The Art of Teaching: Embodied Approaches to Professional Development
What does it mean to take an embodied approach to teaching?
For me, it means being fully present—mentally, emotionally, and physically. It’s about the energy a teacher brings into the classroom and the dynamic interplay with learners. When a teacher is fully engaged, learning becomes meaningful and transformative. Embodiment isn’t a technique—it’s a holistic state of mind, body, and spirit.
Why Teaching Is an Art
I believe teaching is more art than science. Here’s why:
- It’s Heuristic – Teachers make real-time decisions in unpredictable moments.
- It’s Improvisational – No lesson ever goes exactly as planned.
- It’s Embodied – Teaching requires physical presence and emotional investment.
- It’s Emergent – Learning outcomes often unfold in the moment, not by prescription.
Yet most teacher training focuses on procedure—planning lessons, writing aims, following set methods. During the pandemic, this approach was further challenged. Teaching went online, and with the body removed from the classroom, we had to reimagine what “presence” meant.
Rethinking the Role of the Teacher
This shift sparked a deeper question:
Are teachers just transmitters of content—or facilitators of understanding, growth, and transformation?
From my experience, teachers fall along a spectrum.
- On one end are those who deliver content with precision, following what I call the competence model: structured, aim-driven, and teacher-centered.
- On the other are those who teach through performance: adapting to learners, encouraging communication, and creating learner-centered spaces.
Most teachers move between these roles, depending on context and confidence.
The Head, Body, and Heart of a Teacher
Ultimately, a teacher draws on three essential dimensions:
- Head – Knowledge and theory
- Body – Practice and lived experience
- Heart – Personality and emotional connection
So… what kind of teacher are you? And how can you grow into the teacher you want to become?
In my next post, I’ll explore how to reflect on your teaching identity and develop the skills to bring it to life.
If you want access to online courses, handbooks, lesson plans on this topic. Join our free community Performative ELT.
Tom Godfrey 