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When students drop out of your class, it can actually have
a very bad effect on your self esteem. "Is it me? Am I a
bad teacher?" you may ask yourself.
Here's the good news: it's not you, it's them. Here's the
bad news: it's you, not them. Confused? Good. So am I. Just kidding!
Back to the point: it could be you, them or both. Enlighten
yourself…read on!
Reason 1: It's Hard
The Problem:
People don't realise how hard it is to learn Oriental Dance
until they try it.
Solution:
When people inquire about classes, don't burst into a 2 hour
lecture on the complexity of the dance over the phone. This will
put fear into their hearts, and that is not our goal here.
It's no secret that Oriental Dance is not easy, so if a prospective
student does ask on the phone tell them honestly: "it's
like anything else: it's difficult to start with and takes time
to learn". But ideally, let them come to class and tell
the whole class (without terrorising them), that it's like anything
new: it takes time, effort and regular attendance of classes
in order to progress. You're not tricking them by doing this,
simply telling them at an appropriate time.
So during your introduction in the first class tell the students
that it won't be easy as ABC (I can feel a song coming on) and
encourage them to give themselves the patience they deserve in
order to learn over the time of the course, as opposed to overnight
(as many will expect from themselves). In my own words: "Okay,
the first rule is: don't freak out. Don't worry if you don't
get it right, don't worry if you feel like you don't know anything.
Because you won't get it perfectly right and you won't know everything
in the first few nanoseconds you begin any dance, including this
dance. It takes time. Remember, you're here to learn and have
fun. Now let's boogie!"
Reason 2: Slow Progress
The Problem:
They expect to get good without attending classes and/or practicing
or get disheartened when they don't improve radically after a
short time.
Solution:
If someone pays for a course or set of classes, attends half
or a third of them, never practices at home and comes to you
complaining that they gave you their money and haven't learnt
a thing, what do you do? Well, prevention is the best solution.
Once again, tell them in the first class what they can expect
to gain throughout the course. Tell them, "In this course
we cover 10 songs. We will do 2 songs per class and have a review
every 3rd week. If you're serious about learning and come to
every class and practice for a couple of hours a week at home,
then you'll theoretically come out at the end of the course with
10 choreographed songs. If you're just here to have fun, then
expect to learn some moves and get a feel for the music."
They know what to expect from the onset, so they can't complain
to you later.
Reason 3: Don't Like It
The Problem:
They don't like Oriental Dance.
Solution:
This is something you'll never be able to do anything about.
Some people (in fact, most people) will love it. But some won't.
Wish them well in their quest to find a physical activity they
enjoy and don't feel upset or bitter about it.
If someone misses three classes in a row, give them a call.
Say, "I was just thinking about you today and noticed you've
missed out on the last three classes. Is everything okay?"
People have paid you their money to learn. For you to not care
when they disappear only means one thing to people: that you're
only concerned about their wellbeing while they've got their
hand in their pocket and once you have their money you don't
give a damn.
Have some decency - a phone call only takes 2 minutes. Take
the time and make the effort to do it. If they say that it's
just not their cup of tea, be positive: "Well, let me say
that it was a pleasure meeting you and teaching you for the short
while that I did. And if you change your mind I'd love to see
you again…Best of luck."
This person may not like Oriental Dance, but they might know
someone or meet someone who would like to learn. And guess who
they'll recommend to their friend? They'll remember you for your
kindness, concern and good wishes and recommend you.
Reason 4: Commitments
The Problem:
Other commitments have arisen that are more serious or important.
Solution:
Again, this is something you can't do much about. And again,
a phone call is your duty to them.
People see you as a business person and perceive the business
world and the people in it as cut throat. Be the opposite - be
a concerned human. The impact of being on the receiving end of
your compassion will stay in their minds. If they don't come
back to classes, then wish them all the best and welcome them
to future classes. Believe me, if they want to continue in the
future they'll definitely come back to you.
Reason 5: Frustration
The Problem:
They feel like they're the only ones not 'getting it'.
Solution:
Your words of advice at the beginning of the first class outlined
in the solutions to Reasons 1 and 2 will sometimes prevent this
from happening.
Another method of prevention is encouragement during class.
Be very generous with your praise and back off or be gentle with
correcting people. If the person is particularly lacking in co-ordination,
don't keep correcting them with every move as they'll feel very
singled out.
Reason 6: Can't Keep Up
The Problem:
You're moving too fast.
Solution:
One of the most important aspects of teaching beginners is
remembering what it's like to be a beginner.
You've been dancing for years and know many moves, choreographies
and pieces of music off by heart. But a beginner is doing just
that: beginning to learn what you already know off by heart.
The solution is in your lesson plans. Plan to do songs that
are simple and a little repetitive in their choreography and
only do maximum 2 songs in a one hour class. There's no time
for more than that if you're breaking down the song move by move.
Stick to your lesson plan. Just because you've danced that song
a zillion times and are a little 'over it' as they say, it doesn't
mean your students are. It's all new to them.
Another thing you'll need to keep is enthusiasm for the music
you use: get over being over it -- get into it!
Reason 7: Your Teaching
The Problem:
They don't like your teaching.
Solution:
Sorry guys, but it's got to be said: not everyone can teach.
Some people can dance like no one has danced before, have perfect
technique and beautiful choreography, but they don't know how
to teach it.
I've seen teachers who don't bother to explain moves to beginners.
Dancing to the music is just not good enough - every single individual
step needs to be broken down for beginners.
I've seen teachers teach individual moves and never put it
into choreography. What is the point of individual moves on their
own? They mean nothing - it's like having the ingredients to
make a cake but no recipe to tell you how to put it together.
Pointless.
I've seen teachers who choreograph and teach parts of songs
and never get back to teaching the whole song. As far as I'm
concerned, unless you're doing a class on improvisation and will
improvise to the music, if you haven't choreographed an entire
song to (at least near) perfection, don't teach it to beginners.
Teaching students 45 seconds of a 3 minute song is of no use
to anyone.
Reason 8: You
The Problem:
They don't like you.
Solution:
Apologies faithful readers (glad you made it through Reason
7), but I've encountered this myself as a student: teachers who
are bitchy, distracted or perfectionistic.
Firstly, there is no place for nasty comments in the classroom.
"Don't move your arm like that, it looks stupid" is
a comment directed at me in class one day. Guess who never went
back to that teacher?
As for being distracted, I'm talking about 10 minute conversations
in class about how many loads of washing had to be done that
day, or how a friend of theirs nearly chopped their finger off
while doing the gardening. Who cares? People pay you to learn
how to dance, not to learn about your personal life. Chit chat
during a warm up with low volume music is okay - it gets people
comfortable and shows that you are not simply "The Teacher"
or "The Goddess" but a person, which is an important
side to show to your pupils. They don't want to be taught by
a goddess - that standard is too high to live up to. But during
class, the only conversation should be about the history of the
dance, the origins of the moves, the culture from which the dance
comes - and the odd, very brief non-relevant conversation on
occasion (don't make it a habit).
Now for perfectionism: people come to your classes for varying
reasons. One of those reasons is not to be perfect. If you're
training more advanced people for a troupe performance, then
perfect timing is necessary and a degree of perfectionism necessary.
But beginners want to learn and have fun.
So to sum up: criticism, lack of focus and repetition to the
point of torture have no place in your dance classes.
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