Watching the Professional

At the Hong Kong Temple

When I was called to teach seminary earlier this month I attended a training meeting in Springfield, and the CES coordinator for the area, Bro. Lawson, suggested that we find the time in the next two months to observe other teachers because it is in observation of others that we can often find insight to help us improve our own teaching.  I was all for that idea, and so I have been looking for opportunities to make that happen.  I happen to be living with one of the best resources for improving teaching skills.  Herman is a seminary enthusiast of the highest order.  At one point we felt inspired that he was to teach seminary full time for the Church, so Herman really immersed himself in the training program for seminary and worked his tail off to be the best seminary teacher that he could be.  It ended up that our lives went down a different path, but the knowledge that Herman gained while preparing to be an excellent seminary teacher is something that has proven valuable with the work he does helping to train teachers through our businesses.

So anyway, I have been looking for an opportunity to watch him teach seminary, and it worked out with his schedule that he could do this today, so I invited him to teach my class while I watched.  All I can say after watching him for an hour is -- Holy Cow!  There is noooo way that I could ever teach that way!  The whole time I was watching him teach I was looking for ideas of things that I could incorporate into my lessons, but all I could think was how disappointed all the youth were going to be tomorrow when they showed up for class and I was the one teaching.  Of course, part of my problem is just a lack of confidence in my own abilities as a seminary teacher.  Herman has been doing this for over fifteen years, so he has a bit of practice in the best ways to teach seminary.  In addition he has spent his entire career helping teachers to find the best ways to help their students learn.  So I have a bit of a disadvantage in life history in this department.  But all of that is okay.  I'll get more confident and gain better understanding the longer that I teach.  The main thing that worried me as I watched was that there was so much enthusiasm in Herman's delivery style.  He was just so dynamic.  You just have to see it to understand what I mean.  It may have been 6 am, and he may have been teaching groggy high school students, but the energy level in that room was through the roof.  Absolutely amazing!

And yet as I watched I just couldn't stop trying to figure out how I could ever do this type of teaching.  Herman and I have personalities that total complement one another, but anyone who knows us can easily see that we are very different in the way that we interact with the world.  Herman is the outgoing ball of fire who approaches everything with energy and enthusiasm.  I am more circumspect and reserved. I feed off energy but do not really create my own.  So we have different teaching styles, to say the least.  I don't believe that seminary absolutely has to be taught in the way Herman teaches, but it is very effective.  He has a way of getting the kids excited to be searching in the scriptures.  It can seem as if the atmosphere is just full of fun and humor, and then, before anyone really knows what is happening, he can drive home a gospel point so strongly that half the class is in tears and making plans on how they are going to change their lives for the better.  It is just incredible to watch this.  Of course, it is easy to be the guy who comes in for one class and presents a lesson of power.  Seminary is an every day event, and I'm sure that if he was coming in to teach every day every lesson wouldn't be just like this one -- but I'm sure they would be close.

As I watched I hoped to learn something that I could bring into my lessons to make me a better teacher.  I have to be honest with myself, though.  There is no way that I can reproduce his energy.  That is just who he is.  He approaches everything he does with that kind of enthusiasm.  But I can add a bit more enthusiasm to my style I think -- gradually.  If I showed up tomorrow and started teaching just like Herman the kids would like I was off my rocker.  But what I really appreciated as I watched was how he was able to always turn the kids back to the scriptures.  It wasn't just a Herman show that he put on to the delight of the students.  He was showing the students how the answers can always be found in the scriptures.  I can do that.  I know I can do that.

So today I was privileged to see a true professional teach my class.  Herman has a gift for teaching that he has used throughout his life and career, and I'm lucky to have his support as I learn my way around this calling.  Every day when I come home from teaching he sits with me and asks me what went well and then what I can improve on.  He sits with me and tries to come up with solutions to problems that I face.  Even when I feel as if he is so much more talented in this area than I am, I never feel as if he is talking down to me or judging my effectiveness.  Despite my insecurities in this calling he is always quick to compliment me on how well I am doing and how he believes I was absolutely prepared and talented enough to do exactly what I am needed to do at this time with these students.

So now I am off to spend an hour (probably more like two) getting ready for tomorrow's lesson.  I have some good ideas in my head of how to improve.  I figure that that's a good thing.  If I ever get to a point where I feel like I don't have need to improve, then I won't be succeeding in this calling.  I'm so thankful to have such a talented yet supportive prince to lift me higher each day so that I have some chance of meeting my own potential!