Notes for a Teaching Assistant in an Acting Class

I’m currently away on a writing retreat at the Arvon Centre’s Writing Centre up in Inverness-shire. It gives me lots of time to think and write my new play before my scholarship place writing course begins next Monday.

My new acting classes begin in just under a week’s time and I will be teaching three classes a week (two intro classes and one advanced class) and doing lots of private 1-2-1′s based on the number of recent emails that I’ve received.

I’m formally adding two Teaching Assistants to my intro classes this term and I’m excited to say that I think I’ve picked people that will assist me well and that will use the opportunity to teach others and learn something about themselves.

Anyway, I decided that I would write some helping hints to Acting Class Assistants in the hope that my own TAs and other TAs out there in the acting training industry might benefit from it.

1) DO see this as a position of responsibility, not of power.
2) If you aren’t sure, DO ask the tutor and ask aloud so everyone can benefit and everyone can see that if they have a question, they should ask.
3) DO use similar useful phrases that the course tutor uses, this will help reaffirm what the students are learning.
4) The tutor will not thank you for pointing out an error that they made, but that doesn’t mean you should let it go. If you think they’ve made an error, then DO speak with them after the class. You may learn something, or you may indeed correct them.
5) DO display all of the qualities that we are trying to develop in the students. Be punctual, be prepared, have pen and paper, have your script, bring extra for the students that haven’t yet learned good habits.
6) DO Encourage, but don’t contradict.
7) DON’T talk yourself into a corner. If you want to make a point, do so. If you don’t think you can make the point clearly, don’t – you’ll look back at a sea of confused faces.
8) DO point out any concerns about the students to the tutor.
9) DON’T forget what it was like at your first class.
10) DO ensure that you are better prepared than any of the students.
11) Correct the students but only after they’ve given it a go.
12) Although the class isn’t about you, you can still treat it as a learning opportunity.
13) The tutor makes their comments after years of experience, take care critiquing others. Give feedback that is practicable.
14) Enjoy the experience.

Good Luck!