NLP Essentials for Teachers

NLP ESSENTIALS FOR TEACHERS

The Art of Encouraging Excellence in your Students

GAYE O’BRIEN

Part I

Introduction to NLP

Chapter 1

What is NLP?

We can change our whole life and the attitudes of people around us simply by changing ourselves–Rudolf Dreidurs

Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) is a process which models those people who have developed successful strategies and obtained excellent results, using appropriate language and physiology, and supportive values and beliefs.

Definition of NLP

Neuro is about the nervous system and the five senses: visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, olfactory and gustatory, which are located there. The experiences of the five senses are processed and interpreted through the internal filters.

Linguistics refers to the ability to code, order and given meaning to experiences in: pictures, sounds, feelings, tastes, smells and self talk.

Programming is discovering and using the neurological system to achieve specific outcomes.

NLP is about using language consciously to obtain maximum results and desired outcomes. In teaching, NLP is applied by teachers using appropriate language and having supportive values and beliefs, to teach and coach students through the learning process. Teachers gain rapport with students, teach to their learning styles and are then able to maximize their students’ results.

Brief History of NLP

NLP originated in the 1970s in the U.S.A when Richard Bandler, John Grinder and others examined people who were excellent communicators, and then modelled their communication systems.

They modelled the most effective communicators of their generation. Therapist Milton Erickson, with his artfully vague use of metaphor, effected profound change in individuals for sixty years.

Virginia Satir achieved excellent results in therapeutic settings as a family therapist. She had an impressive ability to develop rapport with her clients by asking them very specific questions using their own language patterns.

Fritz Perls who developed Gestalt Therapy, was also operating in a powerful and effective way. He was using the same sequences of patterns that you will find in the work of Erickson and Satir (Bandler & Grinder, 1979).

Today

Now NLP is used across a range of different settings including: therapeutic practice, weight loss clinics, business, entertainment and in education. NLP practitioners across a range of settings have achieved successful outcomes by adopting supportive beliefs and choosing language that allows clients to overcome their limitations and achieve their goals.

Review Questions

1. How would you define NLP?

2. What excellent practices do you currently model with your students?

3. What techniques would you like to include in your classroom to enhance the learning outcomes of your students?

Chapter 2

Why Train Teachers in NLP?

Be the change you want to see in the world-Mahatma Gandhi

Research projects about the effect of NLP in education have been carried out and documented in the United Kingdom.

One project was carried out in Durham County in 2006 with staff from four schools taking part in the pilot study. The schools were chosen because of their previous interest and use of innovative techniques with their students.

Each school nominated a few staff to participate in the program and learn the NLP techniques which will be explored throughout this book. The project was designed to examine the possible impact of a variety of NLP based interventions in schools, with teaching and learning as the focus of the research.

Teachers tested techniques including the circle of excellence, embedded Milton Model language patterns and commands, a positive learning state, the NLP spelling technique and the use of social stories and music. These were trialled at strategic times to create a readiness for learning. Using the NLP spelling technique, student results improved markedly from 18% receiving a full score in week 1 to 71% receiving a full score in week 3.

The results from these projects have indicated that there are many advantages for the students, in having teachers trained in NLP. This has been particularly evident where teachers are interested in exploring the process, and have received follow up support from trainers of NLP (Tosey, 2009).

The report compiled about the project indicated the following results.

Teachers trained in NLP:

• Use their value and belief system to assist students to learn more easily

• Reframe students limiting beliefs and thought processes to help them achieve learning goals

• Ask better questions to determine the student values

• Use powerful language patterns to foster learning

• Calibrate, pace and lead students to develop rapport (see Glossary for the meaning of these words)

• Create and maintain positive student behavior in the classroom

• Challenge unwanted behaviors and habits and allow students to be more open to learning

• Promote highly effective and easily achievable learning states through imaginative processes

• Develop and encourage the strengths of students

• Have a highly developed understanding of different learning styles of children

• Use a highly interactive teaching approach

• Challenge resistance to learning

• Enhance student self esteem, self awareness and personal identity

• Reframe the perception of student failure by giving quality feedback to improve student performance

• Manage the intervention of learning according to student needs

Adapting NLP techniques and supporting beliefs and values allows teachers to cater for student learning needs within a flexible and changing environment.

Review Questions

1. What are the challenges you encounter in the classroom?

2. Which ones would you be interested in solving through the use of NLP techniques?