Communicates Effectively

An instructor's ability to evoke respect and loyalty from his students begins with his ability to communicate. Certainly, the instructor should speak clearly and loudly. The trick for the instructor is to do this without sounding like a drill sergeant. This is no small feat considering that it's not unusual to have twenty or more students in a class, and new students—those who require the most instruction—often find themselves in the back of the room.

The teacher's instructions should be specific. If the class cannot follow the instructions, it's probably not the students' fault. For instance, after the instructor issues a command, students should, without hesitation, implement those instruc­tions. Do they instead look at one another, not knowing what to do?

A good instructor intersperses criticisms with positive comments. The student who continually drops her hands during sparring is told to keep her hands up to protect her face. But as she spars, the instructor should also point out areas in which she has improved. He also phrases criticisms in a positive way. Saying a kick could be higher is preferable to telling the student she kicks too low.

Finally, the effective communicator doesn't do all the talk­ing. Teaching is a give-and-take exercise. While the teacher will, and should, do most of the talking, students should feel free to ask questions. The teacher in turn should take each question seriously. That involves taking the time to ensure that everyone heard the question, then explaining and per­haps demonstrating the issue until everyone understands.

• Center Of Attention
• Gives the Class Structure
• Communicates Effectively
• Maintains Control of the Class
• Focuses On Students' Individual Needs
• Treats Students Equally
• Teaches More then Technique

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