Here in Cambridge, we were very excited that the world’s most prestigious cycling visited our city for the very first time. We’ve been getting on our bikes and cycling around Cambridge to take some photographs for our posts this week on Facebook and Twitter, but we’ve also been taking a light-hearted look into how our teaching can perhaps learn a little from Le Tour…
There’s more than one jersey!
If you ask someone to name the coloured jersey most commonly associated with the Tour, most people would say ‘yellow’, the colour of the jersey worn by the overall leader at any point in the race, and awarded to the champion at the end of the final stage. And yet the yellow jersey isn’t the only one awarded – since 1975, the leading climber in the tour has worn a white jersey with red polka dots. There’s also a green ‘points’ jersey for the most consistently high finishes, and the best rider under 25 wears white.
So, how might this apply to our teaching? One thing it suggests is the importance of recognising achievement – not just for those at the top of the class, or in the final exam, but throughout the semester, and in a variety of areas. So make sure to offer opportunities for everyone in your group to shine, and celebrate their achievements in front of the class!
Teamwork and the peloton
The ‘peloton’ – the main group of riders during the race – functions as an excellent example of how competition and cooperation can come together. Riders at the front of the peloton do the most work, pushing into the wind, while those slightly further back are able to save energy by riding in their slipstream. Cyclists therefore take turns at the front so they don’t become exhausted, before dropping back into the main body of the peloton to recover. By working together, even though they’re competing, riders improve their ability to withstand the enormous physical pressures of competing on the Tour.
Learning English is hard work too, and you can’t lead from the front all the time. Share the challenge with your students by letting them lead for a while – why not let them explore new grammar in groups, for instance, working out the rules for themselves and then checking to see if they’re right? So long as you’re behind them in the peloton, able to offer advice and keep them on track, they should be able to avoid too many accidents, and will grow from the responsibility.
Mix it up!
The Tour clearly recognises the importance of variety – the race has started outside France ten times in the last 25 years, and this year’s trip to Cambridge follows on from two stages in Yorkshire. This helps prevent it getting stale and builds interest. So why not take your class to different surroundings every so often, or try a different approach – you’re still aiming for the same end point – competence and confidence, our equivalent of the fantastic Champs-Elysees finish to the Tour – but you’re just taking a slightly different route to get there…