Learning To Teach - Teaching To Learn

by Ms. Marian Schwartz

  As I advanced in rank, and saw senior students coming up against Black Belt tests in which they had to reproduce any and all patterns upon request, I realized that the best way to  remember the sequences of movements in so many patterns was to teach them. The necessity of having to know in order to show, as well as the repetitive nature of teaching patterns to newly ranked students facilitated the memorizing process of what otherwise looked an impossible task.

In the position of relaying new information to students, I found that in order to teach, I had to re-learn the material in such a way that I could articulate to myself what was happening in the movements.

As students struggle to learn, I must describe to myself what it is they are doing wrong as well as right, and find the best way to correct the problems. This requires, among other things, reproducing their movements and finding the best steps to the right way from where they are.

A big problem is identifying exactly what needs to be changed when a pattern or technique "doesn't look right". There are many common mistakes of which the student is easily reminded and corrects easily. Because of the nature of individuals, each student will have his own set of challenges. It is the uncommon mistakes that give the instructor cause to consider his own technique and teaching methods.

The more difficult it is to communicate sequence, technique, and purpose to a student, the more closely I tend to scrutinize those aspects of my own performance. Thus the instructor learns by teaching. 

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