How to talk about TPRS/CI without creating resistance so people will listen

When we started doing workshops on TPRS, people used to show a lot of resistance, or even react with anger to what we were saying. In the nine years since we started, we have gradually adapted our manners and reached a way of presenting that makes our audience feel (mostly) good and acknowledged, even if they do not agree with the content of our workshop. We learned by trial and error, mostly, and by watching presenters like Susan Gross, Beth Skelton and Laurie Clarcq, who have helped us enormously in developing our personal style.

I came across a video by Julian Treasure about how to make people listen to what you're saying, and everything I learned in my almost two decades of training teachers sort of clicked into place. I hope that this summary of my mistakes, our insights and the wisdom of the great presenters that inspired us will help you be a better presenter than you already are. 

Ways to loose your audience

Julian Treasure identifies 7 speakers' sins. I have chosen the ones that I have experienced. Have you experienced any of the others? Please share! 

Speaking ill

Once, during a presentation, a teacher asked me what I thought of method X. I said that I liked the idea of method X, but that I had heard (which was true) that students who were taught with that method could speak, but didn't know what they were saying. I still cringe when I think of that moment. It was a huge mistake. Even when what I said was true - I had heard this from different, independent sources - it was, of course, taken as harsh criticism of the method, and the negative emotions this evoked among the audience were projected upon TPRS. So, do not speak ill of other ways of teaching, or of people with different beliefs. 

Judging

The people in your audience all have their own history. They have all been trying to teach as best as they can, or maybe they have just been trying to survive in their jobs. There is no need to make them feel like what they have been doing so far is wrong. Do not judge them. You don't know where they're coming from.  There is another good reason to make them feel good, apart from being respectful to other people’s beliefs, and that is: people who leave your workshop feeling bad will focus their bad feelings on TPRS. They may even start to speak ill of TPRS, just because of how they felt during the workshop. 

Negativity

Any negative remarks you utter steers your audience into focusing more on negative things or seeing everything in less positive way.  So even if you are in a room that is too small for the number of people in it, or the markers do not write well, simply do not mention it, or try to bend it into a positive thing: "this is really cosy sitting so close together". 

Dogmatism: confusion of facts with opinions

When we first started presenting on TPRS, we would say things like "this is the best way to teach language", and "teaching grammar rules does not work". People would walk away or get angry. We soon understood that imposing our opinion on them was not the way to go. We may think TPRS is the best thing that ever happened to us in our professional life, this doesn't mean that it is the best thing for everyone. And even if we believe this is so, trying to convince others usually has the opposite effect. People don't like to be told what they should believe.

Keeping your audience with you

Ok, so now we know what NOT to do. But what attitudes will help us keep our audience with us? Treasure has four simple but effective strategies. 

Honesty: be clear and straight

When you're being honest about what you feel and experience, you open up to people, and invite them to be open to you. Being honest can be about very simple things. Are you feeling nervous? Say that you're feeling nervous. As soon as you say it, you will feel less nervous, and your audience will soften because all of a sudden you make them see that you're just a person like they are. Don't you know the answer to a question? Be honest and say you don’t know, ask for the person’s e-mail address and say you will find out and get back to them. They will appreciate your honesty and the extra effort you will be putting into answering their question. 

Authenticity: be yourself

Showing your enthusiasm about what you are doing and achieving in your classroom is very inspiring. Admitting that you are not perfect, that teaching with TPRS gives you energy on one side but also costs you effort, or that you make mistakes, will make it more easy for people to accept what you are saying. Also, admitting that something you do or know was originated by a personal need can be very rewarding. One presenter once said he knew so much about body language because he had had to work hard on his own body language. Confessions like this make the audience see that there is a personal history behind what you do, and that it is not just some random belief. 

Integrity: be your word

In your classroom, you are doing everything you can to respect your students and allow them to acquire the language at their own pace. You invite them to participate, you welcome their ideas and celebrate their experiences. Show this attitute also when you talk about TPRS. Be open and friendly. Give high fives for great questions. Look for interactive ways to process information. Be a TPRS teacher. 

Love: wish them well

Be patient and kind. Everyone who is in your workshop has their own history and may come from a very different place. Keep in mind that most of us have come from a completely different way of teaching as well. Some of us have seen the beauty of TPRS in a sudden insight, others have walked a long road before getting there.  Most people need time to process, to think and to overcome insecurity before they accept new ideas. Some people will never accept them. That is their right. Wish them well all the same. 

This can be hard. If people react in a manner that feels like resistance to you, you may feel defensive and angry. You may be stuck for a moment, not able to think of a kind and patient answer. There is a great trick you can use. Say "that is an interesting question/remark. Would anyone like to reflect on that?" Simply ask for feedback from the audience. There are always people who agree with what you have said and who will reply according to the message you are trying to send. Having the audience reply first gives you time to think over your answer. It also sends the message that it is not just you saying something random, but that it actually resonates with what others do and feel. 

Thank you for reading!

I really look forward to reading your response to this blog, since it is a topic very dear to me.