Real-Life Communication -- Solution
As a dance teacher at a school for the arts, you must complete progress
reports for your students. You want a sensitive student to improve, but you
don't want to appear overly critical and scare him away from dance.
Here's
what you could write:
Josh is a hard worker and has excelled
in all his written theory assignments. He has proven himself to be a very
promising dancer and creative choreographer. The hip hop routine that Josh
created and performed was fabulous.
To continue to excel and improve
as a dancer, I would encourage Josh to work on adding more grace to his movements.
He will also need to become more confident when participating in group numbers.
I
look forward to seeing Josh conquer these challenges and truly blossom as
a performer.
Marc-Andre Clement is a national executive
director of Culture Shock. He works with at-risk youth -- many of whom face
racial, religious and gender bias issues, drugs or violence. He says communication
is the most important tool between students and teachers.
"Shy students
might like or respond well to a supportive or soothing voice. Competitive
students might want someone with a more motivating, aggressive teaching style,"
he says. An instructor must have a personality that is a good match for the
student, he says.