Transcript

Interviewer

Now could you tell me in your view, what specific skills you think are required when listening to children and young people?

Meera

I think there are a couple of skills that are needed something that I have been really conscious of in my teaching practice is where I stand in the classroom. And by this I mean, a lot of the time, I was sitting at the front of the classroom. And throughout this process, and even in previous kind of research projects, I’ve always tried to move around the classroom, sit with students to position yourself differently in the classroom really helps to move away from them seeing us this voice authoritative voice of being the one reaffirming their voices.

Whereas having students come up to the front teaching from the front at times, and moving around the classroom kind of breaks that physical barrier. I think that’s really lovely. And also when you are having groups tables being able to sit down with students, crouch down also to be able to be attentive. Have that eye contact. Make sure that you are asking questions that are directly relevant to what they are saying. I think that makes them feel incredibly valued.

So I’m encouraging others to kind of inquire. So once you said something, you can open that. Yes, I really value that. But what do you think? And seeing yourself as a mediator and a facilitator as opposed to seeing yourself as a teacher as somebody who’s the one confirming a student’s response, or saying that’s the correct response. I think that’s very difficult as a teacher, because you’re kind of trained to do that. However, it’s kind of unlearning those processes before you relearned some other ones.