hay all im pretty sure ive just blown a chunk of $$$ trying to become a kite instructor, ive allways enjoyed running around the beach helping everyone out etc but just practiceing to teach myself how to kite into the mirror is leaving me a stuttering stumbleing mess, i know i can talk all day about kiteing to a stranger but for some reason when its in a rehearsed lesson plan it just becomes this ****ty game of remembering **** consecutively which ive never been to good at.

do i just continue on writeing and reading out aloud lessons plans to myself. how long did it take you guys to be comfortable teaching?

Kozzie,

You can't expect to be perfect and natural if it's your first time teaching anything. Making mistakes is part of the process of learning to teach.

Memorizing your lesson plan word for word may have ''worked'' during your instructor course but won't go a long way in real life with real students.

Your first priority is to get comfortable by getting to know your student well: find out about their background, motivation to learn kiteboarding, prior training, share stories, crack jokes and have a laugh! Once the ice is broken it's all about setting simple goals and working on only one thing at the time. Remember you can't teach EVERYTHING, so select the most important information and keep it as simple and as FUN as possible. You WILL forget things once in a while, don't worry too much about it, move along and if it's important and you remember it later bring it back to the lesson, or wait till the second lesson. Avoid long boring monologues by regularly asking your student questions to get them as involved in the lesson as possible (e.g. what's a good spot for learning? What dangers do we have around us? What wind directions are unsafe? Etc.) The more you get your student to talk the more relaxed you will feel, the more fun you will both have and the more naturally your lesson will flow.

Also, try to make the theory more relevant and interesting by telling stories about things you've experienced, seen or heard in the past or simply by using live examples around you.

Write a new lesson plan (1-2 pages max) with a very simple structure and simple goals (what? How? When? Where?), and try to use as little words as possible. The rest will have to come naturally through conversation; don't write down what to say word for word and don't do monologues in front of the mirror, that's a trap!

Before you start working at a school, shadow more lessons and try to teach friends of friends (not close friends) to gain some experience and get comfortable. When you're in a school, discuss with fellow instructors, share successes and failures and gather tips and tricks from one other.




I hope this helps!

Christian

Speaking as someone who has had lessons in the last 6 months or so, I reckon a lot of cbulots'a points are spot on. In particular it's important to understand what your student wants, and match that to their speed of learning.

The first lesson I had, the instructor seemed really keen to get me through the initial stages (safety, assisted launch and land, basic kite control,body dragging) really quickly. Coming away from the lesson I felt I'd actually done those things ok, but I wasn't really confident that I really knew and understood. It seemed like he felt the most important things to do were tick off the various stages. I'd mentioned at the start that I wasn't going to be impatient about the process but wanted to feel like I was confident I was going to be safe.

I then went to another guy who seemed to understand perfectly where I was coming from and he took much more time on safety issues (at the start of each session), and discussed each aspect with me as we went, to make sure I was confident that I could handle anything that happened.
As a result I've enjoyed the learning process much more, and at the end of the day probably progressed quicker.

Also, for what it's worth, I'd recommend strongly encouraging all learners to trawl through this forum to pick up info about safety (and consequences) locations, gear and other general info from experienced and inexperienced kiters. I reckon it should be compulsory for newbies, and makes a lot of what you teach 'fall into place' better.

I',, for t the following advise
Teach 'em how to kite,
How to disarm the gear
And what can go wrong
Be your self
And set them free
5 easy steps

Kozzie said..

cheers fellas, i had no idea i could just read off the sheet listing all the theory etc (thought i needed to memorise it in order hence why i could only get 5 minutes into my spiel in the mirror before becomeing a muttering mess hahaha actually had 3 students yesterday just from start to body draging went really well with the last one had her body draging with one hand both directions so was a good way to finish off the arvo. now i got a few days to rehearse my study plan etc should be all over saturday arvo so yeah, alot more confident now that ive had a bit of experience. still reading thru all the advice thanks heaps for it apreciate it.

*by read off the sheet i mean the bullet points of course :)

Well done.

snalberski said..

Performance anxiety only manifests when you don't truly know your craft

Might explain my marriage ceremony ... Lol

don't worry your 100 shadow hours should get u rid of ur mumbles