THE TEACHABLE SPIRIT
by Jo-Gau Angela Minerva
What is the teachable spirit and who should have it? Have you ever seen a student who thought they knew the answers before the questions were asked? Have you ever seen an instructor imparting information to students who had blank looks on their faces and were obviously not getting it? The teachable spirit will prevent these scenarios from happening.
To be teachable means one has the ability to receive knowledge by lessons; to receive instruction; to receive training by practice or exercise. Ones spirit is their vital essence; mood; temper; state of mind. Therefore, the person with a teachable spirit is someone whose state of mind is ready to receive instruction and be trained.
Students need to have a teachable spirit. A student can't really learn if they think they already know the answers. If a student comes to class with their cup full of knowledge then there isn't room for any more knowledge to be added. If a student comes to class with an empty cup they can add much. My husband and I were teaching a self defense seminar one time and a police officer dropped in. He was there basically to tell us what he knew. His cup was full and he was not going to be able to learn anything new. Students with a teachable spirit will be a joy to teach and in the long run will endure longer than the student without a teachable spirit.
Instructors also need to have a teachable spirit. I sometimes think the learning hasn't really begun until you have to teach it to someone else. Imparting information to others is not as black and white as it would seem. We are all made differently. An instructor with a teachable spirit will allow his or her students to teach them how to teach. Now I realize there are some basic principles to the science of teaching but beyond those principles we must learn how to impart knowledge. One student might be very technical oriented and require drills or techniques to be broken down piece by piece. Another student might be a very kinetic learner and need to learn in a very hands on way. Another might be very application oriented and so on. The point is the teachable spirit of the instructor will drive them to learn from their student how to teach.
There have been plenty of bad teachers that were only willing to teach their way or no way. When an instructor has a teachable spirit they will be a joy to learn from. They will rise to the challenge of doing their job.
We are all on a course of learning regardless of our station in life. Whether we are the student or the teacher hopefully we will be constantly learning and growing.