My zouk teacher made an interesting comment last week when a few of the class stopped dancing half-way through a song.
Usually we wait for him to direct the class and say what the next move or next steps will be.
This time was different. He turned around and saw that we were waiting for him. Instead he said: “Don’t always wait for the teacher for you to know the next step.”
I liked what he said straight away. Let’s say I forget to give you some homework this week. Well, you shouldn’t need your teacher here to tell you what to do.
Learning a language is a bit like learning a dance: ultimately it’s up to you to move in the direction you want, to enjoy the journey of learning, and to take responsibility for the steps you take along the way.
Read more
151 words: exploring the topic
151 words: a mistake that really matters
Yes, that’s why so many learners think they are not good at English. It seems to me they expect other people to do the work for them!
I wonder what dropout rates language schools experience. I guess lots of people – regardless of country and school – do one course, then ‘take a break’ and then a year later when they return find they’re more or less in the same place.
But those that stick at it really improve.
I’ve kept at zouk for just over a year now, and there are a number of students I haven’t seen again after our course ended. Meanwhile, I’ve patiently been making slow but steady progress…