As an instructor, you must be able to distinguish between poor performance caused by lack of ability or aptitude on the part of the student and poor performance caused by lack of effort. You should treat the first with patience and the latter with firmness. You must never apply sarcasm and ridicule.
About this quote
- What does it mean?
- Instructors should identify if a student struggles due to lack of ability or lack of effort, treating each case with patience or firmness respectively, while avoiding ridicule.
- In plain terms
- Tell the difference between a student who can't do something and one who won't, and handle them differently without being mean.
- What can you take from it?
- Adjust your teaching approach based on whether the issue is ability or effort.
Where it applies
Putting it to work
Questions to consider
- How do you know when to be patient versus firm?
- What role does sarcasm play in learning?
Another view
It can be hard to accurately distinguish between ability and effort in the moment.
More from Bruce Lee
An instructor should exemplify the things he seeks to teach. It will be of great advantage if you yourself can do all you ask of your students and more.
Permalink to quote #13 Even today, I dare not say that I have reached a state of achievement. I'm still learning, for learning is boundless.
Permalink to quote #15 Jeet Kune Do rejects all restrictions imposed by form and formality and emphasizes the clever use of the mind and body to defend and attack.
Permalink to quote #12
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