Was back to my wed class. found out that they're all working in a shipping company and the company offers great welfare/bonding activities, hence these sponsored salsa lessons.
my hour of peril came when I was informed that Justin was not around to teach them "intermediate" class. All the instructors around were highly against allowing them to merge with the normal intermediate class. SO....................... i decided to teach, some basic steps.
Found out that justin has been teaching them combing techniques. it was until later that it's VERY wise of him to do that. Thinking that the class did very well in basic class, i went on to teach CBLT, with the agenda of teaching variations using CBLT. But, 30 mins into the class i realised that no one could really grasp the step. and it's very pointless to teach variations for that. so i modified my "syllabus" to the first 8 only, that being a simple turn hammerlock.
considerably simple. but i didn't have the foresight to realise that to get out of that, i was going to do a back-break and double hand comb. if the class didn't get the CBLT, it was worse with the back break, simply because i haven't covered third hand hold with them. and because, they were all not concentrating anymore.
Later, i realised that everything went wrong the moment they shut off. the reason why they did so well in basic was because i still had their attention then. Finally, i pulled out my last card: end the agony. not only the students' but also mine. the students cannot understand how to do the steps, i cannot really explain the steps without taking a much longer time. looking back, i could have plunged into that. but the chances are, my class would be very confused and be further put off.
Later, justin's advice, in such situations is, to calm down, collect all their attention, and say, let's do it together...most importantly, read their minds. whether they are just tired, or they are still very willing to learn, but you are not teaching to them the way they want.
Wed's lesson taugt me that, being a good instructor also requires you to have psychic abilities. and then, be bothered enough to attend to their needs and wants. doesn't help if you understand them, but can't be bothered. imagine:
student: "man, i really can't catch this step"
Instructor: "oh really? you'll just have to practise more later, now i have to complete my class"
But of course, there are no such instructors.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Yesterday, while waiting for a briefing to start, i got stung by an insect. I don't know what insect it is because when it flew away i was more affected by the pain on my third finger than to pay attention to its fleeting escape.
within the next 1 hour, my finger swelled, then the palm, then the other 2 fingers beside it. then the joints started to swell, giving me knobby fingers. as i didn't have any anti-histamines with me, i went to the university health care. Note that my hand was numb and swollen to the point that i can't flex it.
guess how the wellness centre treated me.
The same, okay, take a number (before that i waited a long while cuz the nurse was attending to a clueless grad foreign student). took a number, somehow, the numbers didn't jump very fast to mine. it was the same as normal. i happen to be at the wellness centre on monday too because the haze was affecting my arm, nose and eyes. it took 30 mins eventhough i had 40 numbers between the currently served and my queue number.
yesterday, it took 30 mins too, though only 10 queue numbers were before me. Somebody was saying maybe i should say i cannot breathe or something...oh well.
my hand is still swollen, itchy and the joints are painful. am quite okay with the whole experience, at least next time when someone walks into my pharmacy with an insect sting, i can understand how they feel.
within the next 1 hour, my finger swelled, then the palm, then the other 2 fingers beside it. then the joints started to swell, giving me knobby fingers. as i didn't have any anti-histamines with me, i went to the university health care. Note that my hand was numb and swollen to the point that i can't flex it.
guess how the wellness centre treated me.
The same, okay, take a number (before that i waited a long while cuz the nurse was attending to a clueless grad foreign student). took a number, somehow, the numbers didn't jump very fast to mine. it was the same as normal. i happen to be at the wellness centre on monday too because the haze was affecting my arm, nose and eyes. it took 30 mins eventhough i had 40 numbers between the currently served and my queue number.
yesterday, it took 30 mins too, though only 10 queue numbers were before me. Somebody was saying maybe i should say i cannot breathe or something...oh well.
my hand is still swollen, itchy and the joints are painful. am quite okay with the whole experience, at least next time when someone walks into my pharmacy with an insect sting, i can understand how they feel.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Since last week, wednesdays at Xenbar have been swarmed with a new/big group of corporate employees. must thank Christina (i hope i got it right) for advertising Xenbar to them. Now Wednesdays are back to the way they were. I sincerely hope that after they finish the package that they signed up for, they will stay on.
Was shocked when i saw the first few people walk into Xenbar. then Wee beng said there'll be alot more, and i'm supposed to teach them. the co-incidence was, i actually wanted to give up the class that day because of another event. At the last minute, i decided to teach the lesson, end on time and rush back. but boy was i wrong. the lesson that day ended at 8.30pm. Thanks to Kyo for allowing me to go overtime "a bit".
It's good and bad to have such a big, chattery group. They know each other, it makes the whole environment fun. of course, they were much less serious about the lesson than all my other students because this is their chance to wind down, let down their hair and enjoy.
After teaching for a little more than 6 months, i realise that "following the slowest" actually holds truth. but i don't think it should be a hard and fast guide. sometimes, you have to entertain and take care of the majority too. At times when there is a great disparity of salsa background in the class, i tend to get very stressed thinking how to entertain the majority, while i coach the slowest. I used to stick to the slowest, because basic class is for the beginners, and if i don't entertain the majority, at least one person in class benefited. Now, i think it is still a good approach. However, for this group, i went with the majority because they've attended only one previous class, so the beginners have less to catch up with.
Owing to the large group of beginners, i started on Simple turn at only 8.10. at which my lesson was supposed to be over. I think time had to be spent on explaining. Explaining to them why we are spending so much time on basics. All the time, i kept telling myself, these people are probably smarter than me, so never undermine their intelligence by going too slow. much time was also spent on calming the class. As with most groups, there is always a clown, the attention seeker. While i tried to push the class through my agenda, i had to bear special consideration not to spoil anybody's fun.
For some twisted, co-incidence, i couldn't find the mic that day, and i still couldn't find it this week. Am i lucky i only have to teach for one hour? there must be a better way to capture their attention. Is it because they don't respect me enough? Besides being the boss, what is it about Justin that makes them all quiten down and listen?
Last but not least, i have to thank Natalie and Ivy for helping me in the class. Without them, i'll have to go to Shaolin and learn the art of splitting myself into 2. And especially to Natalie, she saw the areas that i didn't cover, the info that the students needed, and helped me emphasize them. Am very gratefully to the both of them.
Was shocked when i saw the first few people walk into Xenbar. then Wee beng said there'll be alot more, and i'm supposed to teach them. the co-incidence was, i actually wanted to give up the class that day because of another event. At the last minute, i decided to teach the lesson, end on time and rush back. but boy was i wrong. the lesson that day ended at 8.30pm. Thanks to Kyo for allowing me to go overtime "a bit".
It's good and bad to have such a big, chattery group. They know each other, it makes the whole environment fun. of course, they were much less serious about the lesson than all my other students because this is their chance to wind down, let down their hair and enjoy.
After teaching for a little more than 6 months, i realise that "following the slowest" actually holds truth. but i don't think it should be a hard and fast guide. sometimes, you have to entertain and take care of the majority too. At times when there is a great disparity of salsa background in the class, i tend to get very stressed thinking how to entertain the majority, while i coach the slowest. I used to stick to the slowest, because basic class is for the beginners, and if i don't entertain the majority, at least one person in class benefited. Now, i think it is still a good approach. However, for this group, i went with the majority because they've attended only one previous class, so the beginners have less to catch up with.
Owing to the large group of beginners, i started on Simple turn at only 8.10. at which my lesson was supposed to be over. I think time had to be spent on explaining. Explaining to them why we are spending so much time on basics. All the time, i kept telling myself, these people are probably smarter than me, so never undermine their intelligence by going too slow. much time was also spent on calming the class. As with most groups, there is always a clown, the attention seeker. While i tried to push the class through my agenda, i had to bear special consideration not to spoil anybody's fun.
For some twisted, co-incidence, i couldn't find the mic that day, and i still couldn't find it this week. Am i lucky i only have to teach for one hour? there must be a better way to capture their attention. Is it because they don't respect me enough? Besides being the boss, what is it about Justin that makes them all quiten down and listen?
Last but not least, i have to thank Natalie and Ivy for helping me in the class. Without them, i'll have to go to Shaolin and learn the art of splitting myself into 2. And especially to Natalie, she saw the areas that i didn't cover, the info that the students needed, and helped me emphasize them. Am very gratefully to the both of them.
Am in a mad rush to finish 4 projects....reminds me of my year 2 life. accept that this is so much more impt now, because these projects are done, (at least to me) for the sake of honing my future career skills.
At the point when we're going to graduate in 6 months, i'm wondering whether i should be doing pre-registration. pre-registration means i can practise as a pharmacist. initially, i am very much deterred by the cold and strict environment of the hospital. i don't think i want to ever, work there. then i went to HPB, saw all the job opportunities there, was thinking, maybe i could see it in my future career options. but first, i need to gain some work experience. so i tot, maybe i could work with some pharma company so i don't have to do pre-reg and have work experience. then i tot, maybe IMH would be interesting.
then i attended this talk by GSK marketing manager. she reminded me of my earlier resolution to be in retail. and her final words were "do pre-reg". well. so i guess, i'll still be doing pre-reg, in retail, or if IMH wants me, i'll try. for 3 years maybe. If retail, maybe 4 years? Somehow, i don't see people in retail staying for a very long time. but we'll see how, maybe i can become area manager for guardian one day? I'm not a very clinical person, so retail is my thing. besides, i can sound altruistic and say, i want to do retail because i feel that improving the health of the public does not only lie in giving and ensuring correct medicine. with the successful marketing of supplements, more and more people need an objective advice regarding such issues. I believe that a person walking in to ask for information is more receptive to advice than a sick person. so i think the way to really impact lives is from retail. and more imptly, a person should also be entitled to professional advice even when they are healthy.
At the point when we're going to graduate in 6 months, i'm wondering whether i should be doing pre-registration. pre-registration means i can practise as a pharmacist. initially, i am very much deterred by the cold and strict environment of the hospital. i don't think i want to ever, work there. then i went to HPB, saw all the job opportunities there, was thinking, maybe i could see it in my future career options. but first, i need to gain some work experience. so i tot, maybe i could work with some pharma company so i don't have to do pre-reg and have work experience. then i tot, maybe IMH would be interesting.
then i attended this talk by GSK marketing manager. she reminded me of my earlier resolution to be in retail. and her final words were "do pre-reg". well. so i guess, i'll still be doing pre-reg, in retail, or if IMH wants me, i'll try. for 3 years maybe. If retail, maybe 4 years? Somehow, i don't see people in retail staying for a very long time. but we'll see how, maybe i can become area manager for guardian one day? I'm not a very clinical person, so retail is my thing. besides, i can sound altruistic and say, i want to do retail because i feel that improving the health of the public does not only lie in giving and ensuring correct medicine. with the successful marketing of supplements, more and more people need an objective advice regarding such issues. I believe that a person walking in to ask for information is more receptive to advice than a sick person. so i think the way to really impact lives is from retail. and more imptly, a person should also be entitled to professional advice even when they are healthy.
Saturday, October 07, 2006
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Salsa vs Latin Ballroom
Disclaimer: this entry shall not consider standard ballroom dances as it is
1) too difficult to excel in,
2) too rigid,
3) takes too long to master,
4) has no established ballroom dancing teachers in singapore willing to impart all dance skills, and in writer's opinion
5) too stiffling for expression of self (no ballet background, marginally appreciates contemporary dance).
In the above disclaimer, i have already stated the main reasons why i prefer salsa.
It is interesting how a few people can actually document the exact same thoughts over the same time. After posting this entry, i realised that YQ posted an email about "salsa = play" in our yahoo groups. I totally agree with her.
I was at YIH copying rag videos from the NUSSU exco (if you want a copy, come to me) when i chanced upon an old photo of a couple i know, in a rumba pose. I thought to myself, yes, latin dance is interesting, especially samba and rumba, each for different reasons. maybe it's the environment, maybe it's the people, but somehow, i don't see the kind of "play" YQ mentioned. Maybe it's because these dances are learnt for performance and competition sake, so the emphasis is on the audience. On the contrary, i agree whole heartedly that salsa lets the wild and sexy side of you express itself.
In the past, when i was a beginner, i laughed at the adjectives used to describe salsa; wild, sexy. However, now when i know "the rules of the game", everything makes sense. The best part of Salsa is the fact that you can pick up anyone on the dance floor and have fun. it really doesn't matter if your partner is your gf/bf/spouse; of course you'll be in a better mood and position to flirt and be sexy if that's the case. I think in this aspect, Xenbar has done a very good job. Unlike a very popular salsa club that we know, the members of Xenbar come with a goal to dance salsa and this makes one comfortable dancing with everyone. It is inevitable, that if you draw a large crowd, you can't control the people who enter.
Coming back to Xenbar, it is really a precious environment to have. (i'm coming to understand it more and more.) The best times would be when all those studying aboard come back, and their other halves miraculously return, then we truly have a salsa party, switching from partner to partner. I miss those times...
Disclaimer: this entry shall not consider standard ballroom dances as it is
1) too difficult to excel in,
2) too rigid,
3) takes too long to master,
4) has no established ballroom dancing teachers in singapore willing to impart all dance skills, and in writer's opinion
5) too stiffling for expression of self (no ballet background, marginally appreciates contemporary dance).
In the above disclaimer, i have already stated the main reasons why i prefer salsa.
It is interesting how a few people can actually document the exact same thoughts over the same time. After posting this entry, i realised that YQ posted an email about "salsa = play" in our yahoo groups. I totally agree with her.
I was at YIH copying rag videos from the NUSSU exco (if you want a copy, come to me) when i chanced upon an old photo of a couple i know, in a rumba pose. I thought to myself, yes, latin dance is interesting, especially samba and rumba, each for different reasons. maybe it's the environment, maybe it's the people, but somehow, i don't see the kind of "play" YQ mentioned. Maybe it's because these dances are learnt for performance and competition sake, so the emphasis is on the audience. On the contrary, i agree whole heartedly that salsa lets the wild and sexy side of you express itself.
In the past, when i was a beginner, i laughed at the adjectives used to describe salsa; wild, sexy. However, now when i know "the rules of the game", everything makes sense. The best part of Salsa is the fact that you can pick up anyone on the dance floor and have fun. it really doesn't matter if your partner is your gf/bf/spouse; of course you'll be in a better mood and position to flirt and be sexy if that's the case. I think in this aspect, Xenbar has done a very good job. Unlike a very popular salsa club that we know, the members of Xenbar come with a goal to dance salsa and this makes one comfortable dancing with everyone. It is inevitable, that if you draw a large crowd, you can't control the people who enter.
Coming back to Xenbar, it is really a precious environment to have. (i'm coming to understand it more and more.) The best times would be when all those studying aboard come back, and their other halves miraculously return, then we truly have a salsa party, switching from partner to partner. I miss those times...
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Video Editing
I successfully edited the videos of my trifac bash performance.
BUT....
i used a trial version of the video editing programme, so, now i have "Video Edit Magic, Trial Version" sprawled all over the middle of my video. i was so sad that it turned out like that.
Yesterday, while i was drifting in and out of my drugged sleep, i saw Nigel editing them, then when i woke up, the videos were gone. why? simply because he got too frustrated editing it on iMovie, he deleted it. haha...
Refusing to be beaten, i went to download a programme to edit the videos. everything went well. First i added the subtitle thingy that justin has for all of his videos. easy enough, was difficult on iMovie because it didn't have such a function under video editing, the max duration for its subtitles is 10 secs.
the problem with this whole project was because the person who took the videos took it on a digi cam. and all the videos he could take was 1 min long. so I have to do the video transition thingy. Choosing which transition to use was no issue because i already had an idea what my finished product should look like. The difficult part was how to insert the transition at the correct moments, and allow buffer between your videos, and making sure it works...
after a while, i still couldn't make it work, somehow, the transitions go into a black screen before the next. then after slow realization, i figured that i have to overlap the videos. guess i really got my brains fried again after this flu (yes, cough plus fever plus running nose, virus).
needless to say, after i got over that barrier, i was good to go. thus the video:
but this barrier of "trial version" sprawled over the center, i cannot overcome, i tried finding a crack, but to no avail.
I successfully edited the videos of my trifac bash performance.
BUT....
i used a trial version of the video editing programme, so, now i have "Video Edit Magic, Trial Version" sprawled all over the middle of my video. i was so sad that it turned out like that.
Yesterday, while i was drifting in and out of my drugged sleep, i saw Nigel editing them, then when i woke up, the videos were gone. why? simply because he got too frustrated editing it on iMovie, he deleted it. haha...
Refusing to be beaten, i went to download a programme to edit the videos. everything went well. First i added the subtitle thingy that justin has for all of his videos. easy enough, was difficult on iMovie because it didn't have such a function under video editing, the max duration for its subtitles is 10 secs.
the problem with this whole project was because the person who took the videos took it on a digi cam. and all the videos he could take was 1 min long. so I have to do the video transition thingy. Choosing which transition to use was no issue because i already had an idea what my finished product should look like. The difficult part was how to insert the transition at the correct moments, and allow buffer between your videos, and making sure it works...
after a while, i still couldn't make it work, somehow, the transitions go into a black screen before the next. then after slow realization, i figured that i have to overlap the videos. guess i really got my brains fried again after this flu (yes, cough plus fever plus running nose, virus).
needless to say, after i got over that barrier, i was good to go. thus the video:
but this barrier of "trial version" sprawled over the center, i cannot overcome, i tried finding a crack, but to no avail.
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