Emotional Intelligence and ELT

ELT teaching is not only about knowledge of a language and the newest teaching techniques. ELT has a psychological dimension too. 

In this article, we are going to talk about emotional intelligence and its importance for successful English teaching.

First and foremost, we are about to clarify what emotional intelligence is. 

The capacity to see, comprehend, and regulate one’s own emotions is just as important as the capacity to express and regulate emotions in others. Some experts even state that EI is much more important for succeeding in life than IQ. 

It is hard to tell whether it is true or not, however, we do agree that an English lesson can’t be successful with a teacher who lacks emotional intelligence and therefore can’t connect with the students properly. And vice versa, it is hard to manage a class where nobody has ever provoked EI and put a strong emphasis on developing it.

The main question remains the following: how do we know whether we are emotionally intelligent or not?

Well, here are some of the main markers of emotional intelligence:

• the capacity to recognize emotions in others;
• a knowledge of one’s own advantages and disadvantages;
• acceptance of oneself and confidence;
• being able to move on past errors;
• capacity to tolerate and embrace change;
• high sense of curiosity, particularly about other people;
• compassion and empathy for other people;
• being able to recognize one’s faults;
• the capacity to control feelings under any circumstances.

According to research, there are four distinct emotional intelligence levels: 

• Perception. Accurately recognizing emotions is the first step towards comprehending them. This frequently requires interpreting nonverbal means of communication like body language and facial expressions.
• Reasoning. Using feelings to encourage thought and mental effort is the next phase. Our emotional responses actually help us prioritize what we pay attention to and react to.
• Understanding. Once you spot someone’s reaction, it depends on how emotionally intelligent you are to understand it correctly. An emotionally intelligent person knows how to foresee multiple reasons behind an emotion as well as emotional reactions as consequences of certain actions.
• Management. Effective emotion management is a critical component of emotional intelligence. Important components of emotional management include controlling one’s emotions, reacting correctly, and handling other people’s emotions.

Here are some more reasons why promoting EI is crucial:

• Considering before reacting. People with emotional intelligence understand that while feelings might be strong, they can also pass. The emotionally intelligent course of action would be to wait before responding to a highly charged emotional situation. The principles of EI state: everyone is able to control their emotions and consider all the variables more logically as a result.
• A greater level of self-awareness and self-analysis. In addition to being well-trained in interpreting other people’s emotions, emotionally intelligent individuals are also highly reflective about their own emotions. They know what affects them and how. Therefore, it is easier for them to analyze certain responses as well as avoid destructive feelings and actions.
• Positivity towards others. EI people tend to express more gratitude and sympathy towards others. Moreover, they tend to talk the problems through much quickly and therefore avoid serious arguments and misunderstandings.
• Increased stress-resistance. Knowing oneself as well as being able to interpret other people’s behavior reduces stress and is generally very helpful while treating anxiety. 

Activities that encourage conversation and idea exchange help students with developing their emotional intelligence. The following strategies should definitely be included in the teacher’s toolkit of exercises for boosting confidence and EI: