[Tango-L] 6 months or 6 weeks

[Keith]

 After all the discussion about learning Tango in 6-months, we now have Stephen Brown who has it
 down to 6-weeks, with words like 'mastery' thrown in for good measure. What next - 6 days, with 
 perhaps a little less  'mastery'?

 And, why is everyone suddenly sooooooo polite? We have Manuel apologising for his poor English,
 when it's obvious to anyone that he was using the words 'mastery' and 'passable' correctly and it 
 was Stephen, presumably a native English' speaker, who was using them incorrectly.

 Even in his response, Stephen asserts ... "If passable requires some mastery of basic skills, 6-8 weeks
 is completely possible."

 Amazing. Stephen, I bow to your teaching skills.

 Keith, HK



 On Thu Jul 19  5:15 , "WHITE 95 R"  sent:

>Dear Steve,
>
>I guess we can agree that "mastery" and "passable" have vastly different 
>meanings to me and you. Perhaps it's my skill level in English. Please 
>excuse it on the grounds that it's not my native language.
>
>Also, I agree with you on that students need not become dependent on their 
>teachers. Attending milongas and practicas is also the best way to refine 
>and put into practice what one learns in the class. Again, you and many 
>others are right in saying that the goal of learning the tango is to dance 
>and have fun. And really, it's quite possible that a particular student 
>might be ready to leave the teacher after a few weeks or months. After all, 
>if one has taught them all one knows, there is nothing left to do but go 
>elsewhere to learn more. ;-)
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Manuel
>
>>From: Stephen.P.Brown at dal.frb.org
>
>>
>>Hi Manuel and everyone:
>>
>>If we are to parse words, some mastery of basic skills means a less than
>>mastery.
>>
>>Manuel wrote:
>> >Please do not think I'm passing judgment on your teaching skills. But in
>> >all honesty, it's extremely rare for a six~eight week trained dancer to
>> >have mastered anything.
>>
>>If passable requires some mastery of basic skills, 6-8 weeks is completely
>>possible.
>>
>>Far from finding a judgement on my teaching skills, I read a criticism of
>>other teachers.  Students need to be taught enough in a beginning course
>>that they are encouraged to keep dancing.  If the emphasis is on teaching
>>small elements and basic rhythmic skills, they will find the ecouragement.
>>  Will they be prepared to join the Tango X 2 company?  No.  Will they be
>>prepared to go to local milongas and have a good time?  Yes.  Having a
>>good time may launch them into the learning and practice that is necessary
>>to move beyond passable.
>>
>>Jake is completely right that the instructors cannot practice for the
>>students.  Those who want to become dancers find it within themselves to
>>practice.
>>
>> >BTW, if you want to see passable, just go to any
>> >large milonga and watch the people dance. You'll
>> >be amazed at the number of passable dancers you'll
>> >see, and they will not be all students with six
>> >weeks of one hour/week lessons under their belts.
>>
>>Why do students who study for years never progress beyond passable?  Read
>>my other posting.
>>http://pythia.uoregon.edu/~llynch/Tango-L/2006/msg05241.html
>>
>>  IMO, too many teachers foster a dependence on their teaching.  When Susan
>>and I were teaching regularly, we often told our students that we had
>>taught them enough and they should practice and just dance to refine
>>skills.  We also hosted a guided practice, and that is where I still think
>>the students really learned to dance.
>>
>>With best regards,
>>Steve
>>
>
>_________________________________________________________________
>http://imagine-windowslive.com/hotmail/\?locale=en-us&ocid=TXT_TAGHM_migration_HM_mini_pcmag_0507
>
>_______________________________________________
>Tango-L mailing list
>Tango-L at mit.edu
>http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/tango-l