New Course Format for TCC Teacher Training

The primary purpose of a T’ai Chi Chih Teacher Training course is to prepare prospective teacher candidates to teach T’ai Chi Chih with sincerity and integrity. The level of each candidate’s preparation plays a large role in determining the success of the course, but the course format is also very important. In my experience, courses which are held in retreat settings seem to produce the most well-equipped new teachers.

I often see candidates spend hours together outside of class each day reviewing the movements and preparing their presentations. Unfortunately, teacher candidates who only come at night do not spend this additional time, and their movements often reflect the lack of additional practice.

It has been particularly discouraging to see some students spend all day at work, grab a bite to each on the way over to class, do T’ai Chi Chih until 10pm and then have trouble getting to sleep. Of course, they wake up feeling tired the next day, and this affects their ability to focus during the course itself.

As a result, beginning in January 1998, there will be a new format for all T’ai Chi Chih Teacher Training courses. The new intensive format will be as follows:

New Teacher Training Format

Monday – Friday: 9:30am – 5:00pm (Includes 90 minutes for Lunch)
Saturday: 9:30am – 12:30pm
Cost: $450.00

The new format will increase the total number of course hours from 22 to 33. This will allow course participants to spend more time reviewing the correct way to do the movements, talking about how to set up classes, and learning how to teach T’ai Chi Chih to new students. The intensive, all-day format will require candidates to take the week off from their daily activities, and will allow them to be fully present during the accreditation process. This format will also encourage candidates and auditing teachers to spend meals together, which helps to build a sense of community.

The increase in the accreditation fee will now pay for a one-year subscription to The Vital Force for every new teacher. The remaining additional proceeds will be split between Justin, the host teacher, and myself to pay for the added expense and effort of the week-long course format.

With properly prepared candidates, and the new course format, the emphasis of the accreditation process will shift from learning how to do the T’ai Chi Chih movements, to focusing on how to teach them effectively. I look forward to working with you and your teacher candidates during an upcoming T’ai Chi Chih Teacher Training Course.