Have you observed this ?
There are always two distinct specializations in every single technical knowledge. Being quite strong in the subject is one .... and having the ability to communicate it in easier terms to a novice is some thing else. If you look bit deeply, the second one is really not a distinct specialization for every branch of knowledge - rather a single specialization that runs across all fields of knowledge.
I always have a feeling that a good teacher will effortlessly get into his act in every single branch of knowledge as and when he learns it. To put it more directly, it is as if a good teacher approaches his own learning process in a slightly different method than any other student as he sub-consciously takes on the self imposed responsibility of communicating it to others after his learning process. Think this is the limit of my words ...and lemme get into the details of man who interested me immensely with his teaching skills....
Approximately an year back, I learnt Driving (Car) from a gentle man who is basically an auto driver whose auto stand is quite close to our home. Eight consecutive days of 1 hour learning in the morning enriched me not just in learning car driving but also taught me the art of teaching. I immensely enjoyed every single point that he taught me with practical examples and the manner he blasted me on the mistakes I committed....It is not an exaggeration to say that I hear his voice even now as I commit some of the old mistakes out of carelessness !!
We know him as an auto driver for close to four years and this man has an air of authority in the way he conducts himself. He never bargains on money (at least with us) and does not wear the sheepish smile that is typical with such people with blue collar jobs (??). He is a bit of dominant person but knows his limits. I could correlate his behaviour only when became his student and started admiring his teaching skills.
He is a wonderful teacher (though illiterate) who knows Management by exception, Recapping the prior day's syllabus in an entertaining manner, picking up subtle mistakes by keen observation and pointing it out as appropriate (Do you know this ? some times mistakes have to be pointed out immediately - few other times, it can be gently told later....!! Just meant, this man is a master in knowing "the moment") .... and above all, sharing lot of personal experiences to make a novice feel easy !!
In our culture, we have glorified a teacher's status so much that paying him for his services has to be done with a certain level of reverence and gratitude (its never a "fee" but an "honorarium". Carrying the same wave length on money matters, me and this man never discussed money when my teaching classes got started and in the mid-way, when the time came to discuss it - it happened so poetic and touching; While I was particular to pay him slightly more than the market rate, he was dignified enough not to get curious about the exact amount - but you should observe his humble body language when he got the money from me - After all he is a family man who belongs to lower middle class....!!
Well to justify the title, this post being about "driving", I thought this is most appropriate one. But, it is quite a paradox that this person who taught me driving is named as "Arjun"... !!!!!
Dedicating this post to all the unsung and un-recognized TEACHERS who love what they do....for the sheer pleasure they generate from their teaching skills....
Love // Suren
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