Dear friends, we find ourselves in a new year in which, on behalf of our company, we wish you what you yourself desire and may you do well in your personal and professional life. If you would like to know how the director of Harmony Academy, Janka Chynoradská, balanced last year and what plans she has for the new year, read the interview, in which you will find her wishes and observations and many motivational elements that will surely encourage you to take bold steps in the new year.
How did you perceive the so-called first "post-corona" year at Harmony Academy?
From the beginning, I saw 2022 as a year of new beginnings. We managed to complete several years of transformation of our company into the Academy of International Communication and People Development, which is closely related to the transformation of the Harmony Academy logo. From pure red, we changed into salmon pink and royal blue, achieving the harmony of two parts, complementary and attractive to each other. The modernization of approaches at all levels of governance was ongoing and continues in 2023 with the clear intention – to create a top team of experts in education who have embraced the Learn & Lead innovation and are implementing it through their activities both in their classrooms and processes across our entire organization.
Meeting the plans for 2022 – how do you assess them at the turn of the year?
I would divide the plans for 2022 into two parts. One consisted of plans aimed at supporting and developing schools, and the other part was plans that were associated with our focus on providing language and development services for companies and organizations.
The support and development of schools had as their main objective the growth and further development of our international cooperation in order to increase the quality and attractiveness of the teaching profession. In this regard, we have successfully launched three major international strategic projects in the Learn & Lead strategy, which has helped us to establish our organisation in the field of teacher education and school leaders in european school ranks of various types, from primary to linguistic to universities. As far as companies and organizations are concerned, our big plan and goal here was also to consolidate our position as a supplier of language services for companies and organizations and to develop our program offer for development programs in a foreign language. This plan was also fulfilled, albeit with a time lag, but in favour of long-term and forward-looking cooperation with both national and international companies. I see it essential to promote our innovative development programmes in a new form, so-called "blended learning", through our new https://www.innovationacademy.learnandlead.eu/ platform.
Would you be able to balance the 2022-round year in one sentence?
I listened to my heart telling me WHAT to do and I connected it to my mind, which figured out HOW to do it.
Would you find the moment that pleased you the most this year? Of course, the moment that disappointed you, broke your knees or saddened you last year at Harmony Academy.
The strongest moment of 2022 for me was the parts of the Learn & Lead Self-management course, in which participants exchanged "appreciation letters". That amazing accumulated positive energy of love, understanding and appreciation continued to resonate with each other for a long time. In total, I taught 5 groups in which it always worked out the same way – the strength of this activity was confirmed to me and reassured me that after the Learn & Lead innovation of which this course is a part, there is a great hunger and need. The power of love that awakens through him in us is exactly what I think teachers and executives in organizations need like salt. The innovation of humanity is our Learn & Lead innovation. It cannot be arrived at by any shortcut, only by working tirelessly, patiently and purposefully in such a way that our surroundings perceive us as people who contribute to the development of our society for the good of all of us.
What do you expect from this new year at Harmony?
From 2023, I expect to deepen cooperation in the internal team of experts both at home and abroad, as well as to intensify cooperation with schools and companies. My high expectation is that in the trainings of our Learn & Lead programs, as many representatives of schools, manufacturing companies, the non-profit sector, as well as entrepreneurs as possible, will come together and connect for the strategic and long-term development of their organizations. Lifelong learning is not only a trend, but it is as necessary for us as the air we breathe. Our society is transforming so incredibly and dynamically that in order to live in peace and joy, we always need to be one step ahead. People are the ones who move society and determine its further direction. We are ready to continue to lead the Learn & Lead innovation in 2023, learn and take the necessary steps to preserve the most important thing we have in education – to retain a teacher with a capital "U".
Are you planning any news for your supporters that they can already start looking forward to?
As for the news of 2023, I will mention here a few programs and tools that we aim to offer to the professional and lay public. These are mainly two development programs - "Creating innovation in schools" and "Self-management of the teacher Learn & Lead". The target group is school representatives who see themselves as innovators and need further development and support to promote their own ideas and visions in their schools. As regards the tools for the support and development of schools and teachers, we already have two tools in place – teacher self-assessment in the ULCA development framework (modernisation of teachers' approaches in the pupil-centred approach and in the Learn & Lead approach) and the other tool is the self-evaluation of teachers and foreign language teachers in the CLIL (content-language integrated learning) methodology Prolant Cap . Both are open to the general public and help to modernize and professionalize the professional growth and development of teachers and lecturers both at home in Slovakia and within other EU countries.
The third tool – KNOWLO – a self-assessment tool for learning organizations – schools, training centers, etc. is currently under development and we will present it at an interactive face-to-face seminar in Trnava in the autumn of this year. Before that, however, we will talk a lot about it and present it in two synergistic directions – teaching and managerial.
What would you like to wish Harmony Academy in the new year, its lecturers, clients, Slovaks, the world?
For the new year 2023, I wish everyone good health, happiness, joy, strength and success at home and at work. May love, understanding and cohesion illuminate us every day so that we can feel every single moment as powerfully as possible. Let 2023 be the year of love, humanity, dignity, respect and respect for every person we meet in it.
Janka, we are still at the level of Harmony, tell us for you on your behalf, how was the last year for you personally? Do you usually use the word "resolution" at the beginning of the new year you?
For me personally, 2022 was the year of the "believer". I have strengthened my belief in the realization of the impossible, if one tunes in to the right wavelength and relies on decisions that are fully consistent with his two "players" – heart and mind. As far as resolutions are concerned, two years ago in our family we exchanged them for the priorities we create together. It is a joint calming down at the dining table, where we reflect on what we want, need and will pay our precious attention. For example, in 2022 we had 7, and by 2023 we entered with 6. I love the time with my loved ones when we balance together, evaluate and record in our family chronicle (originally my diary) everything we have experienced and what we will focus on in the coming year.
We thank Janka Chynoradska for a sincere conversation, we believe that at the beginning of the new year you were pleased, supported and encouraged. If he gave you the courage to make new beginnings, then the goal is fulfilled. If you are with us, we will be happy to provide you with a well of living water, water full of energy and help you regain balance in your personal and professional life. As Janka says, listening to your heart and mind and putting both of these players into your decisions will always mean a step forward in any life situation.
