I call my teaching approach C-elt
image taken from here
I really enjoyed reading the posts of my PLN about their teaching approaches. I thought we have lots of things in common, the flexibility, being student centred, etc. However, I tried to name mine. I guess my teaching approach is more or less similar but let’s look at the classroom as a kitchen with me.
Yes, I decided to associate my teaching with cooking. I love cooking. It is relaxing. It allows you to create things by mixing the most common ingredients. Cooking cheers me up and I love watching the faces when they eat the food I cook.
Cooking is very similar to teaching because cooking is a process that you choose your ingredients, tools and methods and create very delicious meals. Sometimes although you use the same ingredients, the result can be totally different from the previous ones then you should be careful to season or decorate it before you serve.
So the kitchen is my classroom. I have many fool proof recipes that I heavily rely on if things are though. These recipes are from people I trust. I’ve been using them for years and they work well.
Sometimes I have limited ingredients in my kitchen. Then I try to season the food with the herbs I have. Even the simplest dish can become something delicious if you know which herb you can use with the ingredients you have.
There are days that I usually don’t have any idea what to put on the table. I tend to improvise then. Some left-overs, some must-have-ready-made food on the shelves will rescue me.
And of course there are those special days that I can have tonnes of ingredients and time to prepare a feast.
If I need to name my teaching approach I will call it C-elt ( cooking-elt).
If you enjoyed reading this post, you’d probably like to read the followings more:
What’s your approach called? Mine’s called ‘EmLT’ by Jason Renshaw
Guest post by Ceri Jones: What’s your approach called? Mine’s called ‘SLIL’
My Teaching Approach: DJ ELT by Mike Harrison
FlexiMoti’ approach by Marisa Pavan
And have you named your style yet?
💡 Want practical lesson plans, ready-to-use classroom materials, and AI tips delivered straight to your inbox every week? Join my free newsletter below:
Great post!
Marisa said this has been a great way to look at our practice and reflect on how we teach, and I do agree with her.
Love your Cooking ELT =)
Thanks Mike, actually I first I thought I’m also a DJ kind but then decided it’s more like mum in the kitchen.
E.
I loved your C-Elt Eva!!! I have to admit I’ve been struggling with naming (and even really identifying) my own teaching methodology ever since I read Jason’s blog where he proposed the challenge. And reading all these great ideas and analogies you guys are coming up with makes it even harder 😉
Like you I identify myself (and see my teaching practice) in all of your methodologies… I just don’t seem to be clever enough to come down with the individualities of it, what makes it mine – and especially putting a name to it!
I love the analogy and I agree with you that it’s much like Mike’s DJ-Elt, but bringing it to cooking makes it more yours and brings more of the affection to it.
And I loved the “not knowing what to serve, so we put some leftovers on the table” bit… So true! Yes, we’re great at creating new dishes, reinventing traditional ones, serving comfort food…but everyone eats leftovers once in a while – and there’s nothing wrong about that!!!
Will keep thinking of mine! Great post!
What a great idea! Does teaching the C-elt inevitably make you hungry because I really want to eat now.
And thanks for putting the links to all the approaches at the end too – this is a fascinating meme.
Hi Eva, I love the cooking analogy – one of my favourites too.
My cooking strategy usually involves opening the fridge/cupboard, seeing what’s there and making an on-the-spot decision depending on my mood and who I’m cooking for.
Works pretty well for lessons too 😉
And thanks for all the links. I hadn’t seen Mike’s. Going to check it out now.
What a great analogy and way of conceptualising your personal teaching menu!
My centre (CELT !) is with you all the way!!!
😀
Marisa
Hi Cecilia, Tony, Ceri and Marisa,
I’m so glad that you love the idea of cooking and teaching together. Aren’t they very similar to each other?
Thanx 🙂