[Tango-L] Beginner to Intermediate

Thu Sep 7 10:08:01 EDT 2006

Please delete the following if you are of the persuasion that lessons are not necessary in your tango journey.

Dear Mary,
If you are the instructor and this happens:
a.)   The first time this "someone" shows up, and you know their level, you welcome him/her with open arms, say something like "you may be very challenged in this class, but give it your all!", and keep an eye on h/h.  If h/s is struggling, then you give h/h something simpler to work on as you continue with the rest of the class.
After the class, you make a judgement.  If h/s rose to the occasion, then you give a compliment on the effort.
If h/s struggled throughout the class, then you may want to say something like "in order to get the most out of this class, you need to work on your balance/musicality/whatever.  Do you practice walking to music/pivoting/navigating/whatever inbetween classes?  That's really going to help you"
This type of conversation directly addresses the issue.
Note: 
If you have several people who are in this category, then you have already grouped them together to work on something more simple.  Towards the end of the class, tell this group something like "this class requires more balance/musicality/whatever.  Thursday's/Monday's/whatever day's class is geared more towards these concepts.  I hope to see you there."

Remember: the instructor is not only the teacher of the student but also the servant of the student.
It is our duty to analyze the student's current level and to suggest what exercises/conceps/classes/videos/workshops will help them to progress.  It is up to the student to either take or ignore this advice.
It is also our duty to provide for the other students in the class, material to help them get to their next level of dancing. These students have taken the "intermed" class in good faith and already have done their work to get more proficient and are not expecting the instructor to gear the class to one or a few people who have not "done their homework".

b.) For the someone who struggled in the "intermed" class before, and they come a second time:
If you notice them before the class starts, you can say something like:"hey, you must have been practicing....go for it!"
If they still struggle, then again group them and give them something more simple to work on, and at the end of the session, you must tell them that they must first go through the "adv. beginners/Tango I and II/ page one of the "things you need to know to go on" list/or whatever you call it, BEFORE you try this class again."
Again, this directly addresses the issue.

IF YOU ARE ANOTHER STUDENT IN THE INTERMED CLASS AND THESE "SOMEONES" ARE CONTINUALLY COMING, THEN PLEASE GIVE A COPY OF THIS ADVICE TO THE INSTRUCTOR OVER A CUP OF COFFEE AFTER CLASS, SAYING THAT YOU ARE VERY INTERESTED IN HELPING THESE OTHER STUDENTS REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL IN A LOGICAL AND FAIR WAY.

NOTE TO INSTRUCTORS:
if you are lucky enough to teach in a city with a very large tango community, the above happens frequently and the above advice is not implementable,  then I suggest posting a simple notice at the sign-in desk, stating "the basic requirements the student must have mastered in order to participate in this class".  Remember, this is your CLASS, not a free public event.
Please don't hesitate to GUIDE a student in their tango journey.

Good luck and happy teaching.  Remember, it is always a labor of love!

Joanne Pogros
Cleveland, Ohio

-----Original Message-----
From: fred.herman at sbcglobal.net
To: tango-L at mit.edu
Sent: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 2:11 AM
Subject: [Tango-L] Beginner to Intermediate

When someone who does not yet  belong at an intermediate level class 
shows up at one, has anyone out there found a  diplomatic way to deal 
with the situation?
Also,  has anyone found a good, reliable way to graduate someone from 
the beginning class to intermediate?  I would be curious to know what 
seems to have worked for other people out there.
Mary
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