| Five Lessons from Barack Obama | | | | by a belief they're not "qualified" simply because |
| Here are five lessons English as a foreign language | | | | they're not the world's leading authority in their field. |
| teachers can learn from American President-elect | | | | You need to be competent at what you do, of course, |
| Barack Obama. This was adapted from "Six | | | | but the fact is you don't need to be the MOST |
| Marketing Lessons From Barack Obama" by Steve | | | | accomplished, MOST knowledgeable, MOST |
| Harrison which originally appeared as part one of a | | | | credentialed "expert" in your field to be successful. |
| two-part series in his Book Marketing Update print | | | | You do however, need to be very good at presenting |
| newsletter. | | | | yourself and your ideas. Rightly or wrongly, |
| 1. Get feedback from your EFL learners - and USE it | | | | presentation and rapport are often more important |
| Obama sent several dozen drafts of his second book | | | | than "qualifications". |
| "The Audacity of Hope" to friends, media, legislators | | | | Obama hasn't let any apparent lack of qualifications |
| and followed up with them and asked them for | | | | stand in the way of making himself a wealthy, |
| feedback. | | | | best-selling author (3 million copies in print to date) and |
| More importantly, he listened to what they had to say, | | | | finally being elected to the highest political office in the |
| and made changes based on their feedback. Be a | | | | land. You shouldn't let any hole or flaw in your resume |
| good listener, and adapt to the feedback you receive | | | | stop you from getting where you want to go either. |
| like President-elect Barack Obama does. | | | | 4. Work at becoming a master at Developing rapport |
| 2. Be determined and Pleasantly Persistent in Your | | | | with your EFL learners |
| EFL Teaching | | | | Your EFL learners don't care nearly as much about |
| In 20 years of helping authors sell more books, | | | | your credibility as they do about your rapport with |
| marketer Steve Harrison discovered that 95% of all | | | | them and how you can help them. Are you telling your |
| authors give up way too quickly and easily. They're not | | | | own personal story about why you do what you do in |
| determined and persistent. | | | | a way that connects with your learners? Are you |
| Back in 1995, Barack Obama was relatively unknown | | | | telling stories which agitate EFL learner's motivations |
| and trying to get whatever publicity he could. So even | | | | and shows them how much they need the English |
| though he wanted to meet the N'Digo book reviewer, | | | | language communicative skills which you help to |
| he ultimately failed to persuade her to review his book. | | | | provide for them? Do you work at creating a dynamic, |
| But here's the key. He didn't give up. He persisted. | | | | communicative lesson that connects with your learners |
| "He would call me every week and say, 'Did you read | | | | emotions? |
| my book?'" the publisher told the New York Times. | | | | 5. Your Success in Teaching EFL is Up to YOU |
| Successful people like Barack Obama are not | | | | Resist the temptation to dismiss other successful |
| considered pests because they're always friendly, | | | | teachers and professionals as simply being "great |
| always patiently staying in touch and continually | | | | teaqchers or speakers" or think that they are |
| dispersing some new information or slant worth | | | | successful simply because they may be |
| considering. | | | | "well-educated." Instead, watch them and learn if you're |
| Let me ask you, do you have that kind of persistence? | | | | really serious aboutmaking a difference. |
| 3. Don't let any perceived lack of EFL qualifications | | | | President elect Barack Obama knows and practices |
| permanently stop you. | | | | these things as they relate to HIS field ... do you? |
| Many teachers and other professionals are held back | | | | |