Neurolinguistic programming (NLP) is a training philosophy developed by Grinder and Bandler based on their study of successful therapists. NLP techniques aim to train people by focusing on how our experiences, language, and behaviors interact. The goals of NLP include establishing rapport with others and flexibility in achieving desired outcomes through maximizing similarities and minimizing differences. NLP principles can be applied to language teaching by having students reflect on inner experiences of language and contrasting feelings around tenses.
2. Background
Neurolinguistic programming (NLP) is a
training philosophy.
Grinder and Bandler were interested in
how people influenced each other.
They studied successful therapists.
Grinder and Bandler developed NLP as a
system of techniques.
They sought to fill a gap in psychological
thinking.
NLP was not developed with any
applications to language teaching in mind.
3. Approach
The «neuro» part of NLP is concerned
with how we experience the world.
The «linguistic» part of NLP is
concerned with the way the language
we use shapes, as well as reflects our
experience of the world.
The «programming» part is concerned
with training ourselves.
5. Outcomes
The goals or ends.
«Start with the end in mind»
Human beings act as goal achieving
systems.
6. 6 steps
Be positive of what you want.
How will you know when you have got it?
Can this goal be started and maintained
by you?
Chunk-size.
Specifically…when, where and how do
you want this?
Conceptualize resources.
7. Rapport
Maximizing similarities and minimizing
differences between people at a non-
conscious level.
It is the ability to create a sense of trust
by making people feel that you are like
them.
It is meeting others in their world.
8. How to establish rapport?
a) I hate this stuff. It´s just a waste of time.
b) Everyone says that. It makes me sick.
c) I can´t do it!
d) This is all theory.
9. How to establish rapport?
a) Is a part of you saying that you want to
be sure your time is well spent today?
b) Who says that?
c) What, specifically, can´t you do?
d) Are you saying you want practical
suggestions?
12. The presuppositions of NLP
1. Mind and body are interconnected.
2. The map is not the territory.
3. There is no failure, only feedback… and
a renewed opportunity for success.
4. The map becomes the territory.
5. Knowing what you want helps you get
it.
6. The resources we need are with us.
13. 7. Communication is non-verbal as well as
verbal.
8. The non-conscious mind is benevolent.
9. Communication is non-conscious as well
as conscious.
10. All behavior has a positive intention.
11. The meaning of your communication is the
response you get
12. Modelling excellent behavior leads to
excellence.
13. In any system, the element of greatest
flexibility will have the most influence on
that system.
14. Procedure
NLP principles can be applied to the
teaching of all aspects of language.
1. Inner grammatical experience as you
eat a biscuit.
2. Check vocabulary.
3. Students are asked to relax and
«go inside».
4. Ask the students how they are feeling
now.
15. 5. Say again the sentence.
6. Put a piece of paper on the wall with the
words «I´ve eaten a biscuit»
7. On other pieces of paper, write sentences
such as: I´ve painted a picture. I´ve had a
row with my boy/girlfriend. I´ve finished my
homework. I´ve cleaned my teeth.
8. Contrast the feeling of the present perfect
with the feeling of the simple past.
9. Ask them to say the sentence «Yesterday, I
ate a biscuit»
16. A few quick definitions
The art and science of communication.
The key to learning.
It is the route to get the results you want.
Influencing others with integrity.
A manual for your brain.
NLP helps people make sense of their reality.
The toolkit for personal and organizational
change.
NLP is the study of internal experiences: how
our thoughts, actions and feelings work together
to produce our experience.
17. Stress
The Truine Brain Theory. It divides the
brain into three functional parts:
Neocortex
Limbic System
Reptilian part
19. Concluding remarks
NLP is a humanistic philosophy and a
set of beliefs and suggestions.
Workshops on NLP are typically short on
theory and research to justify its claims.
The assumptions of NLP need not be
accepted as the absolute truth.