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.