Teaching With Silence
For more than thirty years now, I have had the privilege of teaching all kinds of health care providers, as well as the general public. I discovered long ago that just giving people the answer was a recipe for disaster. Worse yet, expecting them to learn by sitting quietly and watching me, was mind numbingly tedious for all of us. So I was interested to hear what a famous chess coach had to say. This is the fellow who was played by Ben Kingsley in the lovely movie, Searching for Bobbie Fischer.
“My lessons consist of a lot of silence. I listen to other teachers, and they’re always talking. I let my students think. If I do ask a question [why are you making that move?] and I don’t get the right answer, I’ll rephrase the question -and wait. I never give the answer. Most of us really don’t appreciate the power of silence. Some of the most effective communication -between student and teacher, between master players – takes place during silent periods.”
–Bruce Pandolfini (American Chess Coach and Author, 1948-)
Dr. Richard G. Petty, MD is a world-renowned authority on the brain, and his revolutionary work on human energy systems has been acclaimed around the globe.
He is also an accredited specialist in internal and metabolic medicine, endocrinology, psychiatry, acupuncture and homeopathy. He has been an innovator and leader of the human potential movement for over thirty years and is also an active researcher, teacher, writer, professional speaker and broadcaster. He is the author of five books, including the groundbreaking and best selling CD series Healing, Meaning and Purpose. He has taught in over 45 countries and 48 states in the last ten years, but spends as much time as possible on his horse farm in Georgia.
