How do you tell a teacher they are wrong?

[ShyDancer]

YIKES!

I have been taking private lessons with a teacher who I adore, we have been going over the medal routines I am currently doing.
I had a feeling he was teaching me a wrong step , I just couldnt remember how to do it, so tonight after class I pulled my class teacher aside and asked her to show me(without mentioning why I wanted to know), turns out I was right and the private teacher is teaching me wrong....

How do I tell him? I have a lesson on wednesday and I really want to bring it to his attention without appearing rude, I dont want him to feel silly , nor do I want to cause ant friction between my 2 teachers,I really like the guy and he is quite a shy man..

How should I approach it casually?? I feel really bad having to say it!

[d nice]

Are you positive the private instructor is wrong and not the group instructor?

EITher way I'd approach it as "So and so showed me a different way of doing that step, are they variations of the same thing, or is one the normal way and the other a variation of it?

Don't assume that one is out and out wrong. Even if it is, this is what will most likely embaress one of your instructors.

You always have the option of approaching the head instructor and saying you were taught to different forms of the same step, show the steps, name the instructors and let them handle it.

Personally I'd go for the direct approach and talk to both instructors.

[HothouseSalsero]

I used to frequently tell my teacher she was wrong, but then 99% of the time, I was wrong. Fortunately, she found this behavior more amusing than annoying. So I would probably just tell her, but I would probably end up being wrong too. I can't say whether or not that's going to be true in your case.

[KevinL]

turns out I was right and the private teacher is teaching me wrong....

While it would be dissappointing if your private teacher taught you something wrong while the much-chearper group teacher taught you correctly, it is something that happens.

However, it is possible that they are both correct. They might have the same names for different steps, or the technique is different enough that they are the same steps, they just don't feel (or look) the same.

Talk to your private teacher. Perhaps he is teaching it a certain way to set something else up next?

Good luck.

Kevin

[pygmalion]

I like d nice's approach. It's diplomatic. but gets the point across.

Let me give you my private teacher is wrong experience. What a laugh. He was teaching me locks in peabody or quickstep, I think. So I asked him what the lead is for locks, and he told me he leads them by raising his shoulders. WHAT!?! Meaning, he leads the locks by destroying his posture and frame? That was clearly wrong, but so far wrong that I didn't even bother to correct him. I just refused to learn quickstep (it was quickstep, I finally remember) from him, and found a new teacher ASAP. Teachers can be wrong. WAY wrong. But they're also people with feelings, so it pays to be diplomatic.

[Pacion]

I like d nice's approach. It's diplomatic. but gets the point across.

Yes, I agree too. I would be inclined to start of the conversation as "I am confused" as it is less confontational than "I think you are teaching me something that is wrong", kind of thing. Also, I would not necessarily name names. :? It could be a variation or one teacher has gotten mixed up. At worse, both have gotten mixed up :shock: :lol:



Goodluck :D

[Adwiz]

Also keep in mind that there are "social dance" versions and syllabus versions of many steps. Sometimes they are quite different. The non-syllabus version of the Chase in Cha Cha Cha can feel like a completely incorrect step when compared to the syllabus one.

[hobrien]

What is it exactly that your teacher is doing wrong??

Have you considered that both could be right ?

In dancing there are so many variations and styles and influences etc that
it can be a fine line between being wrong and just "different".

:bandit:

[ShyDancer]

Hmm ok I didnt explain myself very well :?


Firstly its a bronze medal class Im taking so its a structured routine. So everyone else in the class will be doing her steps when we do the exam.

Its a turn that Im having the problem with...no idea what the name is, both teachers use the exact same arm movements, they are kind of "looped" over each partners head never letting go of hands.
The footwork is the issue..theses are the girls steps btw (just reverse for the guy!)
This is what the class teacher taught me.
Tap R--Side R--Back L--Rock/Replace R , then Tap L-Side L-Back R-Rock/Replace L .

In my private lesson, he teaches me Forward R--Forward L -- 1/4 turn & Back R--Back L then Fw L--Fw R--1/4 turn & Back L-- Back R

So basically he is excluding the tap..which I thought was what differentiates salsa & mambo, I dont want the judges to think I have mixed them up!

I highly doubt that the class teacher is teaching me wrong though..she has been taking the bronze medal street latin class there for a few years and apparently the routine hasnt changed in about 6 years....

I understand wht you mean about the steps being different and wrong, both these methods work well and would go great in the social scene, however Im unsure what the people judging my dancing will think!

I might just say something along the lines of "Oh we were showed this a bit differently in class"

Thanks guys :D


*** edit because my spelling is awful! :roll:

[Pacion]

So basically he is excluding the tap..which I thought was what differentiates salsa & mambo, I dont want the judges to think I have mixed them up!

Is it a salsa/mambo medal you are doing?

[ShyDancer]

Im doing the Street Latin Medal which is 3 dances, Yes the Salsa and Mambo and Merengue as well :D :D

[Pacion]

Okay, I don't know who here has experience of the Street Latin Medal but, as some have suggested, I think the best thing might be for you to ask your teachers and start off by saying "I am confused" and then explain why.

Based on your thread in the salsa forum (Types of Salsa), there is no difference between salsa and mambo. :oops: There is a difference in the salsa styles, namely columbian/cuban (they use taps/flicks) but not as something that differentiates salsa from mambo. This of course could be something that is different from the Street Latin Medal perspective though.

One other thing - generally speaking, I would say that it is possible for the arm movements to be the same, but the footwork to be different. (because the girl does the footwork to get into the position she is being lead to by the guy - hope that makes sense). Try and find out what the teachers are calling the move and see if the name is the same.

[HothouseSalsero]

Maybe I shouldn't say this, but: what the heck is a Street Latin Medal? Isn't that sort of a contradiction in terms?

[ShyDancer]

I dont understand your question :lol: :lol: :lol:

What do you mean by contradiction?


Sorry I got up WAY to early this morning :lol:

[HothouseSalsero]

I think of street dancing as existing outside formal structures like dance studios, that's all.

I'm school-taught myself, so it's not like I am claiming I have street credibility.

[SDsalsaguy]

"Street Latin" is a division, like NV, that only exists in Australia -- same as "Smooth" or "Rhythm" only exist, as divisions, in North America.

[Pacion]

Hothouse Salsero's question is funny because back in February of this year (!) there was a thread in the Argentine Tango forum about the AT and the Street Latin Medal, as in Australia, was mentioned/discussed.

http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2303 (Title = Correct or Incorrect?)

It is funny because I found this thread after googling :lol: "street latin medal". I understood what ShyDancer meant, but I was curious to see what other information was available, ie. if there was a syllabus of some sort. There was no information I could find on the Dancesport Australia's website :( so I am non the wiser :roll:

[Pacion]

Hey ShyDancer! Have you approached your teachers as yet about this? How did you get on?

[SDsalsaguy]

...How did you get on?
Which, in U.S. speak, means: "How did it go?" (i.e. what happened?) :wink:

[Pacion]

...How did you get on?
Which, in U.S. speak, means: "How did it go?" (i.e. what happened?) :wink:

Which in DF (SDsalsaguy) speak, means :wink: :

Keep us all posted though, ok? Enquiring (i.e. nosy) DF minds want to know! :lol:

Source: I have no idea how to dance :( (http://www.dance-forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=2527&start=75)

:wink: :D

[SDsalsaguy]

Smarty pants! :wink:

[salsachinita]

I think of street dancing as existing outside formal structures like dance studios, that's all.

I am with you on that one, HHS. I live in Australia, but "medal" for "Street Latin" (term invented locally 15 years ago to deferentiate OUR dances at the clubs to the ballroom dances at studios) just sounds too much like a contradiction. The original "Street Latin" greats would all be doing this :nope: ..... :wink: :lol: !

I'm school-taught myself, so it's not like I am claiming I have street credibility.

Street cred is something one EARNS. (I've got a suspicion that you have it already :wink: )

[HothouseSalsero]

Street cred is something one EARNS. (I've got a suspicion that you have it already :wink: )

Ordinarily I would tell you why that's probably not true, but I'm going to just enjoy the compliment instead.

[salsachinita]

Street cred is something one EARNS. (I've got a suspicion that you have it already :wink: )

Ordinarily I would tell you why that's probably not true, but I'm going to just enjoy the compliment instead.

:? tell.....? :? (Enjoy it anyway....... :wink: )

[ShyDancer]

LOL! Im glad you are all waiting anxiously on my news!

It went really well actually..... I went thru the moves and just as he was about to go forward and me go back, I mentioned that on monday night we were taught to go forward and the guy moves back, He said ok no problem and we went from there :D

Had a really good chat with him about my technique..... I MUST start repeating "I will not look at my feet" at least once and hour :lol: :lol: :lol:
Actually the whole lesson was really great...ya for me :D

I was nervous for nothing!

[bordertangoman]

Maybe I shouldn't say this, but: what the heck is a Street Latin Medal? Isn't that sort of a contradiction in terms?

Shoudn't that be be 'Street Latin Metal' !! :wink: :wink:

[HothouseSalsero]

Maybe I shouldn't say this, but: what the heck is a Street Latin Medal? Isn't that sort of a contradiction in terms?

Shoudn't that be be 'Street Latin Metal' !! :wink: :wink:

That too. Although maybe that would be an interesting sound. (Nacao Zumbi out of Brazil did something like that, and they were almost interesting.)

[Pacion]

LOL! Im glad you are all waiting anxiously on my news!

:banana:

It went really well actually..... I went thru the moves and just as he was about to go forward and me go back, I mentioned that on monday night we were taught to go forward and the guy moves back, He said ok no problem and we went from there :D

:roll: Did he say why the difference? Can you ask your other teacher about it? It could be useful/interesting to know so that you settle in our minds :wink: whether it was "wrong", a "variation" or a different step/combination.

Had a really good chat with him about my technique..... I MUST start repeating "I will not look at my feet" at least once and hour :lol: :lol: :lol:

Ooooh yes. My ex teacher would say: Did you or your dance partner drop some money? Why are you looking at the floor! :oops:

Actually the whole lesson was really great...ya for me :D

I was nervous for nothing!

Great! For me, nerves = brain is thinking :wink: Congratulations and hopefully next time, you won't feel so shy :D

[pygmalion]

Yup. I'm glad things worked out, ShyDancer. 8)

[ShyDancer]

Did he say why the difference? Can you ask your other teacher about it? It could be useful/interesting to know so that you settle in our minds whether it was "wrong", a "variation" or a different step/combination.

He said it was just a variation :D Both ways are right, just depends on which you prefer, in my case I prefer his :lol: :lol: Its much more fun because your feet move faster and my arms just work better with it (not sure why that is :?: )
And I asked him about the exams...would it matter which variation I used, he said no so thats a relief, although I will be asking my class teacher about it too.

He said something that really made me laugh, I was questioning how you get judged and awarded your score in the exams and I asked him what happens if you totally stuff up a move..his reply (and Im quoting word for word here!) " If you are going to stuff up make it look good, if it looks good they wont notice" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:




Ooooh yes. My ex teacher would say: Did you or your dance partner drop some money? Why are you looking at the floor!

Hehehe! I was asked why I look at my feet..my reply ... "I want to see what my feet are doing!" Duh!

[SDsalsaguy]

Hehehe! I was asked why I look at my feet..my reply ... "I want to see what my feet are doing!" Duh!
Yes, but by the time you see something it's too late to change it! :shock: :lol:

[Pacion]

He said something that really made me laugh, I was questioning how you get judged and awarded your score in the exams and I asked him what happens if you totally stuff up a move..his reply (and Im quoting word for word here!) " If you are going to stuff up make it look good, if it looks good they wont notice" :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Yes, or if they notice, because you didn't show it ie. you kept smiling or your smile got bigger, examiners like that. It shows that you were able to keep your cool and "the show went on". :wink: