Thread: Who teaches whom

Hi! it's been a while since I last greeted the members of the forum so I'll say hi again.


I would like to know your views regarding the concept of a teacher and who

teaches whom on any given subject.

MY EYES APPLAUDED SILENTLY

WITH A JOY ASSURED BY SIGHT

SEEING THE TEACHER THAT WAS IN ME

ENTERING KNOWLEDGE

WITH A FIRM AND LOVING MIGHT

First let me mention that in Puerto Rico,teacher is generally translated as

maestro(a) or profesor(a). I presume that holds true for most hispanic

cultures. the problem I have is that maestro can be translated as master.

Ah, the predicaments of translation!

Now I will get to the chase! (Al grano dirán algunos de ustedes.) If one

listens to the teacher, one is accepting the information or giving oneself

permission to learn. If one doe not then whatever knowledge delivered

is lost.

So who teaches whom? The person who listens thereby controlling

the information he or she receives or the teacher who sends out the

information whether or not the person is absorbing the information.

Obviously, the lecturer at one time was the student.

Most cultures give the impression that the teacher is " the one in front of

the class ".Your thoughts, MAESTROS.

Originally Posted by El Detective

I would not confuse to teach (enseñar) with to learn (aprender).

Well said, Detective.

As an instructor in my field (law enforcement) it is common for trainees to later say a concept or tactic was not taught when in fact it was taught and he or she just did not learn it.

Doesn't that sound familiar.....

Students and pupils always agree on that, never their fault for not listening, no sire bob, never ever.

I am a teacher and for me there is no doubt: I pass information onto my pupils, they can do with it what they wish , of course, but my "place" is clear.

The teacher gives information, the student receives, different story altogether.

Originally Posted by Leslie M

Greetings to all. The comments made by Joel and EXXENTRICA are valid

because they reflect the concepts our cultures teach. There is this one

small problem with the comment made by Joel concerning the following:

"The teacher teaches and the student learns" According to Merriam-

Webster,one definition of the word learn is to teach. USAGE - Learn in

the sense of "teach" dates from the 13th century and was standard until

at least the early 19th....

I also agree with Exx on the giving and receiving of information but you

can also get information from a book. Does that make a book a teacher?

But,I am talking about teaching which apparently was the same as

learning until someone changed the rules.

SALUDOS

Hi Leslie,
I think there's a fine line between teaching and learning (just like there's a fine line between love and hate ).
I feel that no matter how old we are, we always learn something new. I think the only difference is age and skill. A "teacher" is usually older, a person who had 'been there, done that', though that is not the case all the time. Myself, I've "taught" older people before, but then that comes down to knowledge and skill. I knew (had "learned") something they hadn't. But then again, I have been 'taught' things by much younger people (my kids are my teachers at times! ).
My overall thought on this philosophical topic is.....throughout our lives we are teachers AND students. Granted at times money is exchanged to do either. But overall we are never too young or old to teach or be taught.