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Teacher training course | ||
classes taijiquan self defence qigong tai chi for health about us reviews a-z
Can I
become a tai chi teacher?
We welcome anyone who wants to become a
teacher.
You need to be an excellent communicator and to be genuinely interested in other
people and their wellbeing.
How long?
It typically takes at least 5 years for an
earnest student to learn the entire tai
chi for health syllabus.
Then... you can learn how to teach.
How much?
The teacher training course is free of charge.
Mandatory factors
To ensure subject knowledge,
aptitude and meet our insurance policy requirements, certain
factors must be taken into account:
School member paying by monthly standing order
Weekly attendance
Practicing daily at home between classes
5 years experience with our school (tai chi for health)
Completed the tai chi for health syllabus
Would be
taijiquan instructors need to have passed the 'experienced'
grade with our school.
Work hard
Being a teacher is more than just talent.
You need to put in the work.
Not only must you be good at
tai chi, you must
also learn how to teach.
This is why there is a teacher training course for would-be
teachers.
Know your stuff
In order to instruct, you need something to teach.
You require subject
knowledge.
Begin as a new starter and work your way through the
syllabus.
Receive guidance & feedback
Teacher training for each level is an on-going process
over many months.
It involves:
Class management methodology
Weekly teaching practice in class
Designing your own personal teaching notes/scheme of work
On-line media training
Learn how to promote a class
Lengthy debates/discussions with Sifu Waller
These teaching concerns are all in addition
to your personal development through the syllabus.
Teacher training in our school
There are a number of stages to work through:
1) Health & fitness
Helper (tai chi for health)
Assistant teacher (tai chi for health)
Tai chi for health teacher
Tai chi for fitness teacher
2) Martial
Assistant instructor (taijiquan)
Taijiquan instructor
Kung fu instructor (baguazhang, chin na, shuai jiao & taijiquan)
Tai chi for health
teacher
A tai chi teacher trained by our school
has:
• At least 5 years experience
• A professional teaching qualification/long-term extensive teaching
experience under the guidance of a reputable instructor
• Membership with a recognised body (i.e.
The Tai Chi Union for Great Britain)
• At least 10,000 hours of practice behind them
• 10,000 hours of continued improvement,
insight and development
Teaching certificate
Every tai chi teacher trained by Sifu Waller is given a signed
certificate confirming their competence.
The certificate details precisely what the individual is qualified to teach.
The more I get into this, the more I realise
how lucky we are as a class. I've just been reading the part about finding a
good teacher in the Sword Polisher's Record. We are incredibly lucky. Most
people could look their whole lives and never find anything close. Sifu
Waller's painting masterpieces and we can't even hold the crayons...
(Karen)
Short courses
We do not offer short teacher training courses.
Weekend courses
We do not offer weekend teacher training courses.
Healthcare workers
Healthcare workers and physiotherapists occasionally e-mail to ask if we
can teach them a few "basic" tai chi
skills for
them to use with their patients.
We say no.
Such requests are embarrassing.
Imagine that you have a serious
illness
and seek the reputed health benefits of tai chi...
Who would you rather study with: A) a skilled, experienced
instructor? or B) a well-meaning amateur?
Something is better than nothing?
Apologists argue that learning tai chi
from an amateur is better than not doing tai chi at all.
How so? Would you entrust an amateur dentist
with your teeth?
A partially trained optician with your eyes?
An unqualified physiotherapist?
Recommended reading
•
Fit to teach?
•
How
taijiquan is taught in
modern times
•
The purpose of a tai chi school
• Teaching levels
•
Teaching tai chi
Page created
18 April 1995
Last updated
03 October 2020
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