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Writer's pictureAneta Zofia Mazurek

A perfect learning state

Updated: Nov 8, 2024

Learning about a perfect learning state through experience.


I think I know what it is. It happens when a student feels positive, confident, resourceful and relaxed.

Great! Every single teacher would love to work with students who are in this positive zone! But students are often tired after school, sleepy, worried, triggered, and stressed...


As a language tutor, what can I do to create a perfect learning ambience?




Let's take, for example, Arkadiusz, who is bilingual and speaks English and Polish. His dominant language is English. He uses it every day at school and during play with his friends. He needs support in writing in Polish and in structuring more complex sentences, that are grammatically correct.

During our lesson, we dive into the fascinating biography of Tadeusz Kościuszko and how he influenced freedom movements in Poland and the USA. We discover that he tried to give back dignity and freedom to the peasants in Poland. He inspired peasants to fight with him in 1794 and even wore the peasant outfit "sukmana" during battles.



Tadeusz Kościuszko leading peasants during the battle wearing "sukmana." Source: Panorama Racławicka, Wrocław
Panorama Racławicka

Arkadiusz is focused. He loves the ideas and the story. He commences to write a short blog about this amazing Polish hero! This lesson is a truly amazing learning experience for both of us. However, while he is in the flow I ask:


Czy możemy teraz zrobić trochę gramatyki. Mój uczeń odpowiada tak, ale czuję, że to pytanie wybija go z dobrego nastroju. Mimo to kontynuuję, moim celem jest popracować nad końcówkami rzeczownika w bierniku na przykładzie zdań: Przebiera się za........ (potwór). Arkadiusz próbuje potworem, potwór, potworu, ale nie znajduje prawidłowej odpowiedzi. Pytam, czy jego młodszy brat lubi sie przebierać. To zapytanie wywołuje u chłopca chichot, widać, że śmieszą go zabawy młodszego brata. Tak odpowiada, lubi przebierać się za królika. Bingo!




What spontaneous approach did I use to bring back the flow and attention?


Arkadiusz is back. He laughed and forgot about the scary grammar. His mind relaxed and instantly found the information, that he already acquired in many conversations with family. First I used a phrase grammar . My student immediately shut down. Than I used not only my empathy, but also compassion for a person in front of me who suddenly struggled.

And I got him out of that state, by provoking laughter, which brought him back into a relaxed and focused zone.






What do I take from this experience and what do I learn from my students?

The perfect learning state for students is when they are full of joy, they are happy and calm - they are playing!









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