Hi,

I've been playing Go since 2006 and had a lot of teachers both in life and in the internet. To tell the truth I have never been with the same teacher more than 2-3 months. It's not that each time I wanted to try something new, it's just because I never met the correct approach from the teacher.

I read in a book (not related to Go) that the best approach to teaching students is to give them a sense of joy and satisfaction in what they are doing. When a student enjoys his learning, he will continue it as a life-long endeavor. The one who is bored will soon give up on his learning - and everything else, for that matter.

How would you apply this approach in teaching Go? or define your approach to teaching students..

'the best approach to teaching students is to give them a sense of joy and satisfaction in what they are doing' seems in danger of being pseudowisdom if taken too strictly. For instance, what works for one student may not work at all for another. Also, a student might find the subject matter boring even with the best of teachers, and this is not necessarily anyone's fault at all. Separately, I think that a natural interest and will to succeed are important completely separate from the teacher, if the student is to really gain understanding quickly.

In any case, and being less nitpicky, you're quite right in principle, but I don't think it's possible to simply 'apply this approach in teaching go' since it's the end result of any number of different teaching styles for different people. Personally, I try to teach by focussing on key points both good and bad, emphasising successes along with losses and praising intentions separately to results. I am aware of the problem of maintaining interest and enthusiasm, and (playing it by ear), this is what I think works for me to keep things moving but productive.

Try to show your honest enthusiasm for the game when you teach. If you are bored your students will be bored. The trick is you have to show enthusiasm for what you are trying to teach the student i.e. material at their level. I once observed a class for beginners taught by a 6-dan pro at the Nihon Ki-in. He was appropriately excited about things that we would all find boring. For example, showing how stones with a dead eyeshape (three in a row, boxy four, bulky five) are actually dead. Or playing out a ladder to show how it works. These basic things are mysterious and wonderful for beginners. We should be able to recover that sense of wonder when we teach. At a more advanced level the same principle applies. Above all the teacher should be respectful of the student and not humiliate the student no matter how simple the student's errors may be.

I've found it is a fine balance when you are trying to teach someone who seems genuinely interested in getting good at the game (as opposed to someone more on the 'checking it out' level).
On one hand, I want to emphasize that there is a LOT you can know but that is what makes (and keeps) it interesting, but on the other I know I need to push that 'immediate' gratification so they don't get totally intimidated and drop out.

As I said above, it's tricky and needs to be balanced out for each person (and I've had my share of hits and misses), but it does need to be a concern for anyone teaching.

Bruce "Do what I say until I start losing to you" Young

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I believe the problem is not just show interest. A teacher, KGS 7-9d, may be a very strong player but doesn't have the right approach to the student. While learning Go there are plenty of "boring" things (for most people) such as studying joseki, or solving L&D problems. But without it a student can't improve. Thus there should be some different way to explain those things, to attract one's attention.

Imho: a teacher should do something more than just showing the proper moves. The information I can get as well from the books. What the books can't give is the individual (emotional) perception of the information, for this, there should be a teacher.

There is no "one size fits everyone" approach to teaching, so the "correct approach" doesn't exist. Some people respond well to "drill" and an authoritarian approach, others look in a teacher for a supportive friend, and yet others only need direction but can manage the details on their own. Personality, age, cultural background, etc. all play a role in what works or doesn't work for someone.

For me, it's all about personality and whether or not I "get along" with a teacher. It was that way even in school, and when I "liked" someone, then my grades rose. If I didn't care for a teacher or even resented her, then my grades would drop (I spent my 5th school year chiefly sitting outside the class room). What makes one like or dislike someone else is also highly individual, though I guess there are some general traits that a possibly large group of students respond well to, such as "leveling" with the student (the "we're a team" as opposed to "I am your Lord Teacher!" approach), a positive, lighthearted attitude, showering the student with appreciation and encouragement, constructive criticism without making the student feel hopeless or dumb, respect (mutual) gained by display of demonstrated competence without arrogance (vs. expected respect simply because of the student/teacher difference in "hierarchical" difference), and so on. It's not so different from parenting, I think.

I'd say a better approach is to ask yourself what you expect of a good teacher and then look for someone who fits the bill. (It's a shame that topazg has shifted his priorities because I felt he was a pretty good example of what i personally would look for in a teacher.)

One thing is that the books can only cover standard moves. They can't cover the proper moves in a complicated fight that depends on circumstances unique to your games.

But also, there are thousands of proper moves, and an equal number of ways to mess them up. But you only make some of those mistakes, and a good teacher can find them faster than you can find all the proper moves in books.

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