On Teaching

 Greetings,

I have discussed teaching from different perspectives, mostly the student-teacher relationship, and the differences between an instructor and a teacher, however it is a big step to go from student to teacher and there are many who stop at this precipice and look out and wonder if they have the wings to fly. I am going to tell you that you do. 

There are some simple things you will need to learn that will make you a better teacher. Just because you are a great combatant, and know your actions, doesn't mean that you will make a great teacher. The more interesting thing is that, if you've been fencing for a while, it's likely that you've actually taught before, maybe without knowing it. Newer students will learn from older students, this is how the culture of a school or organisation is built, implicitly. There are rules and regulations, but people learn more from the things that you do and don't do, more than from what you say. More directly, from the explicit aspect; if you've corrected, you've taught; if you've shown someone a trick, you've taught. 

Here are some simple instructions to follow to help with your teaching as you progress. Oh, one last thing, the best way to get more, and better, opponents is to teach them. This is how I started.

1. Everyone is Different

• We have different bodies; this counts double when the student is of a different gender, and triple when they have a disability
• We have different learning methods, because we have different brains

2. Preach what you practice

• You know this method the best; teach how you fence, the only exception is when you are teaching a particular method, and don't do this your first outing

3. Say it, Demonstrate it, Get them to do it

• This covers 3 out of 4 methods of learning
• Encourage people to take notes to cover the 4th method

4. Don’t be Afraid to say “I Don’t Know."

• Be honest about your knowledge; better to be honest than a found a fool
• Go find the answer yourself – it makes you a better teacher; don't expect the student to find the answer alone

5. Enjoy it.

• People want to learn; people who come to the classes come voluntarily
• Critics are minimal annoyances; use them, take their criticism on board where it is applicable
• You can have fun, and teach properly; there is no need to "act the drill sergeant"

6. Plan it.

• Write a lesson plan; objectives, methods, and drills
• Writing a plan is the best way to ensure you don’t miss anything
• Take the plan with you; it's not much use if it sits on your desk

7. Update it.

• Review your knowledge, keep learning; knowledge improves, the stagnant fencing mind is doomed to failure

8. Things will go wrong.

• Sometimes this will lead to new avenues of research
• Sometimes this will be something you missed
• Sometimes you will get back to the plan, or not; depends on the way it goes

9. Practice it.

• It takes practice to become a good teacher, always learn to become better

10. Encourage, and challenge, them to be better

• Part of it is holding their hand, part of it is pointing the way and expecting to meet them there

These are my 10 points for teaching. They are a set of summarised aspects for the beginning teacher to get you started. The more experienced teacher will likely find some familiarity in the statements which have been made, and hopefully will find some use in what has been presented as well. Most important in all of this, always keep learning and improving your knowledge.

Cheers,

Henry.

Update:

Some additions to the list from a good friend James Wran:

• Keep learning.
• Learn how to teach. Constantly seek out teaching and learning methodologies.
• Teaching isn't the finish line.

The best teachers are also students, because they keep learning. They learn their art, but they also learn more about teaching and better ways to teach students. There should not be an end to your learning, your teaching should only be an able assistant to your learning process, now you can better understand what you do, and why you do it. One of the greatest advances to my learning and becoming a better fencer was becoming a teacher. Just keep learning.

Cheers,

Henry.