"If you tell the truth, you don't have to have a good memory."

-Mark Twain

I found this quote on an article I was reading this morning. In it the author, James J. Asher, Ph.D., the creator of TPR (Total Physical Response), briefly explains how vital it is to play with language. In playing with language, the learner increases comprehension and is able to create the mental maps needed for future communication.

He likens the situation the first year of a new born. They do not speak but react to what they are hearing. The babies hear imperatives of their parents and learn the dos and don'ts this way.
"Don't eat that!"
"Drink this."
"Don' throw your spoon!"

Comprehension develops and truths are created. Soon the baby is speaking its first words.

The idea of play is quintessential in Dr. Masaaki Hatsumi's Bujikan School. His idea in training is for the students to have fun at what they are doing. In having fun they are able to be creative and innovative. Thus the shape of the style is only limited by the creativity of the students. Dr. Hatsumi asks only to be mindful of walking. All your actions should be done as if you were walking. Every completed action is one that you walk away from. "Doing without thinking."

Dr. Asher calls this idea of play, doodling. By doodling around with the target language in the target language the mind is able to begin making its precious network in the target language. Therefore further developing comprehension. Assigning truths to stored related and relevant vocabulary. He recommends doodling as often as possible every day.

It is an obsessive behavior, but in order to become something we have to begin by thinking. By developing "truths" in the target language we can stop thinking about what we want to communicate and start communicating.

We become what we think.

Thanks!

Matthew, MB

Beat your Mental

10 Things you can do to be more creative

We all have trouble sometimes getting started or getting out of bed. Well here are a few tips on how you can get the creative fluids flowing more frequently and faster.

1. Early morning automatic writing.　First thing in the morning, get out a pen and notebook and just start writing. This tip was inspired by Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way.
2. Do something different every day. For example if you always take the same route home from work, try a different way. Even better, try a new way home and get lost.
3. Exercise regularly. Nothing inspires inspiration than perspiration.
4. Get enough sleep. This is different for everyone but it is said that eight hours is a good benchmark.
5. Surround yourself with things of inspiration such as images, magazines, objects, animals, and yes, people. Think immersion.
   
6. Learn to mind map. I think creating a schematic from your mind on paper is a magical endeavor guaranteed to jog your creativity. Recently I began using FreeMind - a free mind mapping utility. It's open source, so it's free and it's Java based so its multi-platform friendly.
7. Learn to collect your ideas. Ideas can pop up at odd times. Have a system to collect these ideas. David Allen's Getting Things Done is a great book on the subject. There are plenty of GTD evangelists out there if you want a second opinion.
8. Find your power points. These can be places in your home that seem more conducive for creativity or it could be a coffee shop with a nice view of a lake. Whatever it is, you know it when you find.
9. Take a class at a community college or equivalent. Challenging your mind to new things in new environments is always a way to gain some creativity points.
10. Travel. This doesn't mean down the block. It means to slide to some place outside of your comfort zone. An unknown location (for you). Exploration is key in stirring up some of the old creative juices.

Please feel free to share your ideas on how to cultivate your creativity.

Thanks and Beat your Mental!

Matthew, MB