1. A Seminar in Applied Linguistics
Creativity in TEFL
Outlining
Presenter
Qamra’ Saud Al-Otabibi
Presented to
Professor Mahmoud Saleh
Presented on Monday
Thulhijjah 19, 1427

2. Introduction
Human creativity is a very unique and powerful
characteristic that lies at the heart of what it means
to be human (Rise, 2006). Creativity seems to be one
of those ill-defined terms. While users often combine
more than one meaning, nowhere do we find a
negative view of creativity. Every one likes it.
Hurrah for creativity (Gibson, 2005).

3. Creativity
1. What is creativity?
Guilford (1950) was among the first to put forward a list of cognitive
processes involved in creativity. However, as Guilford (1959)
subsequently developed a comprehensive model of human intellect
(Albert, A. & Kormos, 2004).
What is involved in the creative process of the individual?
According to Guilford's model of creativity (1959), creativity is viewed
as a :
a. producing lots of ideas (fluency)
b. producing ideas of various types (flexibility)
c. building and embellishing existing ideas (elaboration)
d. producing clever and original ideas (originality)
(Constantinides, 2003c)

4. Definition
The definition of creativity offered by the landmark report
of the National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural
Education (NACCCE) in 1999 as ‘‘imaginative activity,
fashioned so as to produce outcomes that are original and of
value’’ (Craft, 2006). The present investigation will focus on
creative potential, that is, the cognitive underpinnings of the
creative working of the mind (Albert, A. & Kormos, 2004).
Creative teaching or teaching for creativity?
A challenge in any
discussion of creativity, which could be thought of as a
‘limitation’ to the concept, is the difficulty of terminology. The
distinction between teaching for creativity and creative teaching
was made by the NACCCE report which acknowledged that
teaching for creativity may or may not involve creative teaching
(Craft, 2003).

5. 2. Why creativity in teaching?
In the absence of creative thinking, teachers may become more
and more dependent on the input and ideas of others. This often
results in teachers adopting techniques and activities without
thinking (Constantinides, 2003c).
Much of the teacher's success depends upon his/her imaginative
power (Abdo, n.d.).
A solution to the scarcity of effective materials is the
implementation of creative classroom activities that move beyond
reliance on textbooks (Darla, 1991).
As Brazil (2003) noted, creative experience initiated long-term
developments in teachers' thinking, both professionally and
personally.

6. 3. Why some teachers lack creativity
In answering the question why we are unable to think
creatively, Psychologists and educators both believe that
some creative potential exists in all human beings, although
it may be dormant or "blocked". These blocks are of various
kinds:
A. Blocks created by the social environment
A. B. Blocks created by the individual
a. Strategy Blocks
b. Values
Blocks
c. Perception Blocks
d. Self-image Blocks
(Constantinides, 2003c)

7. 4. Misconceptions about creativity in teaching
There are many misrepresentations about creativity and the
creative individual. These are two of them::
1. Creativity is not the reserve of the creative elite industries
such as the arts, music, design or technology businesses, it is
a natural and unique human attribute that occurs as a function
of our intelligence and, can happen in any activity in which
the human intelligence is actively engaged.
2. Some have believed that you can't teach creativity, i.e. you
are either creative or you are not. This is a common
misconception and, as stated earlier, creativity is a natural
human attribute that we all possess to a lesser or greater
extent and thus should be recognized and promoted in all.
(Rise, 2006)

8. Suggested Activities for Boosting
Creativity in TEFL
1. Using Creative play:
Games:
Examples of these games:
Snap and Palindromes
2. Using songs
Cloze Procedure activity
3. Body Language and communication
Facial Messages
Techniques of facial expressions
4. Using Technology
Internet
Computer programmes (PowerPoint Presentation )

9. Final Thoughts
Implementing creative teaching will require serious,
long-term investment in professional development of
teachers and administers, and basic improvement in
).preservice teacher education (Sawyer, 2004

10. END 