I love enthusiastic teachers–they motivate students to learn, and they bring energy to the classroom. Many times I have been forced to be in class with a teacher that was less than inspiring, and it isn’t exactly an enjoyable feeling.
Even so–I have still been able to learn from those teachers.
There is a fundamental difference between being able to motivate students and being able to instruct them. These are two very different things–and some teachers can make the mistake of not realizing that.
Being able to instruct a student means that you can break down the step or combination for them in a way that helps them to learn it. Being able to motivate them means that they will want to do it–and perhaps even get excited about it.
Ideally, it’s nice to be able to do both, but instruction is at the heart of teaching. Especially if you are new to the craft, be sure to focus on making sure you can relay information to your students. As you become more comfortable with that portion of the job, you can work on inspiring them!
