What makes a good teacher?
Original Poster: wuming
Forum: Others
Posted On: 07-10-2006, 11:56
Orginal Post: wuming: I noticed in another thread someone people brought up the topic of a good teacher, and I thought it would make in interesting discussion here. If this topic has already been posted somewhere else feel free to delete it.
Anyways, I was wondering what everyone thinks qualifies a good teacher. As an opener, in some other thread I noticed some people claiming that a good teacher is judged by his students, or more specifically, his senior student. Personally I don't find this to be an entirely adequate definition. What if some teachers just started their school and the senior student has not come along way yet? What if some other more senior students left the school due to some other extraneous reasons (not related to quality of teaching) and the next senior sudent isn't entirely skilled? Typically seniority seems to primarily signify experience and not always skill level. It his highly probable that someone could practice under one teacher for ten years and not be entirely skilled because of his own lack of effort or natural ability. This is what I find to be the real problem by defining a good teacher by his students alone. The teacher could be an excellent transmitter of ideas, but the students still might not be incredibly skilled because of their lack of effort or natural ability. Take for example the common college classroom. There are always a wide range of scores within an entire class. Some kids will score 90's, some 70's and yet some 50's. This could be due to any number of factors, and when it comes to college, there are always those kids that never show up to class and fail regardless of the teacher. Anyways, my point is that there should be another way to define a quality teacher; that definition, I do not want to shoot at right now anyway. I want to meditate on this idea a bit longer to come up with a more reasonable definition. I hope you all have some interesting insights and arguments for this question whether or not anyone agrees. Good night.
Post: dscott:
To name a few:
1. Knowledge
2. Understanding
3. Patience
4. Open Minded>
Post: bamboo:
For me a good teacher is open, compassionate (on the mat) and able to properly explain what they do, why and how they do it.
As well, I think its important to remember that ones persons' good teacher is anothers' nightmare. My sensei is strongly grounded in the basics and has no intention of producing a bunch of clones. While he actually teaches the basics, its up to the student to "steal" "his" technique.
By "his technique" I mean that subtle little something that only he does in a certain way. As you progress in the gendai arts, you make each technique yours.
That being said, I've had coaches and frankly I hated those types of interactions simply because thats just not the way I feel comfortable learning or progressing.
-bamboo>
Post: setsu nin to:
Good teacher need knowledge on first place, but that knowledge is useful if he dont know how to past it to student, so he have to know how to teach. He need to be good and normal person. He have to know how to make students to respect him/here and he/she had to respect students, also he have to know his and students limits, he dave to be good teacher... Also what is realy important teacher have to know how much knowledge to give to student.>
Post: NeverMan:
IMO, he needs to be non-judgemental, at least when it comes to things outside of his teaching. So, um, yeah, I guess he needs to be understanding, and someone already said that, I just want to re-iterate.>
Post: Gong||Jau:
[quote=bamboo As well, I think its important to remember that ones persons' good teacher is anothers' nightmare.[/quote
This is an excellent point. IMHO, besides making sure that his skills are what he claims, the most important thing is finding a teacher who teaches in a style that you are comfortable with and whom you can talk to about your training or your outside life. You'll learn a lot more in a situation like that with a less spectacular teacher than you will from a great teacher whose classes you don't like.>
Post: setsu nin to:
"I think its important to remember that ones persons' good teacher is anothers' nightmare"
Yes, but same ones persons good student is anothers nightmare... so in my opinion good teacher have to be able to adapt himself/herself to student, same as student have to be able to adapt himself/herself to teacher.>
Post: BLACK PANTA:
[quote=setsu nin to
Yes, but same ones persons good student is anothers nightmare... so in my opinion good teacher have to be able to adapt himself/herself to student, same as student have to be able to adapt himself/herself to teacher.[/quote
This IMO sums up the whole thread.>
Post: wuming:
I agree with setsu.>
Post: 8LimbsScientist:
Its important for a teacher to be able to apply what he teaches, and has to be able to demonstrate to his students that techniques WORK.
One of the things I always liked about my instructor is if I ever have questions about a technique's effectiveness or how it could be applied, I end up having it applied on me.
"Sir, what if I just punch you while you're doing all of that."
"Alright, well lets step on the mat and give it a try."
*throws punch* WWAAAAAAAAM!!
"Hey, it really does work!">
Post: NathanRahl:
[quote=wuming I noticed in another thread someone people brought up the topic of a good teacher, and I thought it would make in interesting discussion here. If this topic has already been posted somewhere else feel free to delete it.
Anyways, I was wondering what everyone thinks qualifies a good teacher. As an opener, in some other thread I noticed some people claiming that a good teacher is judged by his students, or more specifically, his senior student. Personally I don't find this to be an entirely adequate definition. What if some teachers just started their school and the senior student has not come along way yet? What if some other more senior students left the school due to some other extraneous reasons (not related to quality of teaching) and the next senior sudent isn't entirely skilled? Typically seniority seems to primarily signify experience and not always skill level. It his highly probable that someone could practice under one teacher for ten years and not be entirely skilled because of his own lack of effort or natural ability. This is what I find to be the real problem by defining a good teacher by his students alone. The teacher could be an excellent transmitter of ideas, but the students still might not be incredibly skilled because of their lack of effort or natural ability. Take for example the common college classroom. There are always a wide range of scores within an entire class. Some kids will score 90's, some 70's and yet some 50's. This could be due to any number of factors, and when it comes to college, there are always those kids that never show up to class and fail regardless of the teacher. Anyways, my point is that there should be another way to define a quality teacher; that definition, I do not want to shoot at right now anyway. I want to meditate on this idea a bit longer to come up with a more reasonable definition. I hope you all have some interesting insights and arguments for this question whether or not anyone agrees. Good night.[/quote
First off, you need to know what your teaching inside and out. The old saying that those who can not do, teach, is not accurate at all. It applies to some people of course, but it is really a stereotype which is inaccurate.
Second, you must be able to put yourself in other peoples shoes, so you can understand their needs.
Third, you must have a clear understanding of how different people learn. Then you offer teaching that appeals to the different ways that people may learn, be it audio, visual, or just by plain doing.
Fourth, explain things in a way that even a 3 year old could understand. Good teaching isn't just about knoing what you teach, but knowing how to teach. Good teaching is as much an art as martial arts are. You must have an imagination, and be creative, so you can explain things in a way that they get. Since everyone is different, this is not so easy.
Fifth, you must be patient. No matter what, you must have realistic expectations, and not expect to much from people. Patience is so important to god teaching that there is not enough that can be said about it. no matter what other areas in your life you may lack it, in teaching, you must have it.
There are other little things, but empathy, knowledge, understanding, creativity, ability, and patience are at the top of the list. Oh, and wanting to be a teacher ain't enough. You either have the natural ability, or you don't.
Thats one of the problems with mainstream martial arts, too many people who get a Black belt then want to teach and make big money with a dojo, or just do it ebcause they love it. Not everyone is cut out to teach though. One reason why dojo's are not taken very seriously in America, just to many bad teacher, who crank out disenchanted stuents, who go on to take thier cynicism out into the world. Not a good thing. If you get into teaching, better be sure your cut out for it.>
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