Those who can, do. Those who can't, seek a great teacher
A reflection on the Art of Teaching
I’ve been a teacher of one subject or another since my early twenties. It started with me getting qualified as a TEFL teacher, helping people learn English as a foreign language. I didn’t get that qualification because I actually wanted to teach, but because I wanted to travel. The original plan was to spend a year in Japan, but when I realised at the open day of the school which was hiring, that I wouldn’t see much of Japan other than the walls of a classroom, I thought against it and ended up returning to Italy, where I’d just recently spent a life-changing year abroad during university. During that time abroad, I remember putting a sign up on one of the noticeboards of the university offering my teaching services: English, French, flute and piano. I remember thinking at the time that perhaps it might seem a little confusing to offer such a variety. But that was the truth of it. I needed work and those were the skills I could genuinely help people with. Languages and Music. It’s been a running theme throughout my life. In this article I aim to explore the actual Art of Teaching. What it means to feel within the call to teach, to impart knowledge and experience and help another being on their journey. And the value this actually has, despite society not harnessing this as much as it could - or should.
“He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches”
- George Bernard Shaw
This famous quote by the Irish playwright from his 1903 play Man and Superman was intended as a criticism of the teaching profession, portraying it as second best. I remember first reading this in my delicate twenties, when my self-esteem was far from sturdy. I had moved to a foreign country and was making ends meet as best I could through language teaching mainly, interspersed with the odd music lesson. As I became more integrated into the city I’d moved to, opportunities started to come my way, both in music performance, which was what I was yearning for, and also in teaching. I joined a Music School specifically oriented towards children from 0-5 and their families. Quite an innovative teaching method based on drawing out the innate curiosity and desire within each child, instead of forcing them with our beliefs as to whether they should sing and play music. And sure enough, every single child showed a strong urge towards music. It’s ancestral. It’s tribal. It’s in our DNA. In our soul. But I wasn’t ready to embrace the role of a teacher back then and almost resented it, wanting more, thinking I’d somehow failed.
Sure enough, Shaw’s quote echoed in my young tumultuous mind as I tried to find my way in life. I didn’t want to “just teach”. I wanted to shine and be seen. Don’t we all? And I did. I played, I sang, I did lots of concerts and events. I built up my work consistently over time and did my best despite the pinballs the universe was throwing my way along my journey. And yet, the role of teacher kept growing and expanding, and not once did I actively seek to do it with all my heart. It was just a practical way of making some money while I worked on my artistic pursuits.
My first four years in Italy had me working pretty much full time in an English-language school. I actually really enjoyed it, not that I wanted to admit it. In order for me to be able to spend time in the classroom, I had to find some passion and so I taught in ways that were creative. I used humour, theatre, music. I got good at what I did and along the way, got especially good at working with people, managing group dynamics and individuals who had emotional blocks preventing them from learning, old traumas stemming from fear acquired in the school system. I didn’t do any of this consciously. And yet there I was honing a craft. I then learned more as I worked with music and children. I’d always shied away from working with children, some deep fear within me prevented me from truly connecting with them and I think I found their exuberant energy too much at the time. I had my own blocks, my own shadows to face yet before I could appreciate and love the light that each child shines so bright.
The next chapter had me working in travel for an international luxury active travel company specialising in cycling and trekking. I fit straight in and absolutely fell in love with the job. It had me wearing so many hats the learning curve was as steep as the ascent to Mount Everest, and the endorphins and dopamine hits as high! Bike mechanic, history guide, wine connaisseur, psychologist, first aider, trekking pro, van driver, trailer driver, consummate host, event organiser, accountant, and so much more. After a few years in the trade, I ended up taking on the role of mentor. New guides would work with me to learn the ropes and I loved this role. I wanted to pass on my wisdom and know-how but also help bring out the new guides’ light and help them shine. Just because someone is new to something doesn’t mean they can’t excel straight off the bat. I’d unfortunately not always received the best mentorship myself, and was at times squashed and prevented from shining. New energy can be intimidating. It’s fresh and vibrant. I saw that this could be harnessed and loved working with those just starting out. And sure enough, I ended up receiving two awards for Best Mentor, something I’m genuinely proud of.
Jump forwards a little, and the last few years have witnessed me entering the world of spirituality and music, doing ceremony work and harnessing the power of music in the awareness that everything is sound, vibration and frequency, to quote Nikola Tesla, and the healing that can be found through music is profound. Within this world, I saw a way I could help and give back, through helping people finding their singing voices. So I started running workshops and singing circles. And along the way, I also trained as a Heart Intelligence coach, first to bring these teachings to myself and my own life but to then combine it with my vocal coaching. And again, I found myself in the role of a teacher.
Currently, I’m still teaching languages too, and have come to love this occupation. However, in the current times we are in, where as a collective we seem to be awakening to our spirituality and the greater universal force, this teaching has taken on a new guise. I find myself working with individuals, first of all helping them express themselves, but finding myself amazed at the conversations which are emerging. It seems there are many of us seeking a deeper connection and understanding of why we are here and how we can best live our life in function of this unravelling mystery.
Of late I’ve found myself reflecting on how teaching found me. I kept trying to run away, but it patiently followed me, opening doors I passed through into more prisms of connections with learners and curious soul-seekers. Teaching is an art, it’s an honour to be able to be a guide for someone else on their journey. Teaching is a delicate balance of listening and showing. Much like with therapy, it is not merely the mastery of the therapist themselves but more the relationship between therapist and client that allows for the inner healing to take place. All learning is exactly that. To be open and receptive but responsible and active in your growth and expansion, be it linguistic, musical, psychological or spiritual. And without teachers, what would happen to future generations? Teaching is therefore crucial, but I think we’ve got it slightly skewed. If we put the egoistic approach of a teacher-centered methodology which most school systems use, and instead embrace the student-centered approach, we can not only learn more about who we have in front of us as a learner, but also empower them with their own learning and growth. That is the art and skill of a good teacher. Bucketloads of empathy and a firm belief in the other. The ability to mirror back what they see, so the learner might gain more clarity as to what they’re missing but also, perhaps even more importantly, what they already know, but just lack the confidence to trust in themselves.
Therefore, to conclude, not only would I like to express my gratitude to all the amazing teachers I have had along the way, but also to the Universe for showering my path with these teaching, guiding and coaching opportunities so I might grow and expand through this Art. I would also like to end this article with a new quote on teaching, one that does it much more justice, I believe:
“Those who can, show others how they can too”
