2 days left to go

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Oct 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

loveinspirit	19 Oct 2004
ohhhhhh im PANICKING i am teaching my first every course on how to read tarot ....... the course is for 10 weeks, each week for 2 hours...... i have written out so many plans for the course,like... the tarot journal. how to cleanse the cards, the major and minor arcana, reversals, 3 card readings. i have got so much out of going through the forum, and reading as much as i can to give me insight.. i want to make it a fun and enjoyable course..as this could open a lot of doors for me,, plus i love reading tarot... with 2 days left to go my stomach is in knots and even though i have written out my plan so many times, it just doesnt seem enough.. i keep rewriting it, all ideas have gone from my head... i have never stood up in front of 20 people before and tried to teach them something im mad on... i havent even done a reading for myself in case its tell me not to do it.... gosh i am waffling on some, but im so nervous,, i want to have a good plan for the 10 weeks course, where they leave happy each week that they are beginning to learn tarot, and they look forward to come back, to learn more. any advice would help, im off to meditate for a while trying to calm nerves... fingers crossed too

jmd	19 Oct 2004
You're already, it seems, well prepared... Halve what you intend to do on the first day :) ...and, importantly, ENJOY!

Imagemaker	19 Oct 2004
I've been where you are when I started teaching (not tarot)--I know the feeling! You have your plans, which are all about leading, directing, organizing. NOW--when you get there, you'll start doing all that stuff--and the class will join you as a partner in the rest of the journey. Their interest (or they wouldn't have signed up), their support (they want to like you), and their response will carry the class forward WITH you. It's not all you anymore, you'll have their help in learning. Once you get into the teaching, it turns into a dialogue. Trust that and go with the flow. And smile and breathe . . . and watch how things work out.

Osher	19 Oct 2004
Oh good luck! I'm sure you'll be fine, and once you settle into the course, everything will fall into place. When preparing for things, I like to remember what Von Clauswitz said, that you should prepare and plan for everything, but also allow for things not being as you planned! In other words, if the class doesn't quite go as planned, don't worry. Maybe the class will go faster, or slower, but it doesn't matter. However, the most important thing is: Enjoy yourself! If you do, then the class will too

Majecot	19 Oct 2004
Yes... make sure you breathe.. would not want you passing out infront of a classroom of students ;) Its sounds like you have every thing ready... it will be a great class.

Waterlily	19 Oct 2004
Now that you've written your plans so thoroughly, don't worry about them any more. In fact, you can throw them away and still have great classes. You're more than prepared for this. You are the teacher because you have the knowledge. They are the students because they don't. Remind yourself that you will always know more than them in a beginner class -- that's why you're the teacher -- so if a conversation goes off "plan", you still have all the knowledge you need, and then some, to keep the conversation going. I used to teach literature - these were often the best classes! Don't worry about getting through everything in your plan - what comes up will be useful, and all your plans will eventually get covered even if not in the order you intended. If you are enthusiastic about your topic, your students will be too. You will learn as much from them as they from you. Enjoy the experience!

smokey	20 Oct 2004
Just wanted to give you a pat-on-the-back with a big 'thumbs-up'! You'll be fine...just say it...and know it to be true!

Phoenix Rising	20 Oct 2004
Well congratulations on taking the plunge to do and teach what you love. Nerves are a good thing. It's probably mixed more with excitement than nerves i think. Anyway, it will go awesomely, because it always turns out on the day!

Cariad	20 Oct 2004
Just to say Good Luck for the course! I am sure it will be fine just remember, you'r students have chosen to be there and are keen to learn you have the information they seek! Make the most of the experience that the students bring with them this will be a two way learning curve! Deep Breathing a must and look out for those feedback forms at the end of the course!!!!!!!!!!!! Love B

loveinspirit	20 Oct 2004
for all the great encouragement you have given me... 1 day left and counting down, running round like a headless chicken lol... it seems strange that 1 minute i wanted to just be in the course and now im teaching it, i like going to tarot learning classes, as i have learnt over the years that you can always learn something different from tarot, its always changing and constantly evolving, just like life..... my partner says if i dont give it a go and chicken out i might regret it, well thanks again any ideas how to steady my nerves would be great....

jmd	20 Oct 2004
Remember to also read through the earlier thread you posted regarding this upcoming course: First time tutoring - advice needed :) At this stage, I would simply have my little box of goodies that I need to take with me ready and organised, so that all you need to do is take it when you leave. Do you need to take pencils? Chalk? rulers? Which deck(s) will you take - are they in that box/bag? What about books, are you going to show any? If you are giving out a handout, has it been copied in sufficient quantities? The preparation now is to be more along, I suggest, those physical lines. The rest will unfold... ...oh! and do you need to have a key to get in to the room? Who will lock up afterwards? Do you need to have a special parking permit if you take a car? All those little things about how to get there, what to do when you're there (and do you know where the toilets are? Others will need to know!). Will you be allowing a little break for a drink and biscuits? How will you finish the evening? What preparation will you leave them with over the ensuing week? But I ask too many questions - - - enjoy!!!

CreativeFire	20 Oct 2004
Good on you, loveinspirit, for stepping up and giving it a go. It sounds like you have your preparations well in hand so far :) I have never taught a tarot class, let alone attended one so I have no real advice on that itself. However I have over the years facilitated many computer / business training courses - and still remember how nervous I was before the first one, so I feel for you. But don't panic - just remember to be yourself :) You may have already heard some of these, but a couple of first time 'training' tips that I have found work well . . . When you first get together with your class and ready to start, introduce yourself and tell them a bit of your background on the topic eg. tarot! And then ask everyone to introduce themselves, and even maybe tell the class one thing that is interesting about themselves. This works in that funnily enough it helps people to remember each others names (and for you to remember theirs), by association. Also it helps break the ice and gives the class something to start conversations about in their breaks (or before / after class). The more relaxed your class is - the more relaxed you will be ;) Also another thing you might like to try, is when they are doing their introductions ask them to briefly mention why they are attending the class and what they hope to get out of it by the end of the course. This gives you a bit of an idea up front what they are looking for and you may be able to make some minor adjustments along the way to accommodate. By doing this the participants at the end of the course feel that they have made progress towards their own particular goals as well as learning lots of other things - if that makes sense. Just two more things - no make that three ;) - remember to breathe, smile and enjoy yourself! Best of luck CreativeFire

loveinspirit	20 Oct 2004
i hope i remember to breathe as ive found out at the doctors today i have a chest infection and sinusitis. im still teaching this course though..... even if they carry me in lolol...

CreativeFire	20 Oct 2004
hope you get better quickly, loveinspirit :) And don't forget to come back to post and let us all know how your first class went! CreativeFire

The 2 days left to go thread was originally posted on 19 Oct 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.