The Language of Teaching: Starting With One Word

Don Miguel Ruiz (2011), Mexican author and surgeon, writes in his book The Four Agreements that we must be impeccable with “our word.” This, he writes, is the first and most important agreement of all and also the most challenging agreement to honor. He writes “The word is the most powerful tool you have as a human; it is a tool of magic. But like a sword with two edges, your word can create the most beautiful dream, or your word can destroy everything around you.” (Ruiz, 2011, p. 26)

Ruiz compares words to seeds planted in our minds. Each word grows a little each day, developing roots, a trunk and branches. Some have flowers. Some have thorns. He explains that we must be ever mindful our self-talk, because the creative powers of “the word” extend deep into a future whose consequences we cannot always foresee. Our minds are fertile ground for our own negative suggestions, which can contribute to self-defeating personal dialogs that interfere with our ability to do many things, including teaching. These self destructive words transform us into counterproductive role models that our students unwittingly follow.

No. “counterproductive” is not the right word. That’s not heavy enough. When we set an example for our students where they become their own worst enemies, we are “corrupting” them.

Even though it sometimes seems as if your students don’t listen to you, have never listened to you and might never listen to any of their teachers, ever — and, you’re probably right, they…