Intro
When I was little, I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. Perhaps it was because my mom and her mom (my grandmother) were both teachers. Or maybe because I was born on Teacher's Day in Taiwan (aka Confucius' birthday), I felt destined to teach. (Personally, I think it's because I am bossy and want to tell people what to do).
At home, I'd pretend to teach anything from math to piano to ballet. I never pretended to teach English, history or science - those were boring. I've read that you remember 90% (or was it 95%) of everything you teach. So, particularly in something like math, being able to explain how to get the solution, even if it was to an imaginary audience, was helpful.
As I grew older, though, I realized how difficult it was to get through to kids and young people. People would ask why I didn't teach ballet (kids are hard to teach, especially these days, where it seems like they feel entitled) and then they would suggest that I teach the adult class.
Teach adults?! Yes, I am technically an adult, though sometimes I act like a bratty five-year-old, but to teach them? I don't know which would be worse - teaching kids (who, at least, I would be older and most likely taller than) or adults (who could show you just how much they hated your class, or worse, you, by not showing up).
Life has a funny way of working out. The studio owner approached me about teaching an adult class this summer (some of their regular teachers are unavailable). And being the sucker that I am, I agreed. I have never taught a class (I did assist the beginning class for a couple of years and I did run a beginning class during summer camp once while the studio owner had to run an errand). I have (a few times) given a class (both at the univ and for warm-up earlier this month) but that mainly consisted of me teaching combinations and everyone (me included) dancing. No corrections needed.
SO said that I have a good eye (she was probably just trying to boost my confidence). While it is true that sometimes I can spot things that need to be corrected, it's easier with trained dancers (intermediate or advanced levels) than it is with recreational (beginners or adults). Some adults just can't get their leg completely straight or bend their torso that way.
I guess I thought maybe it would be like some other instances, where they would ask me to do something, I'd agree despite my hesitations, and then the situation never materialized. Hah, if I only I were so lucky.
I got an email this morning asking if I would teach the Monday adult class - the upside is that I usually take this class (which follows the advanced company class) so I have a general idea of the level of the students. The downside is that everyone loves the teacher. I'd be subbing for a very popular teacher - and it's not like I'm the studio owner or anything. I have no teacher training, no professional dancing experience.
I'm just a bossy girl who's taken ballet lessons for the past 20 years.
At home, I'd pretend to teach anything from math to piano to ballet. I never pretended to teach English, history or science - those were boring. I've read that you remember 90% (or was it 95%) of everything you teach. So, particularly in something like math, being able to explain how to get the solution, even if it was to an imaginary audience, was helpful.
As I grew older, though, I realized how difficult it was to get through to kids and young people. People would ask why I didn't teach ballet (kids are hard to teach, especially these days, where it seems like they feel entitled) and then they would suggest that I teach the adult class.
Teach adults?! Yes, I am technically an adult, though sometimes I act like a bratty five-year-old, but to teach them? I don't know which would be worse - teaching kids (who, at least, I would be older and most likely taller than) or adults (who could show you just how much they hated your class, or worse, you, by not showing up).
Life has a funny way of working out. The studio owner approached me about teaching an adult class this summer (some of their regular teachers are unavailable). And being the sucker that I am, I agreed. I have never taught a class (I did assist the beginning class for a couple of years and I did run a beginning class during summer camp once while the studio owner had to run an errand). I have (a few times) given a class (both at the univ and for warm-up earlier this month) but that mainly consisted of me teaching combinations and everyone (me included) dancing. No corrections needed.
SO said that I have a good eye (she was probably just trying to boost my confidence). While it is true that sometimes I can spot things that need to be corrected, it's easier with trained dancers (intermediate or advanced levels) than it is with recreational (beginners or adults). Some adults just can't get their leg completely straight or bend their torso that way.
I guess I thought maybe it would be like some other instances, where they would ask me to do something, I'd agree despite my hesitations, and then the situation never materialized. Hah, if I only I were so lucky.
I got an email this morning asking if I would teach the Monday adult class - the upside is that I usually take this class (which follows the advanced company class) so I have a general idea of the level of the students. The downside is that everyone loves the teacher. I'd be subbing for a very popular teacher - and it's not like I'm the studio owner or anything. I have no teacher training, no professional dancing experience.
I'm just a bossy girl who's taken ballet lessons for the past 20 years.
posted by Jan Jan @ 2:09 PM
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