Inspiration

Inspiration can come from all sources. These videos have inspired and encouraged me. 

Not all are about teaching and not all are in English,

but hopefully ALL will do the same for you...

Dyslexia 

1 HBO's Journey into Dyslexia

If you can find this documentary anywhere, make sure to watch it. You will not see Dyslexia the same way ever again!

Watch the trailer! 

2  MIT Prof Catherine Drennan on her Dyslexia and its advantages 

Aesthetics and Culture

1 The most feared song in Jazz 

This is a masterpiece of video essaying and also a truly inspiring example of how even the most complex idea can be explained.  No wonder this short video won an Emmy Award. 

It is also just one of many truly inspiring journalistic pieces by series producer Estelle Caswell. Here's a link to the whole VOX Earworm Series.

It is hard to mention which I think to be the best, so I won't.

(But here's a few hints: Cello, S. Wonder, Repetition, Atretha.)

2 Style and language in the media

Brilliant Steve Pinker in a brilliantly funny talk about language style and correctedness in the era of instant media. Nor just for language lovers!

It might give you ammunition to use split infinitives, the singular "they", dangling participles, or sentence-ending prepositions guilt-free!

3 Benjamin Zander - The transformative power of classical music

One of the most entertaining and moving talks on the web. This is how you engage an audience (or a class)!

Teaching / Learning 

1 Discovery approaches to teaching.

2 Why Finland's schools outperform the rest of the world.

In case you were wondering...

3 Sir Ken Robinson, "Changing Education Paradigms" 

Identity

Scottish Laureate poet Christine de Luca talks about growing up speaking Shetlandic in this poetic manifesto that shows the fluid boundaries of language and calls to value and understand identity as it intertwines with mother tongues. 

Happiness

1 Food for thought

3 minutes. And her speech lasts only half of that.  

Listen to Mrs Gerda Weissmann Klein's powerful, loving message. 

2 Food for the heart

A couple in lockdown in Spain, singing "Color esperanza" (the colour of hope). 

In English:

"I want to ask you to stay inside, but dance and sing. Enjoy and  be glad however you can..."

I know that windows can open, 

That changing airs is up to you,

It will help you and is worth it

To know that we can,

To believe that we can. 

Throw your fears away, shake them off,

Paint your face the colour of hope

and tempt the future with your heart. 

I know the impossible can happen,

That sadness will eventually fade,  

And life will change and change. 

Your soul will soar 

While you sing once more. 

 

Know that you can,

Believe that you can,

Throw away your fears, shake them off. 

Paint your face with the colour of hope 

and tempt the future with your heart. 

 

Know it can happen,

Want it to happen.