Being a student, helps you to be a teacher.
Recently I have gone back to school and it has helped me as a teacher, experiencing the student life makes you remember the fears, confusion, hard work, and excitment.
Hi Stephen,
I can feel your passion for your field by reading your forum comments. This zeal I know is transferred to your students. This impacts not only the technical development of your students but their internalization of what it means to be a chef.
Keep up the good work.
Gary
I could not agree more. I too look back on my culinary education and the excitement and apprehension that i felt when I was in their shoes. I think back upon how I was impacted and inspired by my instructors and their enthusiastic attitudes or discouraged by their negative one. I often try to empathize with my students and can really see when they are feeling overwhelmed or need a bit more encouragement. For many students culinary school is just something to "try", but for others (like it was for me as a student) this is "real life" whichever the case it is important that I identify the needs of each and give them my best no matter what.
Very well put Fernando. I am planning on going back to school at the beginning of next year. Similar to you I have not been in school for over 20 years and i look forward to utilizing technology in the process. I feel it is important as a person and as an instructor to continue to hone my craft and always seek out new techniques, technologies and information.
As a Instructor I have to give an Introduction to the students as to who I am, How long I have been in the field and How I got started, when the students here that I was in the same type of school their in and that I've been there doing the same thing they are doing right now, thus I find this motivates the students because they have a instructor that was a student just like them, thus making it easier to talk to each other because they know you have went through what they are going through right now.
Hi Kris,
What a great story of how you are using the skills and experiences of your instructors as a part of your own professional development. You are making their influence a part of their legacy in your life and the lives of your students.
Gary
I remember my culinary education very well ( I was 27 when I graduated) I really try hard to emulate my teachers as they were incredible in more areas than just culinary. I have tried to combine all the good things that held my interset as a student and all the different ways the Chefs used to explain a point or method when it came to cooking.
Being a student is a huge help to being a teacher, like the information/different view that I learn/see with these online courses
Hi Maria,
Great model to follow. Pick from the best and incorporate it into your style. Also, the fact you are a former student I am sure helps you to see the classes from the students' perspective and you can use your own success as a motivator for students.
Gary
I am a teacher at school I had graduated myself 6 years ago. Something is changed, something is not, but I have always remember myself's days, and try to understand my current students' needs. I am brining them all I had learned from the best taechers I had, and who are no longer teaching in this school.
Hi Chef,
Well said. Being a life long learner is critical for instructors. By working hard at our learning we will see more "ah ha" moments with our students.
Gary
Chris,
I can definitely sympathize and I think that my LONG career as a student helps students identify with me when I am explaining things to them. They know that I stood in their shoes and I always try to make that student-student connection with them while maintaining my role as a guide through our course material.
Being a teacher has made me a good student. I understand that learning today is different than when I went to school 30 years ago. I see that the message is the reason we are here. Conveying that message is our skill. To open a mind and plant the seed is a miracle.
Chef Fernando Martinez
Hi Chris,
You make a good point for all of us. We need to keep our perspective about what it was/is like being a student. The helps us to keep it "real" when we are teaching.
Gary
