Gabriella Minnes Brandes, Nili Bassan, Ruth Kilroy, David Moore & Judy Stern
How do we train people to teach the Technique?
A discussion of the facilitation of the journey from student to teacher of the Alexander Technique
In this session we will explore the journey of becoming teachers of the Alexander Technique. Each one of the panel will briefly share their background and then through responding to questions will explore various elements that are to be taken into account when training teachers. Following the panel’s responses to the questions we hope to generate further conversation with participants in the session about their views and experiences with teacher training.
Questions for discussion:
1. Could you provide some general information about your training course (curriculum, scheduled activities during the day, on-going assignments for students, etc.)?
2. How do you determine which students will be appropriate candidates for training?
3. How long is the probation period? What does it entail? How do you determine if the student should move beyond the probation?
4. What is the internship/ practicum experience like? What are the requirements? What kind of supervision is in place?
5. How do you determine that a student is ready to graduate?
6. What structures are in place to provide students with feedback throughout their training?
7. What structures are in place to support the teachers after graduation?
8. What structures are in place for dialogue among trainers within the same training course?
9. Can you share a particularly challenging situation that you faced and how you addressed it?
Gabriella Minnes Brandes has been teaching since 1988 and has maintained an active practice at the Alexander Technique Centre in Vancouver since 1990. Gaby is the co-founder and co-director of the Vancouver School of the Alexander Technique, a CANSTAT certified teacher training school. Member of STAT, CANSTAT and AmSAT. She also holds a Ph.D. in education and teaches in the Faculty of Education at UBC.
Nili Bassan was graduated by Patric Macdonald at the Alexander Foundation in 1969. She assisted Peter Scott at his school for a year. Nili was the head of The Alexander Center in Haifa, Israel, and ran its training course for 25 years. In the last 15 years Nili gives workshops and teaches around the world.
Ruth Kilroy is the founder and director of the Alexander Technique Training Center in Newton, Massachusetts. She graduated in 1984 from the Patrick MacDonald School for the Alexander Technique in London, England and is certified by STAT and AmSAT. Ruth has been teaching privately in the Boston area for nearly 25 years and has directed a teacher training course since 1993. She also oversees post-graduate seminars and is a visiting teacher in Canada and Germany.
David Moore is director of the School for F.M. Alexander Studies in Melbourne, Australia. He has been teaching the technique for 22 years
Judy Stern MA, PT is a licensed physical therapist who certified to teach the Alexander Technique at ACAT (1987). She practices privately in New York, and is a member of the Senior Faculty at ACAT since 1987. She lectures and teaches the Alexander Technique in the United States, Europe and Israel.
Judy is a Director of the 8th International Congress in Lugano.
go back>>>