My advanced level ESL students are a great bunch of people. They seem interested in learning the English language. They also want to learn new ideas. In my view they have a great desire to learn what they need to be successful in life. So, I try to feed that desire for knowledge in many different ways.
Here is a blog post which provides some useful ideas. It is a list of 16 ideas about how to use the mind to learn well. The list comes from a Integrating the 16 Habits of Mind from www.edutopia.org. You can read the original article. Below, I have summarized and paraphrased the main ideas for my students.
Integrating the 16 Habits of Mind
1. Persist
Keep going. Don’t give up. Ask for help when you need it.
2. Don’t be impulsive
Be patient in the classroom.
3. Listening to Others
Listen well. Don’t look for other people’s mistakes so quickly.
4. Think Flexibly
Consider other ideas.
5. Think About Thinking
Why do you think like you do?
6. Be Accurate
Say your ideas as clearly as possible.
7. Ask Questions
Ask questions, and say “I don’t know” when necessary. That’s a great way to learn.
8. Use Your Past Knowledge
Use what you have learned already when thinking about new problems or questions.
9. Think and Communicate with Clarity
Try not to use words like always, never, or everybody. Be as clear as possible.
10. Learn Through All of the Senses
We learn with all of our senses. Including our sixth sense.
11. Create, Imagine and Innovate
Try not to repeat what has been done already. What changes can you make? What new ideas do you have?
12. Live in Wonder and Awe
Live with passion, Learn with excitement.
13. Take Good Risks
Failure. It is one of the best teachers.
14. Finding Humor
Humor makes everything seem easier and more enjoyable.
15. Think Interdependently
Shared knowledge helps the people around you, including you.
16. Learn Continuously
Learning. It is part of life. Embrace it everyday.