reactions while you watch

• Do any of the ideas discussed in the interview answer your questions?
• Are you surprised (or shocked) by any of the interviewee’s responses?
• What is new to you? What would you like to learn more about?

3. Actions after you watch

All the interviewees talk about their understanding of humanism in ELT. Think about how their ideas relate to your own practice as a language teacher or trainer.

Think about the class you are currently teaching, and your next lesson with them. Or think about a new class you will be teaching in the near future.

• What principles and / or practical suggestions mentioned in the interview might influence your next lesson or your next class?
• What will you try out?
• What will you change?