Emotional well being in post-pandemic times in the higher education

Abstract

There is no doubt that emotions have played an important role in the pandemic and post-pandemic process caused by COVID-19. The role of teachers all over the world as mediators between the students and their emotions have been one of the greatest challenges in the teaching practice. This action-research work aims to include strategies that allow students to identify and express their emotions and practice resilience based on the Change Map (Freedman 2012) and the growth mindset (Dweck, 2016), connected with the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 SDG 3 Health and Well-being promoted by the United Nations. In order to promote a safe learning environment in the synchronous EFL classes, the Engage Model (from frustration to emotion) – Activate (from fear to courage) – Reflect (synthesis and reflection) is implemented. These strategies connected with emotions, through playful activities, drawing and body language have been important. The surprise factor has also been fundamental to minimize boredom and monotony. The use of a variety of websites and instructional programs contributed to enhance the discovery learning process. Within this process, the use of YET! technique generates a sense of continuous and progressive under construction learning process.