tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070854769893113410.post1382054334439598116..comments2023-07-26T07:58:35.008-04:00Comments on Life Is a Tango: Your impossible questions -- and my answers!Andrea Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00215588849281040364noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070854769893113410.post-2417048522445573922016-07-30T13:56:55.819-04:002016-07-30T13:56:55.819-04:00Thank you, Jacques, for taking the time to comment...Thank you, Jacques, for taking the time to comment. I really appreciate the feedback.<br />Everything you say here is valid and indeed, the uneven skill level of students is the weak point of group classes in general -- in all domains, not just tango.<br />Two points I would like to clarify:<br />First, Question #3 of the blog related specifically to course content. I maintain that in terms of material, there are few courses that would be a true waste of time for anyone. In fact, most of the time people who ask this type of question are those who are only interested in learning as many new moves as possible and as soon as they see words like "technique," "posture" or "walking" in a description they discount the course as boring or too basic.<br />Second, I believe that in group settings, the teachers can and usually do teach to the middle students. And this means that both the weakest and the strongest students in the class can get lost in the shuffle. (I addressed this in a previous blog post: http://lifeisatango.blogspot.ca/2016/02/classes-vs-milongas-vs-practicas.html) Teachers should definitely try to give equal attention to all students and not focus solely on the most advanced (yes, this does happen) or those who struggle the most. In practice, this doesn't always happen, but I think many teachers do try. Giving little extras such as advanced technical tips or embellishments to the stronger students is a great option... except that inevitably the weaker students immediately start trying them too!<br />Indeed teachers need to direct students to the right levels. We, for example, offer a discount on re-takes of any course, to encourage people to master one thing before moving on to the next. And we do not allow students to move on if we see they are still struggling hard with most of the current course material. But not all "passing grades" are the same, so there will always be varying skill levels in any group course.<br />Generally, when dancers are unhappy with the partner situation or the overall group system, we recommend private lessons, which may be more expensive at first glance, but worth every penny in my opinion.Andrea Shepherdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00215588849281040364noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6070854769893113410.post-11713164495639601272016-07-28T20:55:25.294-04:002016-07-28T20:55:25.294-04:00I agree with all this Andrea. However, I feel you ...I agree with all this Andrea. However, I feel you discount question #3 "Would this course be a waste of my time" a little curtly. You are forgetting that people who are paying $170 for a course, or $20-$30 for a workshop, are entitled to get something "significant" for their money.<br /><br />The problem is not with course content which is usually very good. I agree that there is always something to learn or improve. The problem stems from the fact that group participants have very different skill levels. There is no evaluation at the end or beginning of classes to assess skill level and mastery of the previous levels. People can move on from level to level without having mastered the previous levels. School owners should tell some students to retake a class or to keep practicing before they can move on to the next level.<br /><br />I am very annoyed when I register to a level 5, 6 or 7 class or to a workshop requiring those levels to observe that most participants are far from been up to par. They ask basic, not to say stupid questions showing they haven't mastered the pre-requisites or even basics such balance, leading, following and executing ochos and giros. These weak participants grab more than their share of the teachers’ attention and I end up been lucky if I get one comment per class or workshop. And when we are asked to change partners and I end up with someone who is way too far behind, it aggravates me. Yes, I feel I am wasting my time and my money.<br /><br />I would feel much better if groups were more homogeneous and if teachers gave equal attention to all participants, regardless of their skill level. After all, we all paid the same price. <br /><br />I also feel cheated when teachers adjust the class level to the slowest learners. I feel cheated. If I am good enough to learn quickly the new step, then get me to do it better or to add something to it. Don’t limit me to an approximation because you have to attend to the weaker students. Don’t give my share of time to those who are unable to learn because they haven’t mastered the previous levels well enough and are going too fast to the next level.<br /><br />Tango schools should filter weak students and route them to consolidation or technique courses. I understand that too often they need more participants to make more money, though at the expense of not serving more advanced participants. I can hear the response: but people don’t want to redo classes or remedial workshops. Well, what are tango schools going to do about it? What efforts are you investing to sell the point? Maybe more people would enroll in advanced classes and workshops because they would feel they are getting their money’s worth. And maybe fewer men would drop out of tango because they are not enjoying themselves because they don’t feel good enough. Involving men in tango is another topic.Jacques Ganierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08644302876799339572noreply@blogger.com