Another dilemma in taking classes
 

After just reading the thread about taking classes & the instructor focusing on one or two top students (or friends), I've had just the opposite experience. I've been in a cpl. of classes with people who didn't even know how to thread a needle. A handsewing needle. Never did understand why they were even there.

I have taught classes in other hobbies including some quilting & because I tend to catch onto things fast & am good with my hands, I sat quietly working on the project (English Paper piecing) til the instructor noticed I was working ahead. Instead of recognizing my experience & letting me go, she made sarcastic remarks because I wouldn't stay behind with the nonsewers. Didn't make sense & was embarrassing.

If I had held back I would have had to just sit there doing nothing. Everybody was working at different levels but most weren't interested in learning what was being taught. It wasn't a paid class but a grp. of friends.

How would you have handled this?

being Canadian, would have apologized for being too advanced ... {snicker}

Was the friend/instructor trying to be funny - and maybe that was her way of recognizing that you were ahead of everyone else?

Overall, it sounds like it was a frustrating way to have spent some time. The only thing I would suggest is to avoid that group for a 'class'

good one!!!

HaHa! I busted a gut reading your post Liz! Thanks for the laugh!

My response I realize is going to sound awful but honestly I would have left. When my fun gets ceased I'm done for the day!! Quilting is fun and when you get together is supposed to be fun, challenging or just go with the flow yet so many people make it competitive and try really hard to make someone else feel inferior. I love this board because when there is a "bad seed" in quilting you can always come here and it's a total support system of positive reinforcement!!!

No, she wasn't trying to be funny. This was my first encounter with this particular woman so we didn't know ea. other. I just wanted to know how to do EPP which I had never heard of before that. I do think twice before committing to classes there now to see how serious anybody else is about it. It's very frustrating when I really want to learn something though.

Giggle, Giggle!!:D

My goal in classes is basically to learn something new, so the instructor should not be insulted if I actually learn what I'm supposed to and then leave her to give attention to those folks who need more instruction. I'm always friendly and appreciative, but when I'm done I'm done. And because I'm Canadian I thank the instructor profusely as I leave.

I'm always a little skeptical about taking classes for the reasons mentioned. I find "googling" will give me videos, etc that I can watch at my own pace and usually accomplish what I needed.

I think I just would have 'very politely' said something like, "I understand and can do everything you've covered thus far so I'm just quietly working on my own until you get to the next part. My apologies if I am distracting you, but I really hate just doing nothing at all." (sarcasm added to taste)

Wow..that is terrible. She must have felt threatened somehow by your advanced skills.

Oh Pat, sorry you had an embarrassing class! I had one class with different level of students, but the person that took the cake was the one that had a brand new machine that had never been taken out of the box and she didn't have her fabrics either...... another student in that same class was very 'needy'.... she had been quilting for several years, but just didn't know how to do anything on her own. If a couple other students hadn't been 'over achievers' and helped that whole class would have been a bust..... I was really surprised when I was complimented from the students..... Next time I will know to refund the money to the ones that are not prepared or switch them to another class....

Whenever I've taught anything where there were students who were way ahead of the others, I usually asked them to be my 'helpers'. Of course this may work better with elementary age kids than with adults. LOL!

The only crafty class I've taught with adults was English Smocking and all the students were newbies and eager to learn. Really enjoyed doing it. The other adult class I've been the teacher for was a Sunday School class and I told them I was the one who asked the hard questions and we were going to be discussing the material, not me lecturing. Have done some one on one time with people wanting to learn to sew. Find that I sometimes have a hard time stepping back and letting them do it themselves.

Had a similar incident, and believe the same as nygal, "she must have felt threatened somehow". I'm self taught, and decided to take a sewing class to hopefully acquire the 'right' way to do things, or at least something new. The instructor sarcasticlly asked, in front of the class, "why I was even there, taking her class?" and my reply, to learn something new, I hope! It takes all kinds.

Faster or advanced sewers shouldn't bug the teacher for instruction for the next step when it's not time for the next step or sit there acting board waiting for others to catch up. If I finish a step ahead of time, I do like you, just be quiet and not be obvious. The teacher was rude. I always confront rudeness with complete silence. Saves me from saying something I may regret and it works.

:D You bet!!!! That's exactly how we Canucks would handle it! :D



PatG ... often times free group get togethers are worth exactly what you paid for it!

When deciding on a class, I do a lot of "checking" before I sign up to ensure it meets my needs, the size numbers, the leader/teacher etc. I've been to classes that were horrors, and classes that were true delights. Unfortunately, in most cases the teachers do not have a chance to screen the class members re abilities, and just have to deal with it when they get there. I empathize with them, though I do not feel it is my responsibility to jump in and assist! After all, I am there to learn as well ... and in a "perfect" world do not know what is being taught!

After reading the threads on class disappointments I am so thankful for my LQS. I have taken several classes and only had one where the instructor could do but not teach. The owners contacted everyone after the first class, apologized profusely, replaced the teacher, added a session and had the new teacher start from the beginning. Their class descriptions state very clearly the level of ability needed to be successful including statements such as "not for beginning sewers or quilters", "confident ability with (whatever) technique needed" etc. they also give a 10% discount for anything purchased for a class but you are not required to purchase from them unless it is a kit class then the kit is a part of the class fee. It's a great place to learn. I also really get so much from my Craftsy classes and there are some amazing free instructional videos from great online teachers like Leah Day, Deb Tucker, Sharon Schambers, the Missouri Quilt Co. Ladies. Don't give up keep seeking those great learning opportunities.

I took a class to do a strip Lone star and was asked before I even signed up if I knew how to sew. LOL I pretty much had an idea on how to do this, but just wanted to get together with some quilters for a while. One of the ladies taught sewing at a local school and she brought the 'Newest" machine the classes she taught would be using. She didn't know anything about it and we had fun helping her set it up and discover all the great features this machine had. And so to class... The teacher would show us what we would be doing and cut us loose to do our thing. She would help those that needed help and the question about an accurate(sp) 1/4" seams came up. Teacher said on this type of quilt (all Lone Stars) you really had to be sure the seams were 1/4". When I got some of my quilt put together, the teacher commented on how good my seams looked and how all the points ended up where they were supposed to be. I said, "yes, you really have to be sure of those 1/4" seams." Everyone was looking at my work, I looked up and the teacher was "mouthing" Thank you, so only I could see. Makes you feel good when classes go good like this and she didn't mind when I would help someone. She said she liked to do classes where she learned something, too.
Would take any classes she teaches. And..I'm really not that good, but have made a lot of Broken Texas Lone Stars. Making one for each of my children.

In all honesty, I'd probably have been too shocked, to say anything. Would've packed up my stuff and walked out, though.

One thought I had was that maybe she uses sarcasim as her means of being humorous, there are a lot of peeps who do even when they don't know the people they are talking to. But again in her position she shouldn't be sarcastic with others especially if they don't know her or she them. My other thought is that some people are that insensitive and rude.
the lqs around here will list what skills a person should have when signing up for a class. Perhaps the owner would want to think about listing that in the class requirements, and if someone has never even picked up a needle before; maybe they could have those that need that instruction they could meet with them sometime before the class.

Agree. Youtube is excellent too.
I now only go to a class if the teacher has a good reputation. So sorry you had this experience. It's not you!
Annie

I'm a New Yorker and would have told her that I HAD learned what she was trying to teach to the others and didn't need her, or her sarcasm. I am not as polite as the lovely Canadian laides... She should be grateful that you were happily "doing your thing". Better luck next time.

Me too, but I would have carried on far ahead of the others and not returned if there was a second class. When stuff like that happens, I become a tiger.

I've never taken a class, and after reading so many negative things about them on here, probly never will. There's plenty to learn for free on the internet.

Oh gosh, please don't deny yourself the fun of a good class based on some negative comments! There are just as many positive posts, I do believe! I've had a few random classes, mostly good, some not so good. The one with the bad teacher was the one I didn't go back to. Nor did my friends. But, we found another one who was great.

I think I would write a small note to the owner/manager of the shop (or the teacher is she is the owner/manager) saying that you didn't pay money and take time out of your day to have this type of treatment in class. If I was an owner/manager, I would want to know that this is happening. If I was also the teacher, I would want to know that my attitude is causing problems.

Being a first grade teacher, when I don't want my kids to move ahead there are things you can do. One, for example, is to pair yourself (being advanced in this class) with someone who is struggling. That way she just doubled her chances of moving the rest of the class to where you are. I'm sure you would have been happy to help someone even though it's not your class. She should have played with your strengths and not shot you down for them. I'm sorry you had to go through that. How frustrating. But it sounds like you handled yourself with dignity and honestly, I don't know what I would do in that situation. I am snarky and probably would have said something equally as rude right back to her... in a joking manner so feelings don't get hurt but she still knows that she was out of line.

So are you finished with the class or do you have to go back for a few more classes?

i agree with teddysmom. I've taken a couple of classes but get much more out of the tutorials (Missouri Star)
and this board.

I would smile and keep on doing what I was doing or just pack up and leave.

Reading this and the other thread I felt bad because there are some very good teachers out there. When I teach I run my classes through the Community College so the student can complete the whole quilt in a quarter. Students get a better break on the class and I can teach from beginning to the end. Students that don't complete the project do so because they do not do the home work. You can teach a technique in one class but quilts are made up of a lot of techniques and it all takes time Rome wasn't built in a day and neither are our quilts. Teaching and learning should be fun, I have learned a lot on my own but when I take a class I learn so much more. Yes sometimes it is what not to do but life is a lesson we are all learning from.

I tend to be a fast learner/worker also and I'm pretty much always ahead of the rest of the class. I have had experiences with teachers who will point that out - some more nicely than others. Their degree of "nice" determines whether they will see my face again (LOL). I think some teachers are rather insecure, which makes them react in such a way. Like you, I would have felt very uncomfortable with the situation, but probably would not have the guts to walk out (although I would have liked to). Especially in this instance, when it was a group but not a paid class.

At every class I've taken good or bad I've learned something.

I take open classes which are excellent, only twelve people, different levels, but the instructor is very clear on what she can help with - for example, she does not teach machine-quilting in the class as that is like a separate discipline from cutting and piecing and borders and bindings. She offers personal attention, giving assistance and direction to each class member. If works GREAT!

I don't know how anyone can 'instruct' a class when there are all different levels and projects. I wouldn't walk out in a snit, Miss Manners won't let me, but I sure would find a good reason not to go back!!!

I don't take classes because I get nervous cutting in class. My ruler slips and every cutting problem that can happen will. I have been sewing/quilting since needles were invented so I can cut. I just don't like all the negative attention that comes when I am trying to concentrate. People (including teachers) assume that I don't know anything and therefore, zoom in on me and try to stop me before I continue "to make sure" that I don't do anything wrong. If I can go to a quiet spot in the room, I can cut and continue "to be normal" like everyone else.

The same thing happened to me when I was in second grade and the nun caught me working ahead in my math workbook. I felt the same way then that you did. Still feel that was counterproductive and stupid.

I can't think of a class that I didn't learn something or enjoy and never had a teacher like the one in this posting. Too bad. Don't deprive yourself, you might miss something special.

Alot of good replies to this 'dilemma' but in my more senior moments I think I would have told the teacher I didn't appreciate her comment and that it detracted from her teaching skills and word of mouth is the best referral and she would NOT be getting mine. Or something like that. If I didn't think of it at the moment, which someone else mentioned that they don't think of a good retort until too late, I would tell her after class.

I don't like to be mean or rude but I don't need to suffer thru it from others either.

What would I have done, before or after I smacked her up side of her head? How rude!!!!

When I first read what Pat G wrote, this was also my thought.....I've taught many classess and when I had someone that was working ahead, I gave her many "grats". I did have a class I took with my mother one time, and the teacher didn't like that we both were ahead, adn made comments, but I proceeded onward, my mother on the other hand felt bad. I told her to ignore her and enjoy herself. Needless to say, we never took another class with her.