[Kieran]

Hi Maria Penya,

Thanks for very for replying to Julie’s comment on empathy levels in Argentina. You make a very good point about how the pandemic has also brought about more empathy as COVID affects everyone.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Maria Penya,

Thanks very much for your great answers!

I really like Krznaric’s definition of empathy and the way we deconstructed it in class: Empathy is the capacity of stepping IMAGINATIVELY into the shoes of another person, UNDERSTANDING THEIR FEELINGS and using this to guide our actions towards them. I find it accurate because it is a prosocial attitude, and I find that being prosocial is a good synonym of being empathic.

I like the way you express this. Krznaric’s definition of empathy is the most succinct and useful one I’ve seen. agree with you that being prosocial is a good synonym of being empathic.

I found it surprising that parent-child attachment is so essential to empathy. Would this mean that children awaiting an adoption in certain countries perhaps will never feel empathy or will be less emphatic?

According to the research parent-child attachment in the first three is vital. Your question about children waiting adoption is a very important one. It would seem that children who don’t form this parent-child attachment early on in childhood are much more likely to development detachment disorders. However, this is not to say that adopted children cannot forma close attachment to a parent later on. Here’s a link to more information about detachment disorders and their treatment.

I do not completely agree with Baron -Cohen saying that empathy acts like a universal balm. In any case, it could act like a personal balm, but still… This is my reasoning: I am very empathic, maybe too much. My husband says that I get involved too much and then I care too much, I feel too much and I can’t shake it off and I have a hard time. I have friends who are also like this.

This is a very good point. It is certainly possible to care too much and there is a phenomena called empathy fatigue which especially affects people in the caring professions. Here’s a link to an article on empathy fatigue.

Maybe it’s a south Mediterranean trait and that’s why Julie says French people are more empathic than Greeks ?

As far as I know there isn’t any research into differences in empathy levels in people from Mediterranean countries and other regions. However, there is some research and theory suggests that empathy might be higher in collectivistic countries that value the interconnection between individuals. On the other hand, the few studies that directly compare countries suggest that trait empathy might be lower in collectivistic countries compared to individualistic countries. So the issue of levels of empathy in particular countries appears to be a very complex one. Here’s a link to a paper on empathyy in 63 different countreis. The results are somewhat surprising: The countries with the highest Total Empathy scores were Ecuador, Saudi Arabia, Peru, Denmark, and the United Arab Emirates. The countries with the lowest Total Empathy scores were Lithuania, Venezuela, Estonia, Poland, and Bulgaria.

Anyway, my being empathic may or may not help others, and therefore may or may not be a balm. I do agree though with Simon Baron-Cohen and David Howe saying that without empathy democracy is impossible. This is different, because If you don’t care and feel for others, you cannot give them solutions, let alone rule a country under democracy.

Absolutely. Democracy declines or is even impossible without empathy.

I don’t feel there’s an empathy deficit in my local context, it is a small town and there’s a strong sense of community compared to larger cities.

Community activities seem to be great at fostering empathy.

However, I do feel that this deficit exists in general in the world, perhaps because politicians in general showcase their words and acts so much and (again in general) these are not a good example of empathy because (in general) these words and acts do not match.

Politicians are not often the best role models of an empathic person although there are notable exceptions.

Also football players, bands and those who are under the social spotlight show little empathy, and this is the example that society in general follows.

Good point.

Despite this, I think (was it Mariana that mentioned it?) that social media can help in fostering empathy, since they are a fast and cheap way of being in touch with friends and family, and sometimes it’s easier to write about your feelings than to talk about them.

Yes. Social media can definitely help us stay in touch with family and friends, connect us with others we previously wouldn’t have been able to know.

Thanks again for your excellent responses, Maria Penya.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Mariana,

Thanks very much for your great evaluation of the framework and viewing guides.

1. I believe that the framework would be very beneficial for extensive viewing. Doing all the prep work before actually watching it would definitely help in terms of comprehension, getting students to think about the topics, activate schemata etc.

Absolutely. There is a lot of preparation work before watching the film but it all aids comprehension.

I’m a bit wary of giving students a list of 100-200 lexical items to read over before watching. I would be curious about how many of them would actually read the glossary, and if at some point they even stop noticing the lexis. I see the great value of the glossary, but I wonder how students can interact with it beyond a list.

Many teachers are not too keen on such extensive glossaries. However, as only students at very high levels will understand the majority of the lexis in the film, the extensive glossary is an essential part of the guide as it pre-teachers or primes students for the lexis they are going to encounter in the film. To move away from it being a mere list of vocabulary items, there are three example sentences for each item which helps to contextualise the vocabulary and also make it more memorable.

2. I looked at the Viewing Guides for Me Before You and Little Miss Sunshine. From my perspective, the post viewing questions are really where empathy can shine bright. During the film, we can see the struggles the characters are facing, but the questions allow us to think deeply about how disability or beauty pageants are portrayed, as well as to reflect on how it was to “walk in their shoes” for the duration of the film.

Definitely. The Post-viewing questions on character and story can help students empathise deeply with the characters.

I would definitely add trigger and/or content warnings to the viewing guides.

Absolutely. It may be necessary to warn students about certain content.

Thanks again for your great evaluation, Mariana.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Mariana,

Thanks very much for your great answers!

1. Many of my private students are women from different parts of Latin America. I have actually already read “House on Mango Street”- One of the things they really loved was that it is short. It can be read quite easily, as you mention.

I think this is a great choice especially for your students. As I mentioned in a comment in the previous Topic, having characters students can identify with is a great way of developing empathy.

We used it to find similarities between their experience of living in Berlin and the characters’ experience in Chicago.

I love this idea of comparing students’ lives with those of the characters.

2. I haven’t really used graded readers in my classes. I honestly forgot they existed, and most of my students can manage a YA novel without any issues.

3. As Angie mentions, I think it has to do with the time required. Most teachers have a fixed curriculum that has to be taught, and maybe even given a test that students must pass. This definitely limits what teachers can do with extensive reading.

Absolutely. Time is the most commonly stated reason for not implementing Extensive Reading.

Extensive reading might not be included into language learning programs because it’s hard to grade, and schools are obsessed with grades.

Yes. The obsession with grades and certification is not healthy and moves us away from holistic and humanisticeducation.

It might also be the case that many adult students don’t have too much time to read just for fun, and want to “get to the point” fast- despite the benefits.

Yes, I agree. I feel that if schools actually implemented Extensive Reading and Extensive Viewing programmes, they would actually save time in the long run. The effectiveness of Extensive Viewing is one of the few things there’s no debate about in language education, so if we spent less time on activities which are shown to be particularly effective and more time on Extensive Viewing language learning would actually be faster and more effective.

Thanks again for your excellent responses, Mariana.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Angie,

Thanks very much for your excellent answers.

I would choose Refugee Boy as it is a very topical subject.

A good choice, in my opinion. Sadly, it is very topical. The author Benjamin Zephaniah has huge compassion and empathy.

I have used a graded reader at the end of my A1 Spanish course and the students loved it as they were amazed they could already ready books, albeit a graded one. It was a detective story, so not particularly useful for conveying empathy.

Yes. This sense of satisfaction is one of the many benefits of students reading graded readers. As you point out detective stories may not be the best genre for fostering empathy, but here are some detective story and noir authors such as Henning Mankel, George Pelecanos and Walter Mosley who are masters at developing empathy.

Extensive reading takes time, and teachers might feel less in control of what their students are reading. Usually it is encouraged as a hobby, not as an integrated part of class.

These are great points. Extensive Reading does indeed take time but the benefits are so great that the time is fully justified. Teachers giving up control is another reason why Extensive Reading is used more widely. I really think it should be part of any language learning programme as should Extensive Viewing.

Thanks again for your excellent answers, Angie.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Mariana,

Thanks very much for your great answer to the question and evaluation of the activity sheets.

A few years ago, I read a book called “I’m not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter” by Erika L. Sanchez with a group of general English adult students. It’s a YA book with language that was very accessible for my group, even more so because the the character is Mexican-American, so the text included a lot of words in Spanish (my students were Spanish speakers). It was very well received, despite it being about a girl in high school in Chicago.

I love the title of this book! YAF books are very accessible. There are many benefits of having words in the students’ L1 in a text. Having a main character students can identify with can help to foster empathy.

2. As I was going through the different literature activity sheets,and I believe that Empathy Fostering questions and the Character Questions would foster more empathy with my university students. It allows them to really think about the characters, the situation and the whys.

Both the empathy-fostering questions and the character questions work very well and are very robust and flexible. As I mentioned in my reply to Angie’s comments, the shift from asking what happened to why something happened is a hug one.

Empathic roleplay questions would not go down very well with my students, they really don’t like to act.

If they don’t like acting, the roleplay questions are probably not going to work. However, it might be worth giving it a go, as students have probably never been given time to prepare their roleplay and get into the head of their character before, and this might make them more comfortable and confident in performing the roleplay. It’s worth a try!

Thanks again for your great evaluation, Mariana.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Angie,

Thanks very much for your great analysis of the activity sheets.

I used a graded reader with my Spanish A2 students and they were so amazed that they could read a whole story and, with some scaffolding, get it.

When students read a book in a foreign language, even if it’s a graded reader, it’s very satisfying and rewarding for them.

Circle of Viewpoints
I think it is interesting for the same student to slip into multiple roles.

Circle of Viewpoints is one of the best Visible Thinking Routines for developing empathy.

Empathy Fostering Qs
Useful to take the emphasis of the what and put it on the why.

Exactly! The key is the shift from asking what happened to why it happened. This shift is a huge one and wonderful for getting inside the heads of characters.

Reader’s Empathy Workshop
I don’t remember ever talking about feelings in school. Think this would be great.

It’s such a shame that there’s so little focus on emotions in learning. If we don’t don’t about feelings it’s diffcult to become emotionally literate.

Character Qs
Many, detailed and varied. Will select depending on the story.

There are a wide variety of character questions. As you point out, you would select the questions that best fit the narrative you’re working on.

Roleplay Qs
Good for deeping the role playing.

Absolutely. These questions really help students get into their character. Rarely do we give students enough time to get inside the head of their character.

Thanks again for your great analysis, Angie.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Angie,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful and insightful response to the question.

When I am in the classroom, or speaking to a student, I am completely present. That is why I am going back to teaching. The complete presence is great for the student, but also for myself.

Great point! Being completely present is very challenging but immensely rewarding both for the students and teacher. I worked as an academic coordinator for a couple of years and hated it. The only time I was happy at work was when I was teaching because I could be completely present with my students.

I try to listen to what students say and remember it. So that they feel seen and heard in my classroom.

This active listening is fundamental to being present and empathic. Students really do notice if the teacher is really present and listening to them.

I enter the classroom with enthusiasm and expect the same of my students. Usually it’s contagious. If not, I respect the mood of the student.

I completely agree with you that the enthusiasm of the teacher is contagious and something which is overlooked in much teacher training.

I am aware of the language that I use, the difficulty, the tone of my voice and I try to be aware to the degree possible of how something I say may be received.

This is one of the things Bridget Cooper discovered in her research – how empathic teachers are aware of their tone of voice and the language they use.

I am weak on the memory side, I try to remember details about students, but especially in semesters with big classes it is difficult to give individual attention and remember everything.

I think many teachers find this difficult. Making notes about students’ lives and interests etc,. really can help recall.

Thanks again for such a thoughtful and insightful response to the Activity.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Angie,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful response to the questions.

I believe those teachers seemed more empathic that expressed interest in me as a person, asking questions.

Showing interest in the individual student is a key characteristic of an empathic teacher.

There was a teacher who disregarded everyone. But since it was universal, nobody took it personally. He was unhappy with himself.

A teacher who disregards or ignores students can’t be empathic. I think you make a good point when you say, ‘he was unhappy with himself.’ A person who isn’t comfortable with who he/she is, will find it difficult to empathise with others.

He seemed to put effort into getting to know students.

Wanting to get to know all students is a key characteristic of an empathic teacher.

4 Think about your colleagues. Have you got any colleagues who you consider to be very empathic? What do they do and what qualities do they have that them empathic language teachers?

They care, but they are also good at marking boundaries.

Bridget Cooper argues that marking boundaries and having clear and fair rules are characteristics of empathic teachers.

Thanks again for such a thoughtful response to the Activity, Angie.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Julie,

Thanks very much for your great answer!

I would say that I pay particular attention to those students whom I find most vulnerable by listening to them, trying to help and guide them in what they find more difficult in the language.

Giving extra attention to the most vulnerable students is a key trait of a profoundly empathic teacher.

I generally praise them but making sure I don’t overdo it! I make sure the material I choose is appealing for them so that they engage and I can pass on my enthusiasm as well.

Praising students is vital but, as you point out, it’s important not to overdo it as it may come across as insincere.

Perhaps, I would like to pay attention to my tone of voice, I don’t know if I‘m aware of that …

Tone of voice and choice of language are also important.

Thanks again for your excellent response, Julie.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Julie,

Thanks very much for your excellent answers.

Miss Santa Coloma, her name was!

What an interesting name! Encarna, one of the teachers on the course, is from a town near Barcelona called Santa Coloma!

She was our music teacher! She was very positive, smiley and gave us the chance to express ourselves following the rhythms of the songs she played. I remember very vividly how she asked us to tap her music on the desks letting ourselves feel carried away by what we felt. With her, we learned how to enjoy music. She was patient, good-natured, and caring.

Miss Santa Coloma sounds like a lovely teacher. I feel being patient is a prerequisite to being empathy.

2 My language teacher in primary school. She was judgmental and never praised us.

As we’ve already seen on the course being non-judgemental and praising students are two characteristics of empathic teachers.

3 not really! I haven’t learned another language as an adult… maybe I should try!!!

Learning a new foreign language helps us to remember what it’s like to be a language student and may foster empathy for our own students.

4 Yes, most of them are dynamic, patient, have a great sense of humor, and above they are committed.

It’s great to have empathic colleagues! I feel that being committed and having finding a purpose in teaching is a great aid to being empathic.

Thanks again for your excellent answers.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Julie,

Thanks very much for your great answers!

1 I find it extremely interesting! Social skills are as important as the academic ones! The fact that they would spend the first six months cutting off activities if issues arise to concentrate on solving problems is for me extremely innovative!! It is only when kids can deal with emotional skills that they can be better grounded to acquire academic skills more successfully.

Yes. Research does seem to indicate that when children can deal with emotional skills that they can be better grounded to acquire academic skills more successfully so it would seem to make sense to focus more on these social skills.

Empathy is especially essential in education since students need to learn in a safe environment. They spend a lot of their time outside their homes. It is the role of teachers to guarantee that kids interact respecting and taking care of themselves and others in the class.

Yes. Creating this safe environment is key to fostering empathy.

Empathy is also important in that it respects the pace in the learning process each kid has and as a team, they resemble a second family where all the member try to cooperate and as the saying goes, . “Family: like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one. ‘’

That’s a lovely proverb!

3
I think that it can be implemented as one more important subject like math, history, gym in the syllabus. A great opportunity for kids to discuss empathic literature, films and to talk about their lives and worries outside school

I really like your idea of having empathy as another subject in the curriculum and to use narratives to develop this empathy.

Thanks again for your excellent responses, Julie.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Julie,

Thanks so much for your thoughtful response to the questions.

Empathy is the ability to put ourselves in the shoes of the people we interact with, paying attention to how they are feeling and eventually guiding our actions accordingly. It is a complex construct that has some components both cognitive, affective, and empathic concern. The first one, involves the drive to identify other people’s feelings. The second, the affective component or the drive to respond appropriately to those feelings, and lastly, the empathic concern or the drive to care about people’s welfare and take action to help them.

An excellent summary of the three components of emapthy.

Empathy is crucial for humanity! It ‘s an important facet of a society because it’s the fundamental element that keeps the social fabric together, meaning that it helps people recognize themselves as part of the same nature, beyond cultural, ethnic, social, and political differences.

Absolutely. The universal nature of empathy goes beyond cultural, ethnic, social, and political differences.

I agree with Simon Baron-Cohen. He puts forward an optimistic idea. In his opinion problems, no matter what types are at stake can be treated with what he calls the solvent of empathy. So, in his view, any problem immersed in empathy becomes soluble and eventually can operate as a healing balm. Empathy is the element that awakens our ability to feel compassion and through its eyes, any kind of grudge held against another person melts in our hearts.

Yes. Baron-Cohen does seem to be saying that we can overcome any conflict, however, great, if we use empathy.

This is a hard, complex, and not so pleasant process because it strips us of any kind of excuses to hate one another.

I completely agree with you that this empathic process is very difficult to implement effectively.

In our local context, the empathy deficit sadly exists and has worsened after Covid 19. School closures due to COVID-19 have brought significant disruptions to education. In particular, in Argentina, the deficit is the result of more poverty and more inequalityand as a result, opportunites in education for the children whose families can not make ends has deteriorated even more.

Yes. Empathy seems to decline when a society becomes very unequal and there are huge differences between the rich and poor.

Thanks again for such a thoughtful and insightful response to the Activity, Julie.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Encarna,

Thanks very much for introducing yourself. Great to have you on the course.

Your work context must bring its own challenges and rewards. I’m very interested to hear about your “Learning English through Films and Stories” course. As we’ll see on the course the use of narratives is undoubtedly the most effective way of fostering empathy in the classroom.

I’m looking forward to working with you on the course, Encarna.

All the best,

Kieran

[Kieran]

Hi Angie,

Thanks very much for your great answers!

1 How do you feel about the way empathy is taught in schools in Denmark?
I think Denmark is functioning as a role model for other countries in this area.

Yes. I also think Denmark is a role model of how to foster empathy in education. Danish teachers receive specific social and emotional training and the Danish education system and society reap the benefits of this.

2 Can you think of any other reasons why empathy is important in education?
Some children are fortunate to live in a loving empathic environment, but not all.

Absolutely! The importance of meaningful child-parent attachment in the early years to the development of empathy can’t be overstated.

3 How could empathy be better integrated into the school curriculum in your country?
I’m not up to date with the school system these days, but I believe there is more emphasis on fostering moral human beings

The development of morals and values such a social justice and equality are closely linked to the development of empathy.

Thanks again for your excellent responses, Angie.

All the best,

Kieran

[Author]

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