[Tango-L] Aus International TangoFest - negative feedback

[David]

> From: "Trini y Sean (PATangoS)" <patangos at yahoo.com> 
> I know of one couple whose first try at teaching in the States did not go well 
> at all.  However, they were open to criticism, improved during the weekend, and 
> I've invited them to teach here multiple times.  Public criticism of their 
> initial workshops would have been unfair, don't you think? 

No, I don't think that honest public criticism is unfair.  I think that wasting time and money on a bad class is unfair, though.  

> When one offers criticism, though, it should be constructive.  Just saying "they 
> suck" isn't going to tell anyone anything useful.  Was it the lack of details, 
> inability to control the class, indifference to students, imbalance of teaching 
> patterns versus technique?  If the person was standing right in front of you, 
> what would you say to help that person improve?  Wouldn't you want that person 
> to become a better teacher? 

On this point we agree.  And to go a step further, when criticising you can also point out what was good about the teachers or the class.  That way the reader will get a more balanced perspective.  FWIW, most of my classes/workshops have been either good or very good.  

Regards,

David