[Paddlewise] teaching styles and gender

kcd (and the Sundance kids) said:

(snip the wonderful whining)

Sorry to have to snip some great stuff. I really appreciate people who
are bold enough to come to this list with some honesty and relevant
experiences. Thanks be to you!

You said in part:

not an excellent instructor make.  obviously i won't be working with him

again.  i am a perfectionist, i admit it, and i expect a lot of any
instructor.  i'm also exquisitely sensitive to criticism. hell, i'm just

exquisitely sensitive, period, and i take responsibility for that too.
but
still, this was a really yucky encounter (that we paid significant $$$
for)
and i felt bad for days about it.   i cried a few times.  in fact, i
felt
bad 'til i got in the pool next time and PROVED to myself i could indeed
do
the stuff he said i couldn't.  i have appreciated getting info from you
all, and have read a lot of books, so i had several alternatives in mind

for each skill this guy taught us.  HIS WAYS are NOT the ONLY WAYS!

------------

Sounds to me like a good recommendation for club pool sessions, where
cost is an absolute minimum, the environment is friendly, effective,
down-home and amongst friends. As long as those facilitating instruction
have some competency and individualization ability for your needs, it
can be a marvelous way to comfortably slide along the learning curve. I
could tell you horror stories about a well know BCU coach and women
"problems" (like, you wanna see crying!), but we don't need to go there.
Just remember, often the best instructor is yourself, once preliminary
details have been adequately demonstrated to you. Keep up the marvelous
progress, and be patient with your husband. Guys have bigger heads, and
things take longer to sink in!

DL - one paddler's opinion

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