Can You Also Teach?

Everyone thinks they can teach. I wonder why though. It is one of the first professions a person comes across in their lives which seems simpler and more doable than a doctor's, which is also one of the first professionals we meet. Or maybe because teaching and learning is a participatory process, hence one might think that they can teach, if they can learn. The sad state of affairs of education in the country, the fairly low entry points, the abysmal salaries might also all hint towards the thought that if that he/she can teach of course I can too.

Let me tell you, thats not true.

I have had some of the worst teachers while growing up and have come across some even more pathetic ones when I decided to learn something as an adult. Currently, I am learning how to swim. My coach is losing patience with me because I am unable to float in water and keep calm and breathe. He is also exasperated at my sister who seems to be the slow student. He adopts the sink or swim approach (literally) and today decided to take us to the deep end of the pool. All of us, adults, asserted our authority to say no and continued in the shallow end. The sad part of the whole process is that we don't enjoy our swimming lessons any more. And it is just our sixth day.

I have had three fairly bad days in a row at swimming class but on my second day of the good times, when my sister was struggling, I held her hands and taught her the little that I knew. Once a teacher, always and everywhere a teacher, I guess. I broke the step into smaller parts and gave her pointed feedback on what she is doing right and what she needed to change. I modulated my voice so that she could gauge how hard she needs to kick and encouraged her not to give up. She did well but her struggles continue. I went around asking almost everyone I knew how much time they took to learn to swim just the absolute basics and everyone turned around and told me anywhere between 30 classes/ sessions to a lifetime. Only one person told me that it might take just one day (assuming I guess that we are all fish accidently left on the shore....) It has been hard. I look around at adults and children, barely 3 feet tall in 10 feet deep water enjoying themselves like little water buffaloes. Its wonderful and I long to be like them. It is just my sixth day and I am dejected. I now not only need to get rid of my fear of water (which I don't think I have anyway) but also need to get rid of the 'failure' tag.

This makes me think a lot about the kind of people we entrust our learning to, the ones we accept as our teachers. Teachers might be highly ambitious people who want to see their students fly or swim but is impatience and making one's frustration valid? Is giving up on a student ok? My fear is that our coach, will just leave my sister and me in the pool gasping for air and maybe splashing some water on the edges. With a float. Letting us enjoy because learning is not our thing.

My fears are not exaggerated. I joined dance lessons when I was 20. I was quite bad. My teacher gave up on me. I quit class. The teacher (she is in Andheri, if you ever want to check with me who she is leave me a comment- I will divulge in your best interest) LOVED to dance so she started a dance class. I know of people who JUST LOVE to cook so they start cooking classes. I know of others who LOVE and are COMPLETELY PASSIONATE about photography, tailoring, yoga, science, academics and god knows what else and therefore start classes to teach those skills to others. But dear cook, tailor, scientist, academician, artist do you LOVE to teach? If not, drop the idea just now. Teaching a skill might be the easiest way to turn your hobby into something you get paid for. The truth is that if you are unable to be patient, empathetic, respectful, or break down an extremely complex skill into smaller more manageable goals, provide feedback that really propels your student forward or if you are unable to see your struggling student on the highest pedestal of your craft or art, you cannot teach. And you should not. You can be a cook but might not be able to be a teacher. Cooking and teaching, for example, are two separate skills and mastery of one does not gurantee the mastery of the other. I would risk it and say that if you are a great teacher you can teach anything that you are good at even some really complex skills.

Teaching is service. Teaching is an art and a science. There are no bad students but only bad teachers. I am sorry if I am being harsh on teachers but the fact remains that if the students knew exactly what they had to do, they wouldn't opt for your tutelage.

A failing student has way too many struggles to overcome apart from just learning the skill. For example, holding back tears while also holding back your breath while you are trying to stay afloat is not easy. Don't teach if you can't. Or consider taking teaching lessons before you do. Love it and become passionate about it. And then we will see you in class.