Can we teach? or Do people just learn?

The other day, I witnessed something which will help one of my question; Can we really teach others? Do great teachers really exist? or is there just good students?

It was one afternoon, my wife, her mum and her sister was singing ABC alphabet song to my seven months old son, to teach him alphabet.
I guess, they were just having a fun with him as he does not speak yet, so they can not expect him to sing a song straight away!
And, I have noticed there were a two years old girl sitting opposite to them.
I have noticed her, because awhile after they tried to teach my son the song, the girl suddenly started to sing the song which they have been trying to teach my son to sing! It was not clear and perfect, but she was singing! We all gob smacked! We asked her that, did she learn the song just by listening us singing repeatedly? She had a big smile on her face.

We had no idea we were teaching her the song.

As long as people learn something from the others, can we call it as teaching? or is there just good students?

What do you think?

4b Award Title

I propose my award title as The award I seek as a result of doing
this programme is BA (Hons) Professional Practice in Performing Arts.

What do I gain from teaching others, as a professional dancer? 

How teaching effect me as a professional dancer?

What is the best ways to pass on tacit knowledge to the others in performing arts?

What can I give and share with the other which normal qualified teachers can not provide?

Based on my experience as a full time professional dancer, also as a part time dance teacher,
I would like to explore these questions by teaching , observing, communicating with third party by using inquiry tools; survey, observation, discussion.
Also, most importantly I am going to use my own body to experiment and check how and where these results; current answers will take me as a professional performer.

My aim for this award is to deepen my understanding of Learning Cycle in performing arts, also life in general.

WBL; Work Based Learning.
However, I see this course as LBL; Life Based Learning. 
I totally agree with what WBL suggests; to deepen our knowledge and improve as a partitioner, we MUST interact, discuss with the other to check where we stand and re think the way we are as a practitioner. And, try to find or realise the new side of what we already know; try and explore different approach to the questions.
When I am teaching others, some times it is hard to see what is going on, but if I keep a distance from them and see the whole picture, I often see the problem much clearer. Because of changed the point of view. 
I also often given great advice about my dancing by people who is not a dancer.
So, I understand the importance of it through my experience.
If we yruely open our eyes, we can learn from any thing. From the books, films, nature, cooking; we can relate everything to improve our profession.
I often explain ballet technique to students based on cooking theory.
Also, especially, children remind me so many things which I have forgot or lost by the process of growing up. Every time adults teach kids something, kids loose something to learn new things.
My point is we can learn from any thing! We can relate our profession to any thing! I always remember; The world is our oyster;D

Survey 1

Recently, I have been asked by a ｐｒｏｆｅｓｓｉｏｎａｌ dance couple to coach them.

I was happy to help them out and I also thought this could be a good opportunity for my Module.

First, I gave them a simple survey which I made, I asked fill them up before we start coaching them.

Then, I asked two things before they fill up my survey.

1, I asked them not to ask me any questions about equations. Because I needed to know how they understand the questions.

2, Answers must not be longer than one line. I wanted them to specify the problem.

Question 1; what is the problem? Or what do you assume as a problem?

Male dancer believed the problem occurs because of the clothes which his partner wares.

Female dancer believed the problem is her partner does not support her properly.

Question 2; why do you wish to fix the problem? Also, who would you like to solve the problem for? 

Male dancer wanted to fix the problem, because he did not want to fear the problem. Also, he wanted to fix the problem to boost his confidence, and to boost his motivation

He would like to fix the problem for himself and for his partner.

Female dancer wanted to fix the problem because she wanted to dance more freely.

She wanted to fix the problem for herself and for audience.

Question 3; what would you like to do when the problem has solved?

Male dancer wanted to spend more time for practicing other steps, as they do not have to spend any more time for solving ｔｈｅ problem. So, he believed the quality and quantity of practice will be increased by solving the problem.

Female dancer thought once the problem has solved, she can try some different steps.

Question 4; who does benefit by fixing the problem,?

Male dancer believed, himself and his partner will benefit by solving ｔｈｅ problem.

Female dancer thought only she will benefit.

After I have read through their survey, I have noticed few interesting facts about them. So, I have asked them to swap the survey and read each other`s answers to understand the difference of what, and how they define the problem.

I have talked to them after they have read through each other`s survey.

Then, I spoke through the questions and answers one by one with them.

About first question, I have pointed out about they both believed that they are not the reason of the problem; he believed and blamed on the clothes she wares, she blamed on is his partner`s technique.

I did not discuss more about question 1 with them. What I needed to them to notice was to them to understand they both believed they are not causing the problem.

I found the answer of second question very interesting.

They both wanted to fix the problem, but for completely different reasons!

It was also very important for them to understand that, they are not looking the same direction, and I need to understand that the difference between why they wanted to fix the problem.

Male dancer wanted to solve the problem to prove he can do it. Also, wanted fix the problem for him and her partner.

She wanted to fix the problem, purely to improve her dance technique. So, she can be happier.

She wanted to fix the problem for her and for audience. But, interestingly not for her partnerL

Third question, their answer was quite similar. They are looking at the similar direction. I told them that is a good.

Forth question proved that, the male dancer wanted to fix the problem for both of them. However, the female dancer wanted to fix the problem purely just for herself.

It was interesting to see their reactions too. They have married and danced together for a long time. However, they have a very different vision about dancing.

This survey was very important for me as I have asked them to coach them, and also important for them to see each other`s point of view, to know what they want, to know where they want to go and why they want to achieve the goal.

While I am going through this survey and talking about it with them, I found an interesting fact, even when people read or hear same things, people understand very individually; very differently. Some of the answers were totally different to what I expected, in a bad way! They did not get what I meant or I should of written the questions differently for them to answer what I wanted to knowL I expected to them to focus and analyse on their technical problem rather than blaming on clothes or partner.

However, I also needed to know how they understand the questions to see how they think of ｔｈｅ problem. I found it very tricky to explain people what`s kind of answer I am looking for.

Maybe I need to more specify the questions....