Comments on: Communicator Vs. Teacher

By: David M

David M — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:29:11 +0000

Scott – if you ever check back here, I was listening to you on the guy/girl series y’all did — it’s online (on ‘your’ ministry’s website — which is VERY cool, by the way!) I went to: http://www.elev8world.com/ -> Downloads -> Audio

By: markeades

markeades — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 01:15:42 +0000

How I have seen my progression of “master teaching”to the kids has been this way. I’ve gone from communicator (you all set down and listen to me because what I have to say is what you need to hear) to a teacher (what do you think that means? O that is interesting anyone else?). That was the way I progressed in my teaching – I don’t think that it is wrong to be either but for me that is the way I was and am. I like to get the crowd’s “in put”much more than I use to and usually am able to guild the talk in the direction I wanted the talk to go anyway. The one big advantage I see from doing this is that when kids feel like their ideas are being listened to and used than they tend to listen more and remember what was shared and even apply it in their lives. Just my $.02 worth.

By: Scott Rubin

Scott Rubin — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 00:46:56 +0000

Interesting thoughts here. Wonder where you heard me teach, David M… I didn’t know it was online anywhere? I agree with what you’re saying about “students chatting” during a message — it’s a fine line, and can easily blow up on you. (that’s happened to me before — the room goes “up for grabs”!)

I just know that my goal in teaching students is ultimately to Be Helpful to them in their journey with Jesus. So whether communicator or teacher – that what I”m hoping for!

PS – I’m not sure I believe that Kurt is actually more “Communicator” than “Teacher”, given his definition.

By: David M

David M — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 17:19:14 +0000

Our work on personal-uniqueness would tend to concur with what both you, Kurt, and jdh indicate: there IS a natural bent one way or the other. And learning one way or the other is possible (yeah).
1) Kurt, it seems like part of what you’re saying is that a Teacher either intimately or ‘generically’ _knows_ the audience and speaks to those whom she/he knows.
2) I went and listened to Scott after Kurt’s last post. One thing I noticed is that Scott is okay with kids chatting a bit during his speaking. For some, this might come across as disrespect. Scott seemed(?) to take it as student-involvement. It seems like it was the Holy Grail (ha) of Controlled Chaos. I’m sure Scott (and from what Kurt said, with massive help from the leaders) could reign it in if necessary. So he didn’t seem to need to control everyone (like a Presenter would need to).
3) Seemed like Scott was making room for people to grow or engage. Seems like most Presenters wants people to ‘have to’ grow/change the way the Presentation dictates(?). My opinion of Presenting gone wrong.

I’m now wondering if part of the difference is the Sense of Authority/power that the speaker carries. Do Presenters assume a large amount of Authority over the listeners and Teachers don’t?

By: jdh

jdh — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 03:49:51 +0000

thanks for the expansion, kurt. this is definitely something i struggle with, because i have a large group Sunday morning setting. i enjoy being a communicator & it’s in some ways what comes more naturally…i do speaking engagements & whatnot that definitely lean that direction. however, i really would prefer my Sunday morning setting to be more teaching based…but struggle figuring out how to teach in ways that connect with the whole group. it’s difficult in a big group when you have such a mix. i think the communicator vibe definitely has its role, but probably more in a one-off sort of setting like an outreach event, retreat, etc. i think it’s better to have a teacher for the week to week pieces.