Method 2: I am present here and now (being present and concentrating)

(Being present and concentrating, preparatory orientation to dialogue II, dialogue scene 13, in English 9)

The goal of this task is that the participants learn to be present and concentrate on the moment when they are engaged in a dialogue with other people. Knowing how to be present and concentrate enables you to keep your turns shorter and talk in a more concise manner. In addition, it helps you to pay more careful attention to what the others say. In this state of being consciously present, you are more alert to what you and the others say. The objective is to learn to shut off everything that goes through your mind and that might interfere with how you express yourself and how you receive information. If you know how to be present and concentrate, your mind remains clear and tranquil for expressing yourself and receiving others' speech.

Instructions

• the teacher explains the method, its significance and usefulness
• the exercise is completed individually, in a smaller group, at a convenient time
• sit comfortably, relax and close your eyes
• pay attention only to your breathing
• focus your attention merely on inhaling and exhaling
• if and when your attention begins to wander and you start thinking about something else, gently direct your attention back to your breathing
• direct your attention to your breathing over and over again
• when your mind is calm and quiet, you know that you have performed the task successfully
• 5-10 minutes can be spent on this exercise which can later be repeated in appropriate situations.

Reflection in the learning community: The whole group jointly reflects upon their experiences of the task and thinking that it caused. One useful question for this reflection is ”What did you become aware of through this task?” Another, more demanding question is, ”What did you learn from this task?” The purpose of the reflection is that several participants, not only some, share their thinking and experiences. When the reflection part is completed, every participant has gained an understanding of how challenging it can be to be present and concentrate, that is, to be consciously present. This enables them to continue practising on their own in real life situations.